Do NOT buy from Bennetts Insurance

For those of you considering insurance with Bennetts Insurance please please think again and consider this. This is a saga that has been going on for over 2 years and I do not reccommend them in any shape or form

I have insured 3 bikes with them - my svs pointy 06plate, my cbr600f 03 plate and my 600f steelie.

Case 1. SVS - cancelled insurance at end of policy. Insured with another broker. Received cancellation acknowledgement from Bennetts, however they then charged me for a cancellation fee and took unauthorised payments from my credit card. Was informed that I would receive a refund as it was their error. Two years down the line and still no refund. Received multiple letters from debt collections agencies texts to mobile phone. Threatening court action if I don't pay their cancellation fees.

Case 2. cbr600f w plate steelie. Cancelled insurance at end of term. Was charged a cancellation fee? WTF? Still no refund.

Case 3. CBR600f - insurance write off. At end of policy the insurance was cancelled/expired as per their terms. Informed Bennetts in writing, email and by telephone. However after the cancellation they took an unauthorised payment of a full years fee from my credit card. Informed credit card company who refunded the payment.

Shortly afterwards received a threatening letter demanding full payment for a bike that I no longer owned plus cancellation fees. For 18 months I have been receiving letters, calls to my mobile, home, business demanding payment plus fees. I have written to them, phoned them, emailed them proving that I cancelled my insurance. I even showed them evidence from the DVLA and salvage company that I did not own the bike anymore but it has not stopped. The txts, letters, phonecalls calls from the debt collectors are just getting ridiculous. Even the insurance underwriters have shown them I do not own the bike anymore but this still has not stopped them.

There's more...on the original claim they said that I had a huge excess to pay on the bike to meet the claim. I showed them the original excess and they said it was wrong and that they had sent me out a document later showing my "real" excess. So I had two excesses for the same bike - and you guessed it they stood their ground for the larger of the two. I took advice on this and they claimed it was a website error. I have had 3 different reasons for this which I wont go into. But suffice to say the arrogance and couldn't care less stuff it attitude has continued.

Now get this...I get a txt/phonecall yesterday from debt collectors demanding money. Go through (very quickly) the situation and tell them I have moved address. Today I'm being told that I will be charged for a change of address fee. ****ing idiots.

I repeat - I do not advise anyone to take out a policy with this company under any circumstances.

[Stu]

Can you not take them to court for harrassement & claim your expenses?

Why did you insure futher bikes with them after you'd had problems with the first?

[G]

Your biggest problem here, is that your 'debt' has been passed onto a debt collection agency........Bennets 'Sold' your debt onto them.

The debt collector will therefore chase and chase until they cover their cost........I'm not sure if debt collection is regulated by a body or not but it ought to be.

Its out of bennets hands, as far as they are concerned your debt to them has been paid (by the collector) the collector will now try and get that money from you, plus some extra.



I once had the same for a £12 ebay fee (which worked its way upto about £100 after 'Fees' had been added) it was Ebays **** up, but as everyone knows they are not contactable.....the collection agency just kept pestering and pestering.....in the end my dad got involved, we got all the evidence we had together and wrote a letter to the collection agency threatening legal action for deformation of character, harrasment and stress and any further correspondance would result in action.

Never heard another word.

I completely feel for you, the stress is horrible and everyday you get home wondering if another letter is on the mat with another £25 'letter fee' added on. Not only that if your not careful it can seriously effect your credit rating and you can end up with CCJ's

Originally Posted by stuartyboy

For those of you considering insurance with Bennetts Insurance please please think again and consider this. This is a saga that has been going on for over 2 years and I do not reccommend them in any shape or form

I have insured 3 bikes with them - my svs pointy 06plate, my cbr600f 03 plate and my 600f steelie.

Case 1. SVS - cancelled insurance at end of policy. Insured with another broker. Received cancellation acknowledgement from Bennetts, however they then charged me for a cancellation fee and took unauthorised payments from my credit card. Was informed that I would receive a refund as it was their error. Two years down the line and still no refund. Received multiple letters from debt collections agencies texts to mobile phone. Threatening court action if I don't pay their cancellation fees.

Case 2. cbr600f w plate steelie. Cancelled insurance at end of term. Was charged a cancellation fee? WTF? Still no refund.

Case 3. CBR600f - insurance write off. At end of policy the insurance was cancelled/expired as per their terms. Informed Bennetts in writing, email and by telephone. However after the cancellation they took an unauthorised payment of a full years fee from my credit card. Informed credit card company who refunded the payment.

Shortly afterwards received a threatening letter demanding full payment for a bike that I no longer owned plus cancellation fees. For 18 months I have been receiving letters, calls to my mobile, home, business demanding payment plus fees. I have written to them, phoned them, emailed them proving that I cancelled my insurance. I even showed them evidence from the DVLA and salvage company that I did not own the bike anymore but it has not stopped. The txts, letters, phonecalls calls from the debt collectors are just getting ridiculous. Even the insurance underwriters have shown them I do not own the bike anymore but this still has not stopped them.

There's more...on the original claim they said that I had a huge excess to pay on the bike to meet the claim. I showed them the original excess and they said it was wrong and that they had sent me out a document later showing my "real" excess. So I had two excesses for the same bike - and you guessed it they stood their ground for the larger of the two. I took advice on this and they claimed it was a website error. I have had 3 different reasons for this which I wont go into. But suffice to say the arrogance and couldn't care less stuff it attitude has continued.

Now get this...I get a txt/phonecall yesterday from debt collectors demanding money. Go through (very quickly) the situation and tell them I have moved address. Today I'm being told that I will be charged for a change of address fee. ****ing idiots.

I repeat - I do not advise anyone to take out a policy with this company under any circumstances.

Totally outrageous! I'm sure you've probably done this, but as a first step, I'd try trading standards. They have a clear system for dealing with this kind of nonsense, which if you follow to the letter will see them in a small claims court defending themselves before a magistrate. I wouldn't waste my time dealing with them without some advice from trading Standards. bunch of ************

Yup. It's a right balls ache if it has gone to a debt collection agency.

I had issues with them in past asking for payments for a car I bought. Three years after I had finished paying for it. Same situation with letters, threats and bailiffs.

I finally told them to provide the evidence that I owed the money and I would gladly pay it. They then told me they had no evidence but it was for me to prove I didn't owe them. Idiots.

After pointing out that if this were true, they could send out a letter to every single person in the country demanding money and would win as not one single one of them would be able to prove they didn't owe it.

They went back to the finance company for this information. Surprise surprise, the finance company had no such information. Case closed.

In your instance I'd probably try CAB as a first point of call as it's free. If not, collate all your documentation, send it to them and then tell them (in writing) if the continue to hassle for payment, you will contact a solicitor with the view of taking them to court.

The fact they have never offered me a quote anywhere near competitive has resulted in me not even bothering to get quotes from them anyway.


Sounds exactly like Bikesure insurance tbh (another company to stay away from). Car version is Adrian Flux, who are fine for chepa quotes, but have any issues, accidents, claims, and your royally shafted.

I am insured with Bennetts

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by BigApe

If not, collate all your documentation, send it to them and then tell them (in writing) if the continue to hassle for payment, you will contact a solicitor with the view of taking them to court.

Send copies not original.

Originally Posted by G

Your biggest problem here, is that your 'debt' has been passed onto a debt collection agency........Bennets 'Sold' your debt onto them.

The debt collector will therefore chase and chase until they cover their cost........I'm not sure if debt collection is regulated by a body or not but it ought to be.

It is, and from my limited knowledge quite strict. They may not harrass you and they must provide evidence of the dept. See here for some further advice

http://www.payplan.com/debt-library/...arrassment.php

and

http://www.insolvencyhelpline.co.uk/..._creditors.php