One of the amusing requirements of driving a car in the UK is car insurance, it is primary use is to provide financial protection against physical damage and/or bodily injury resulting from traffic collisions and against liability that could also arise therefrom.

For a while I have been borrowing a small Ford Fiesta called FiFi. And because I need insurance to drive her, but didn’t need an entire year, I went with eCar Insurance, who offer a flexible Pay As You Go (PAYG) monthly policy.

One of the things that they let you do is cancel it online 5 days before its renewed, meaning that

1. It doesn’t renew
2. They don’t charge you for it

Well that is the plan, however the reality is more like this:

Oh and they don’t take cancelation over the phone, or apparently via email. so when the page fails with no error message, and then you email them, and call them to tell them that you do not want insurance, they take the payment anyway. oh and refunds are impossible to obtain.

I have tried to cancel it on a number of occasions. both before, on and after the 5 day do not renew date, and now today via the phone.

The Phone number they use is 0906 736 6522 (£1 per min) however  try 01454 636940, 01454 634810, or 01454 634887!

UPDATE

I managed to get through to a manager at their Bristol call centre, who has managed to do the three things I wanted:

1. Policy Canceled.
2. Full Refund
3. No Claims Discount Certificate.