Hi
Many times the subject of who will provide car insurance with the ability to pay monthly has come up on here. I have always stated that Swinton insured me without any problems, so hence I stayed with them for the last 3 years.

I got a letter from them last week advising they would be taking a normal monthly payment from my bank on 1st September, towards my renewal premium. I contacted them and asked if the renewal quote was in. As it was higher than I'm currently paying, I asked them to take me off automatic renewal and advised that I would let them know should I want to take the insurance with them this year.

I searched around, got a good quote from another company and contacted them again to see if they would match it. They came down a bit, but were still higher than the other quote. I again re-iterated that I did not want automatic renewal. I went back to the other company and was accepted for monthly payments. Agreed the policy and paid the deposit. As I did not want them taking money from my account for a policy I would not be taking, I cancelled the direct debit with my bank.

Yesterday I was served with a default notice by Swinton. It was a very menacing letter, which included an information sheet from the Financial Conduct Authority regarding debt advice and I should not ignore this notice. I immediately contacted Swinton. The agent confirmed there was no automatic renewal on my existing policy, due to expire on 14th September. She confirmed that my existing policy was paid up to date, I owed no further payment for this year and said that probably I should have received a letter regarding cancelled DD instead. She told me I "should just ignore the notice". I said that it was not something that should have been sent at all, as I was not insuring with them, owed them nothing I was well within my rights to cancel my DD mandate.

She spoke to a manager and then advised me that the default notice is the standard letter when a DD is cancelled and as the automatic system sending out the letters does not read the notes on my file, again I should ignore this. People cancel DD for all sorts of reasons, and I think that response is outrageous.

I have made an official complaint to Swinton and also contacted the FCA who will also write to them advising they need to make sure this default notice is reversed. The last thing I want on my credit file just after being discharged from TD is a default notice.

Just a word of warning to anyone else who has insurance with Swinton, if you don't renew and cancel your DD this is what you'll be sent.