Are insurance policies renewing automatically?

CiniO

I always thought that they are not, as I always had to call and renew my own policy.
But with my wife's policy it was different. She had a policy with Aviva from 15th Jan 2010 to 14th Jan 2011.
In middle of December, we went on 1.5 months holidays (to the end of January 2011). As her policy was not needed in the meantime, we suspended it before holidays.
About 10th January (while being abroad) I called her insurance company, to make sure it won't be renewed. (it was 4 days before renewal date)
I was told, that her policy will be renewed automatically, and money will be taken from direct debit, which was in use for the previous year of the policy. I was told as well, that after it will be renewed, it can't be suspended anymore, so full premium rate will be taken. They told me as well, that if I didn't want to renew it, I should have called at least 8 days before renewal date.
I asked what to do now not to renew it, so she told me that disc and certificate was already sent to me, so I can send it back with a letter stating I want to cancel policy. I explained that I can't do it, as disc and certificate was sent to my home address, and I was away for next 20 days. She told me, she couldn't do anything about it. I asked as well, at what premium it was renewed, so she told me that information about premium was posted to my address. Again I explained I was away and I didn't receive it. She sad that she can't give me that information over the phone, as it is information about policy which is not valid yet (it was supposed to be valid 4 days later). And that if I call back on 15th January after policy is renewed, she can tell me then.
I was shocked, with all these.
I called my bank to cancel direct debit, but lady in the bank told me, that it couldn't be done over the phone, and I had to post a letter with request to cancel direct debit. Posting a letter from abroad would probably take about a week, so it would be too late, as her insurer would already take money from her account.

Is this normal practice?

guil

if your wife rang i think they would cancel it, i'm not sure though if it has to be in writing
and yes they renew policies and direct debits unless ya advise them beforehand

slimjimmc

Never came across that rigmarole with insurance myself. However, it's not unusual for annual-style contracts to have a clause which agrees to auto-renewal unless explicitly cancelled in advance and in the prescribed manner. Read the fine print of the now expired contract & DD authorisation to see what your missus signed herself up to last year.