From: "Tim" 
Newsgroups: uk.finance uk.legal
Subject: Re: Barclaycard....Advice needed
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 09:17:12 +0100

> Alan Frame wrote
> >I did enjoy the Python-esque occasion when I phoned up to
> >cancel a life policy - paid by DD - that I no longer required:
> >
> >Me: "I'd like to cancel my life policy."
> >Them: "You have write to us to cancel it."
> >Me: "Can't be ar5ed with that; how
> > about if I just stop your direct debit?"
> >Them: "You have write to us to cancel it, if you stop
> > the direct debit then you will no longer be covered"
> >Me: "I don't want to be covered, so I'll
> > just stop the direct debit then, OK?"
> >Them: "You have write to us to cancel it."
> >Me: "No I don't - you've just told me cover will
> > stop if I cancel the DD - that's what I want"
> >Them: "err, You have write to us...."
> >Me: "Thanks, goodbye"
>
"John Boyle" wrote
> Its sad you didnt understand that the joke is on you.
>
> By cancelling the DD merely puts you in default of your
> contract with the insurer. As a result they will cancel the
> contract. This is a completely different scenario to you
> cancelling the policy by writing to the insurer and it is quite
> reasonable for them to need the cancellation request in writing.

It might (possibly) be "reasonable" to need the cancellation
request in writing when the contract was taken out "in writing",
but if it had (say) been taken out online or via telephone,
then why shouldn't the cancellation be done the same way?

"John Boyle" wrote
> You might end up with the same end result
> because you couldnt be 'ar5ed' but it is your
> inability to understand the difference that is
> pythonesque, not the behaviour of the InsCo.

Are you trying to say that there are
two different types of "cancellation"?

If, according to the contract, the insurer *will*
cancel the insurance on non-payment of
premium, then why shouldn't the policyholder
avail him/herself of that contract provision?