think insure

[andyb000!]

Following a marketing phone call promoting a 'Think Insure Think Protect Plus insurance policy', my son asked for more details in writing, and got a fully set up policy instead!

He already had an account with Think Banking and the first premium has already been deducted by Think Insure via direct debit (nothing has been signed here in relation to setting this up by the way)

Although they sound like the same 'family' of companies surely think banking and think insurance must be different entities? can they legally do that? by which I mean access information perhaps held by different 'arms' of the company group and just go ahead and set things up?

If they refuse to refund the premium what recourse may we have?

Grateful for any thoughts on this...

Andy

[bluebottle]

Re: think insure

Unless they can prove your son actually asked them to sign him up, Think Banking and Think Insure need to Think Refund and Think Cancel Policy Not Requested. Unless your son authorised the setting up of a Direct Debit, we could be talking Fraudulently Obtaining A Money Transfer and even breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998.

I would be inclined to write to the CEO of Think and point out that at no time was a policy signed up to and at no time was a Direct Debit authorised to be set up. If they ignore or try to fob your son off, get in touch with Trading Standards as to where to go from there. In fact, I would bring this matter to the attention of TS in any case.

[andyb000!]

Re: think insure

This gets worse.

Son phoned up to cancel the insurance policy that he never asked for.

We have since received a letter dated for the day he phoned up to cancel. Guess what:

"Further to our recent telephone conversation and your request for the Think Insure Think Protect Plus insurance policy, please find enclosed some important information that you should read carefully."

Guess what the important information is?

Yep - another Think Insure Think Protect Plus insurance policy.

complete with a newly set up Diretct Debit

!*&#@#%^&!!!


If we were to bring this to the attention of Trading Standards, is it to our own local TS or do we need to go to the TS where the company is registered? (Manchester)

[bluebottle]

Re: think insure

No. You go to your local Trading Standards Department and they contact Manchester City Council Trading Standards Department. I would contact them first thing tomorrow and tell your son to alert his bank as regards the unauthorised direct debits.