Electronic Banking / Esure

[webcraft]

SWMBO checked our accounts yesterday prior to the upcoming long weekend - all payments had been extracted from the main account, including car insurance from widely advertised online company Esure.

The Esure payment came off the account yesterday. Then it came off the account again today, leaving us £131 poorer.

Of course, it is the Easter weekend - banks are shut. Esure said it must be the Clydesdale Bank's fault. The bank's call centre said they couldn't do anything until Tuesday and it must be Esure's fault. We phoned Esure again.

This time we were informed that they had no way of confirming if it was their fault or not. We were to wait until Tuesday then get in touch with the bank and get a copy of our statement, which we were to post to Esure. The gentleman I was speaking to then estimated that they would be able to return the money to our account within two weeks.

Luckily we have some funds available in another account which can be accessed - others might not be so lucky, and so goodbye Easter.

Isn't it wonderful how money can be removed from one's account in an electronic instant but then it takes weeks to put the same money back in - while all the time it is earning interest for someone else.

I have to say that even though this may well turn out to be the bank's fault in the cold light of Tuesday morning Esure's attitude on the telephone means that I cannot personally recommend this company and will almost certainly not be renewing with them next year.

- Nick

 

[mikewilkes]

From what I remember of the direct debit system it is the "calling" bank ie Esure's that demand the payment. Your bank only pay from a standing order - if they still exist.
Therefore I would have thought it was time to talk to Esure, demanding to speak to line management as the person who you originally talk to does not deserve your wrath.

 

[jac]

Mike is right.

If its been sent by Standing Order then your bank is at fault. If its by Direct Debit then Esure is at fault.

Good news is you're covered by the DD guarantee. If you can't agree something on Tuesday with Esure, your bank should just refund the money and then sort it out with Esure later.

I would guess though that Esure will be busy as these duplicated debits usually apply to an entire batch of payments so you're unlikely to be the only one!

 

[webcraft]

It was a Switch payment . . .

- Nick

 

[billcowan]

Yeh, always pay by credit card. then its always their problem.

Esure are bunch cherry picking bastards, they wouldnt insure my car - too sporty (bog standard audi 2.8 estate- full noclaims etc.)

Anyway that smug git in their ad, Michael Weener, makes me barf anyway.

 

[mirabriani]

Well done for spreading the word.

I had already made that decision
I rang for a cheaper quote for three family vehicles
"No we don't insure vans"
I said "They are not vans, they seat 5 and 6 people and have windows"
"No they are vans according to us"
I pointed out they are the "combi version of the Partner and Expert to no avail. I then gave up.

No problem with Direct Line

Regards Briani

 

[jac]

Probably presented twice in error.

Your bank should still be able to do a chargeback against esure if they won't refund the money.

Just advise your bank that you have a switch payment you want to dispute as a duplicte and should be straight forward from then. If it isn't you're with the wrong bank as well as the wrong insurance co!

 

[pragmatist]

Re: Electronic Banking / Insurers

I have quite a few "issues" with electronic banking - the systems not the principle -and I'll go on to insurers !

Call me old-fashioned but I suppose with NatWest as our bankers who have just about reached the 20thC (you still can't email your bank !) its not surprising if I haven't really got into making e-payments. But this month I tried - Entered payment and account reference for electricity payment - letter received via bank to say they couldn't trace the payment as there was no reference - i.e. NatWest system did not forward it. Paid Barlclaycard via same method - discovered they'd re-credited account presumably for the same reason - so we had to pay interest on the month's balance despite having paid the bill. This month I have paid via cheque and snail mail !

Insurers who advertise a lot ? Well I'll never insure with DirectLine. A couple of years ago HWMBO was collecting a 2nd hand wind gennie and was hit in the side while traversing a roundabout by someone emerging onto said r/bout - i.e. not his fault (hate to say this about male driver especially as the culprit was female !). Bad news was gennie flew across car, terrifying dog who travelled on driver's lap down motorway (that's the funny bit - dog has now recovered !). All paperwork done - DirectLine wrote and said they would pay us directly - phone to make arrangements. Got total runaround - had to firstly claim via our insurers and then invoke legal aid to make them pay up. Like marine insurance - you get what you pay for. I'd recommend the NFU (and no I'm not a farmer - not that rich !)

 

[starboard]

Re: Electronic Banking / Insurers

Try the Bank of Scotland or the Nationwide.......superb online banking, can do any thing from ordering foreign currency to setting up and closing down standing orders etc etc, and with interest paid to current account at about 4% I have no complaints. I had the need to visit the bank the other day and stood in a que for 15 mins.......sod that online for me now for ever.

Paul.

 

[mikewilkes]

Queuing??

Havent done that since the early 90's when first direct started!!

Better things to do than wait for some snotty little banker.

 

[rwakeham]

Re: Queuing??

First direct are great. There adverts on the TV are right - they are always helpful. In the 10 years I have banked with them I have not had one mistake.

But back to orginal post if it was a card payment then you should dispute it with your bank. The bank might ask you to fill in a form which shold be emailed to you. Then it should apear straight back in the account.