Car Insurance

Just a word of warning to many of my fellow Spainsh home owners who have their own car here in Spain.  I bought a new Dacia last March which included one year free insurance.  I last visited the country in December and when I returned at the end of February I found a renewal "invitation" from the insurer MAPFRE with a premium of 676.82 euros.  I called in to my local branch of Jennifer Cunningham brokers in Los Alcazares, Murcia and the same cover by LIBERTY SEGUROS was 333.80 euros.  At less than half the price I took the LIBERTY SEGUROS policy.

My emails to MAPFRE requesting cancellation were ignored and the premium was debited to my account on 7th March.  I eventually managed to speak to someone at MAPRE's call centre.  Without a hint of embarrassment I was told that there would be no rebate and that they could not cancel the policy until next year giving one month notice.  They would not accept 11 months' notice and I was told I would have to phone and then send a letter the month before.

In contrast Christine at Jennifer Cunningham arranged for a refund from LIBERY SEGUROS.

These restrictive practices are all too common in Spain.  I had a similar problem with house insurance 2 years ago and can't understand why it is not illegal.  The moral is to keep a note of your expiry dates well in advance!  

Well documented here and many other similar sites. When you sign up for insurance you are automatically (in most cases but not all) agreeing to a continuation of the insurance. Unless you cancel with an official letter or the firm's own procedure (emails have never been accepted) then they will carry on the insurance. It used to be two months notice required but this has been reduced to one month. However, they must received notification before the 1 month so best to do it the two months before as previously required.

And go down personally, fill in the paperwork to officially cancel and get it counter signed by the agent (and keep copies).

Or send a registered letter (there's an official type thing which I can't recall the name of} to make doubly sure.

Can you not simply withdraw the direct debit or credit card authorisation facility.

"the premium was debited to my account on 7th March"

Still time to contact your bank and cancel the payment, I think? (If you have online banking, you can probably do this yourself quite easily) Screw the contract and small print etc., let Mapfre sing for it - and don't be put off by threats of legal action - it isn't worth their time & expense to pursue the issue. I had a bad experience with Mapfre years ago, argued like mad and won eventually. Wouldn't touch them with a barge pole ever again.