To ask for help with insurance issue... v worried!

[BeNiceToYourSister]

Really hoping someone can set my mind at ease! I’ve just got home and found a letter from my home insurance company stating “As you have not replied to our request for new payment details we have now cancelled your policy”. I checked the renewal date on my policy and, sure enough, it expired earlier this month and had completely slipped my mind. Now, although I clearly should’ve set a reminder for the renewal date in my diary, I absolutely 100% did not receive any reminder by post, phone or email ahead of the expiry date (which their policy states they are supposed to provide, and I’ve received for every other insurance policy I’ve had), nor did I receive any request for “new payment details” as they’re claiming they sent me (in any case, my payment details haven’t changed since I took out the policy, so not sure why they’d need these).

I’m now really worried that having a cancelled policy is going to screw up my ability to get insurance in future. What’s worse is that our mortgage is with the same company and one of its terms is that we must have valid home insurance, so I’m now in violation of this! AIBU to think they might be open to reinstating the policy if I call them and offer to backdate the payment from the early Jan expiry date? I’m going to call them in the morning, but has anyone had a similar experience that they were able to get resolved? This is totally going to keep me awake all night

Not having insurance is on you - many people don't. Your policy has lapsed.

You are misunderstanding the "cancellation" wording - that's when they cancel a live policy due to fraud or something. That's when it is an issue.

Just go online and do the usual market comparison and buy a policy starting immediately.

No problem, don't panic.

You're entirely mumsnet style overthinking this ffs

Yes of course they will back date it
And chill the fuck out, you can organise insurance within 10 mins online anyway

Yes it’s not a “cancellation” in the way you are worried about. As per previous poster’s comment, if you want to sleep easier just go online and buy a new policy now. You don’t need to declare this one as cancelled.

And I broke every single term on my bloody mortgage. I rented the house out, had no insurance whatsoever, and threatened to burn the fucking place down, told them I'd obtained the mortgage via fraudulent payslips and pretty much begged the mortgage company to repossess (long story), and they still didn't give a shit

(I was 19, suicidal and have ADHD, no care of consequence back then)

Insurance lapse is about item 2043 on the list of life concerns.

Dick that made me smile, you sound like my DH! I am generally anxious and overthink/catastrophise massively, so you’re not wrong

Thanks all - their wording still makes me inclined to try and clear this up with them just to be 100% certain, as it could technically be construed as a cancellation, but I definitely feel reassured!

We were in this situation, and a call got it all sorted out and reinstated with no problem. (We didn't have the mortgage issue, but I suspect they won't worry about it - they haven't mentioned it. Just don't let the house burn down tonight!)

Ha! Dick, I’m impressed both by your multiple mortgage transgressions and by the fact you had one at 19! Thanks for the reality check

That’s good to know, lanthanum. No candlelit bath tonight then!

Do you renew by credit card - & have you had a new one in the last year - because they wont be able to renew automatically. Get your papers out from last year & make sure its not a fake phone number than if you have let it lapse use the old phone number to contact them & renew tomorrow. Unless something happened in the "gap" you are fine - they want your money remember!

Oh & check your junk mail your reminder might have gone there - & make a practice of checking it from time to time

I work in insurance- you are absolutely fine don’t worry.
The policy lapses it wasn’t cancelled by the insurance company. That question is basically asking if you have commited insurance fraud or lied on a policy and been found out.
I would contact the insurer tomorrow to let them know you did not receive the renewal invite- this should be issued at least 21 days prior to the renewal date. 99.9% of the time it has been sent from the company but hasn’t arrived due to Royal Mail or an glitch if via email.
It’s cheaper to shop around each year anyway unless you have specialist insurance e.g non standard construction. Have a look on a comparison website and get some quotes.
Don’t worry about the mortgage- it’s not an issue as long as you get buildings insurance in the next couple of days

Thanks all - their wording still makes me inclined to try and clear this up with them just to be 100% certain, as it could technically be construed as a cancellation, but I definitely feel reassured!

Bad wording aside, again it is NOT a cancellation in the bad sense.

It just didn't renew (a thing they claim is "for your convenience"! When really it's to try and stop you shopping around). Completely different.

The more you try and investigate the dodgier it starts to look. Just get a policy now and forget about it.