I was renewing my car insurance over the phone since it was about to expire (they called me). After some talk about changes/rates, they said they would send over some emails and to reply "yes" with my full name to get started. After a few more back-and-forth emails establishing my identity and consent to communicate over email, the insurer laid out a summary of the terms we had tentatively agreed to on the phone.
They asked if I was okay with them.
Before answering, I asked what the cost would be if I changed one of the liability amounts and they replied with the new cost. I replied to that saying to keep the old rate and that it all looked fine.
The employee sent over the PDF document for me to look over (the one they would normally get you to sign 3 times AFTER reading it)... along with an email saying that I need to reply that I "agree, accept and consent" and then they will send out the paperwork to ICBC.
Instead, I replied saying I don't agree yet and asked what the rate would be to switch it to pay quarterly instead of monthly (since this wasn't discussed at all yet- even though she had manually typed in that i "will pay monthly".)
The employee replied, stating that the paperwork had already been sent to ICBC and couldn't be changed now and that the requested agreement "is more of a formality".
But I never responded to that email containing the PDF saying I agreed or consented, therefore I doubt that I can be considered to have signed it.
What can I do to get my insurance switched to quarterly without having to pay for cancellation? They are refusing to do it. Alternatively what actions could I take as first steps to address this?
In this scenario, the insurer's email requesting your agreement, acceptance, and consent can be seen as an offer to enter into a contract. By not explicitly agreeing to those terms, you have not legally bound yourself to the insurance policy outlined in the PDF document.
If the insurer has already sent the paperwork to ICBC without your explicit consent, they may have acted prematurely and potentially breached the agreement formation process.
To switch your insurance to quarterly payments without incurring cancellation fees, you could consider negotiating directly with the insurer, escalating the matter to a supervisor or manager, or seeking legal advice to explore your options for challenging the current terms.
Potential Strategies:
Negotiation: Initiate a conversation with the insurer to explain your preference for quarterly payments and explore the possibility of an amendment to the existing agreement.
Escalation: Request to speak with a supervisor or manager within the insurance company to address the issue at a higher level and potentially find a resolution that suits both parties.
Legal Consultation: Seek advice from a lawyer specializing in contract law or insurance matters to understand your rights, obligations, and potential legal remedies in this situation.
Things to Discuss with a Lawyer:
Contractual Obligations: Clarify the legal implications of the email exchanges and whether a binding contract has been formed.
Insurance Policy Terms: Review the insurance policy to understand the rights and obligations of both parties and any provisions related to payment frequency changes.
Legal Remedies: Explore potential legal actions or strategies to address the insurer's refusal to modify the payment terms and any associated cancellation fees.