IS THIS A LEGAL CRIME OR HOAX VEHICLE INSURANCE

[Nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice]

Thank you firstly for all your replies, I scoured the internet until the early hours and this seems to be a regular occurance with certain insurers, and the same names cropping up over and over again, the ones I insured with included, as on here there are mixed views.
RNReindeer, I had read this on the Confused site last night they say...
"...if you cancel with just two months or less left to run, you may be entitled to no refund. In a case such as this, it may not be worth cancelling the policy at all, as doing so will incur a cancellation charge."
They say they are ".. a British price comparison website specialising in insurance and financial services".
So where they say about NOT cancelling, does this mean its ok to do that, I presume they know.
I really don't know what to do here, whether to respond to the letter or just ignore it.
I also read on the internet and in one of the earlier replies that if the buyer does not have insurance (which in this case they definitely do), and they have an accident, this would then be passed to my insurers as the insurance is still running and consequently they will come after me for a hell of lot of money, but the policy says that failure to inform them of any changes will result in the policy being cancelled, which means there is NO insurance held by anyone.
If I send them the insurance certificate, which they want, can they at least check with DVLA to prove exactly the date the bike was sold, as me just saying it probably proves nothing. At least that way I WILL be entitled to a part refund, its in their policy wording, BUT I will also pay the cancellation fee which should make things about even and I probably should owe nothing.
By the way the total for the year was £74 for 12 months insurance and paid in full.
Sorry if all this is a bit long winded but time is starting to run out and I really don't whether to ignore their letter or send them what they need.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE £50, the whole thing is very, very wrong.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I think the answer is most probably 'We don't know and insurance companies can do what they want'.

An insurance certificate isn't actually required these days because of automatic numberplate recognition and the DVLA database for insurance and MoTs

If you did not cancel your insurance after selling the vehicle, does that mean that when the ANR 'sees' the vehicle it comes up as still insured by you or do the DVLA cancel the insurance after notification of sale.
I suppose there could be instances of the insurance still being required (when not worth cancelling) after sale, e.g. if you sold it to a relative and still able to drive it.

 

[RNReindeer]

A couple of points of importance are still vague, niceseeyoutoseeyounice.
A) was your insurance in your name and only your name? Or were other drivers covered?
B)Did you cancel the policy without considering the financial implications.

To provide explanations without the need for your response.
A) If the insurance was only in your name, it does not cover anyone else, including the new owner, to drive/ride your vehicle. It does not need to be cancelled. It's worthless to anyone else. It only covers you to ride/drive.
B) If you cancelled your policy, then you may have to abide by the companies admin charges and put it down to experience.
Next time allow it to run its course or transfer it to another vehicle, or suspend it for the time allowed/allowable.

 

[Astra99]

I changed my car in October. Because my insurer's website was down, I was charged a £25 admin fee on top of the additional premium. Needless to say, that particular company did not get the business on renewal! We are the customers, we hold the aces - to take the business away if we so choose.

 

[Nicetoseeyoutoseeyounice]

To EFLImpudence, I don't know if DVLA tell the insurers but I'm sure the insurers can easily find this from a central database. It has been sold to a friend and I suppose I could say that I may 'borrow' it on an odd occasion so need to keep the policy running, but then I wouldn't be the owner, and the policy would need amending, and they would charge me for that.
To RNReindeer, the insurance was only in my name and yes I did try to cancel without realising the financial implications. I did try to cancel, then, whilst still speaking to them said, " just leave it, I don't wish to cancel now, I have changed my mind.
I spoke to a solicitor this morning, legal cover on my home insurance, she said if it's in their terms and conditions I must pay, but that I can write to them and say i have received your letter, I DO NOT wish to cancel as I told you on the telephone and please check the recording you will have.
I asked if its ok to do this when I no longer have the vehicle, and she said I can actually state that I do not wish to cancel, it is obviously not cancelled yet as they say they need my certificate back to do this.
I will have to decide by Monday and send them a letter either way.
I may do as she said, I feel I now have nothing to loose apart from the fee.