CANCELLING HOME/CONTENTS INSURANCE WITH SABADELL

You cannot cancel at a whim or for your 'own reasons'.

In general if you wish to discontinue an existing  policy then you must give at least one month's notice prior to the renewal date, failure to do so means you are committed for a further year.

There are some exceptions to that, selling being one, but not unreasonably you need to prove that you have actually sold and not just trying to pull a fast one and clearly such proof can only be provided after completion.

How much you might get back, if anything, will be laid out in the policy T&C's, as will the information about cancelling etc. but I'm guessing you never read those.

Losing your temper is unlikely to help a cause nor will complaining that you're being hard done by when indeed that is the way it works in Spain.

Here's hoping your next 'adventure' works out better for you.

Yes, echoing Darro's comments, I think the problem is that it's not an arrangement which is the same as a policy you might take out in the UK, it's more rigid. Once you sign the contract, you are committed for the year, unless you have sold and can prove you've sold your house.

I took my first house insurance out four years ago with Sabadell when I moved here because they were my bank and they offered a 50% discount on the cost of the banker's draft for the house purchase if I insured with them. I soon realised I could get it cheaper elsewhere so, when it was two months from expiring, I e-mailed the Sabadell executive in the Denia branch who I'd dealt with face to face to give a months' notice. As a belt and braces measure, I also found the name of the managing director of the Sabadell insurance division up near Barcelona which was on my insurance paperwork. I wrote and mailed him a personal letter as well to give notice. I'm sure he never read it but one of his lackeys would have! 

I have to admit that, this being Spain, I was still expecting Sabadell to ignore my correspondence and re-insure me, but they never did. I've been with Alfonso at Gran Alicant ever since.

All the best on your next adventure. Sorry it never worked out for you, but at least you gave it a go.

Spain is different and for us Northern Europeans it takes a bit of getting used to. But once you get to grips with the different processes, the general lack of customer care and famous laid back attitude, it actually becomes quite enjoyable.

Thanks very much for your patronising reply.  I did not try to cancel it "on a whim" as you suggest.  My first statement on finally sitting down at the desk at the Tv branch was "I would like to give you the statutory one months notice to terminate my insurance policy".  I had no expectation of cancelling it immediately.  I just wanted to get one of my bits of Spanish business tied up and out of the way before my final departure.  My problem was that I foolishly told them WHY I wanted to give notice.  I should have just said "personal reasons".  I doubt that any insurance company, even a Spanish one, can force me to stay with them against my will.  Or am I wrong??

It seems that they play by different rules to British companies and freedom of movement in the market is not as easy as it ought to be.  The main reason for the irritation that I felt at the second bank - my own branch - was the amount of time that it had taken me to achieve precisely nothing that morning.  I'm not interested in any laid back way of doing business.  If you can't be efficient in what you do then do something else is my motto.  Silly me, expecting my needs as a customer to have some meaning to them!  That is not to say that it's so much better in England - some of them are just as bad, obviously, and I have no time for them obviously.

Oh well, not long now then we can get on with life here without worrying about a property that my partner barely saw in three years and one that I only visited to make sure there were no problems to deal with.  The "Spanish Dream" died for many of us at the beginning of last year.  I certainly won't be back, not even for a holiday.  There are plenty of other places in the world to see.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply Wilbur which was in complete contrast to "Darro" who posted before you.  No regrets our end - on to something else.  A better property in this country seems like the best option.  Life's too short to worry about maintaining a mostly empty property over a thousand miles away.

You'll remember me, Michael, if I say the word 'computer' to you!

Glad to hear you've sold your house. I wish you and your wife all the very best for the future.

Of course I remember you and thanks for your good wishes.  I think we’re doing the right thing but there are still some regrets that it didn’t go as we had planned.  We’ve taken a financial hit as well when all the costs of ownership/selling are taken into account.  
Good luck to your team in that cesspit that the Championship has now become.  We had a shocker of a season but I’m glad we’re out of it for the time being.  It will be much more enjoyable visiting the likes of Accrington Stanley and Forest Green Rovers next season 🙂

Hello Michael la Siesta.

Your story is incredible...but very helpful to those who are unaware of Sabadell methods and practices. I had dealings with them 2 years ago regarding them applying unjustified fees from my Sabadell account for moving money back to UK.

What has made you sell up ?

Thought you were settled in La Siesta ?

Kindest regards.

Jan.

Thanks Jan for saying that my story might be helpful to others contemplating giving up their insurance policy, particularly with regard to Sabadell.  That was the ONLY reason that I posted it.  There was no intention to simply moan about being inconvenienced, or complain about being in Spain in general.  It was hopefully meant as a warning for those, like me, who assumed that cancelling a policy was as simple as contacting the company, giving any notice required, and then walking away.  Clearly things are different in Spain.

As regards being settled in La Siesta, I never really was.  It was more my partner's dream to own a property in Spain than mine.  At first I thought it was great but then we know what happened two years ago, followed by the BREXIT restrictions.  All of this just made it pointless,  At one point I was there for five months by myself.  No good, so selling is the only serious option.  I am pleased to say that it only took six months to get there and, hopefully, completion is in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for your good wishes.

Michael