The Insurance You Didn’t Mean To Buy: Beware Of Hidden Cover At Checkout
Published by Outlook Money
Abhishek Kumar's role: Quoted
Abhishek Kumar said such cover can be left out when the amount insured is small or the risk is remote, and cautioned sale shoppers to read the policy terms. He also explained how to ask for cancellation and a refund when cover is added without consent.
What Abhishek Kumar said
When can a buyer skip the insurance offered at checkout?
I would look at two things before accepting an add-on cover at checkout. If the amount it insures is too small to matter, or the event it protects against is unlikely to happen, the policy can be left out. In such cases, paying for it adds little to your real protection, however small the premium looks next to the purchase.
Should shoppers read the policy terms during a time-limited sale?
Yes. I would not let the pressure of a sale or a countdown at checkout stand in for reading the policy conditions. A time-limited offer makes it tempting to click through quickly, but the terms decide what the add-on cover actually does, so they deserve a look before you pay, however rushed the checkout feels.
What should you do if insurance was added to a purchase without your consent?
I suggest acting at once. Raise a grievance with both the seller and the insurer, keep a record of the charge you did not authorise, and ask clearly for the policy to be cancelled and the premium refunded. If the complaint is not resolved, you can take it further through the relevant grievance or consumer-dispute forum.
In our words, from what he said in the piece. General information, not personal advice.
More of Abhishek's views on insurance
The article examines embedded insurance offered at checkout, such as device protection, travel cancellation cover or life cover bundled with loans. It suggests checking what the policy covers, its payout limits and exclusions, and any overlap with existing cover, and explains consumer rights when insurance is added without clear consent.
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The Insurance You Didn’t Mean To Buy: Beware Of Hidden Cover At Checkout