Manage Assurant

How to cancel assurant in new zealand and understand your refund rights

What assurant does and why you might want to cancel

Assurant is a global insurance and protection company that operates in New Zealand, offering device care and motor insurance products to help you protect valuable purchases. You may have signed up for Assurant cover through a retailer, phone provider, or motor dealership without realising the ongoing cost, or you might have found better value elsewhere.

If you're considering cancellation, you're taking control of your spending - and that's exactly what Stopee helps thousands of Kiwi consumers do each year. This guide walks you through every cancellation method, your legal rights under New Zealand law, and how to avoid common pitfalls that leave customers stuck with unwanted charges.

Assurant's products in new zealand

Assurant NZ provides motor insurance (comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only coverage) and device protection policies, including Samsung Care+ plans. The company operates under New Zealand consumer law and publishes a Fair Conduct Programme to outline how it treats customers and handles disputes.

Why cancellation matters now

Assurant policies often renew automatically, which means you could be charged monthly or annually without actively choosing to continue. Premiums can also increase at renewal, sometimes without clear notification. Stopping unnecessary cover frees up money for priorities that matter to you - and Stopee's mission is to help you reclaim that control.

Your consumer rights when cancelling with assurant

New Zealand consumer law gives you strong protections when you cancel an insurance policy, and understanding these rights puts you in a much stronger position to negotiate refunds or challenge unfair terms.

Consumer guarantees act protections

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, Assurant must provide insurance services that are of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and delivered with reasonable care. If you discover the policy doesn't match what you were sold, or if Assurant breaches its fair dealing obligations, you have grounds to claim a refund or compensation - regardless of what the policy terms say.

This means if you were sold a policy under misleading circumstances, or if the cover didn't work as promised, you don't have to accept "no refund" as a final answer. Document everything: your complaint, Assurant's response, and the date you first raised the issue.

Cooling-off rights and fair conduct

Assurant's Fair Conduct Programme (effective 31 March 2025) commits the company to treating customers fairly and investigating complaints promptly. If Assurant refuses to refund you or process your cancellation, you can escalate to the Insurance and Savings Ombudsman (if your policy falls under their jurisdiction), or to the Commerce Commission if you believe unfair contract terms or misleading conduct occurred.

Most importantly, keep written records of every contact with Assurant. Screenshots, email confirmations, and dated notes create a paper trail that protects you in any dispute.

How to cancel assurant by phone, email, or post

Assurant offers multiple cancellation channels, and choosing the right one for your situation can speed up the process and reduce the chance of billing errors after you've asked to leave.

Cancel by phone (fastest option)

1. Call Assurant New Zealand on 0800 443 881 during business hours.
   • Have your policy number ready (check your policy documents or email statements).
   • Confirm the spelling of your name, email, and phone number as they appear on file.
   • Tell the agent you want to cancel your policy, and ask for the exact effective cancellation date.
   • Request the agent email you a written cancellation confirmation immediately after the call.
2. Ask directly: "Am I entitled to any refund, and how is that calculated?" Write down the answer word-for-word.
3. Ask the agent to send a summary of your cancellation by email within 24 hours, including the cancellation date and any refund amount.
4. Before hanging up, confirm that automatic renewals have been stopped and ask for the date they will process your request.

Pro tip: Call early in the week (Monday to Wednesday) when wait times are shorter and agents have more time to help you. Avoid Friday afternoons, when callbacks are slower.

Cancel by email (best for a paper trail)

1. If you hold a Samsung Care+ policy, email your cancellation request to samsungcareplus@assurant.com.
   • Include your full name, policy number, email address, and phone number.
   • State clearly: "I request cancellation of my policy effective [your preferred date]."
   • Ask for written confirmation of the cancellation and details of any refund within 10 business days.
2. For motor insurance or other policies, visit the Assurant New Zealand Help Centre and locate the contact form.
   • Select the form option related to your policy type.
   • Choose "Cancel policy" or equivalent in the reason or type field.
   • Fill in your policy number, full name, contact email, phone number, and preferred cancellation date.
   • In the message box, type: "I formally request cancellation of my policy effective [date]. Please send written confirmation and refund details within 10 business days."
   • Submit and keep a screenshot of the confirmation page as proof you submitted the request.
3. If Assurant doesn't respond within 10 business days, send a follow-up email titled "Second Cancellation Request" and reference your original submission date.

Pro tip: Email is your best friend when cancelling. Every email you send and every confirmation you receive becomes evidence if you later need to lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman or Commerce Commission. Assurant can't deny receiving a request if you have the email receipt.

Cancel by post (slowest but legally bulletproof)

1. Write a formal letter on plain paper or your letterhead (or print a template from Stopee) that includes:
   • Your full name, current address, and phone number.
   • Your Assurant policy number.
   • The statement: "I formally cancel my Assurant insurance policy effective [your chosen date, typically 14 days from the date of this letter]."
   • A request for written confirmation of the cancellation and any refund calculation.
   • Your signature and the date you're writing the letter.
2. Make a photocopy or take a photo of your letter for your records.
3. Send the letter by registered post (or standard post with proof of postage) to:
   • Assurant New Zealand Limited
     Level 7, 110 Symonds Street
     Grafton, Auckland 1010
     New Zealand
4. Keep your post office receipt as proof of sending.
5. Follow up by phone after 10 business days if you haven't received a written cancellation confirmation.

Warning: Postal cancellations take longer and are slower than phone or email, but they create a clear legal record. If Assurant claims they never received your request, you have proof via the post office. Use this method if you've already tried phone or email and Assurant hasn't responded within 10 business days.

Assurant pricing and what you're paying for

Understanding your current Assurant cost helps you decide whether cancellation makes sense, and shows you exactly what you'll save by leaving.

Sample motor insurance premiums

The table below shows typical Assurant motor insurance costs for a 2010 Toyota Corolla with a sum insured of NZ$6,500. Your actual premium depends on your vehicle, driver history, excess amount, and location. Request a personalised quote from Assurant to see your exact cost.

Pro tip: Compare these prices against other motor insurers in New Zealand (such as AA Insurance, State Insurance, or Vero) before you cancel. If you're paying significantly more with Assurant, switching could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Stopee's comparison tools help you find better-value alternatives in minutes.

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation doesn't end instantly - there's a transition period where you need to stay alert to avoid nasty surprises on your bank account or credit card.

Timeline and what to expect

Once Assurant receives and processes your cancellation request, the policy ends on the effective date you specified (or the date Assurant confirms, if they override your request). From that date forward, you cannot make new claims for incidents occurring after the cancellation date, and Assurant is no longer your insurer.

Automatic renewals should stop; however, monitor your bank or credit card statements for 60 days after cancellation to catch any surprise charges. If Assurant tries to renew your policy after you've cancelled, contact them immediately and ask for a full refund of the renewal charge - this is a breach of your cancellation request.

Protecting your data after cancellation

Assurant retains your personal information for legal and compliance reasons, even after you cancel. The company must comply with New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020, which means you can request to see what data Assurant holds about you. If you find errors or want clarification on how your data is used, submit a privacy request to Assurant and keep the response for your records.

If you no longer want Assurant to contact you, say so explicitly in your cancellation request: "Do not contact me for marketing or promotional purposes after the effective cancellation date." This ensures Assurant stops sending renewal notices and sales calls.

Will you get a refund when you cancel?

Refund entitlement is where most Assurant cancellations fall apart - the company doesn't advertise clear refund terms, which puts the burden on you to ask and negotiate.

How assurant calculates refunds

Assurant does not publish a standard, public refund policy for New Zealand customers. Refund outcomes depend on your policy type (motor vs. device protection), the date you cancel relative to the billing cycle, and the policy wording itself.

If you cancel mid-policy, Assurant may offer a pro-rata refund - meaning you get back a portion of the premium for the unused period. For example, if you paid NZ$823.32 for 12 months of motor cover but cancel after 4 months, you've used 4/12 of the premium. Assurant should refund approximately 8/12 of the cost, minus any administration fees they claim.

Warning: Always ask Assurant to provide a written calculation of your refund before you accept cancellation. Don't assume "no refund" is final - push back, especially if you've only had the policy for a few weeks.

Consumer guarantees act and cooling-off leverage

If Assurant sold you the policy through misleading statements, or if the cover didn't work as described, you can claim a full or partial refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act - even if the policy terms say "no refunds after 14 days."

For example, if a retailer told you the policy had "no excess" but Assurant's terms reveal a NZ$500 excess, you've been misled. Use this as leverage: "Your sales information was misleading. Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, I'm entitled to a refund. Please provide one within 10 business days, or I'll lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission."

Most companies pay refunds quickly once you cite consumer law, because dealing with regulators is far more expensive for them than issuing a refund to you.

Common mistakes that delay or derail cancellations

Cancelling feels simple in theory - one call or email - but small oversights can trap you in billing loops, missed refunds, and argument cycles that waste your time.

Mistake 1: not confirming the cancellation date in writing

When you cancel by phone, Assurant's agent tells you a cancellation date verbally. Days later, you discover the policy renewed anyway because you and Assurant disagreed on when it was supposed to end. Always ask the agent to email you a written confirmation that names the exact effective cancellation date. If that email doesn't arrive within 24 hours, call back and escalate.

Mistake 2: assuming "no refund" is final

If Assurant tells you there's no refund available, that's often their opening position, not the truth. Especially if you cancelled within the first 30 days or can show you were misled, push back. Ask for a supervisor, cite the Consumer Guarantees Act, and request a written explanation of why no refund applies. Many customers accept "no" too quickly and miss refunds they're owed.

Mistake 3: cancelling without checking your next billing date

If your policy is due to renew in 3 days, Assurant may charge the renewal fee before processing your cancellation. Once charged, refunding that renewal fee is much harder than preventing it. Check your next renewal date before you cancel, and time your cancellation to stop before the billing date hits.

Mistake 4: not keeping records

Screenshots fade, emails get deleted, and phone notes disappear. The moment you submit a cancellation request, save everything: confirmation pages, emails, phone notes (with times and agent names), and any written correspondence. Stopee users who document their cancellation process resolve disputes 80% faster than those who rely on memory.

Mistake 5: assuming automatic renewals will stop

Cancellation doesn't always kill automatic payments. Even after you've cancelled, Assurant may attempt a renewal charge unless you explicitly tell them to stop recurring payments. Confirm with the agent: "Please stop all automatic renewals and recurring charges, effective immediately." Ask for this in writing.

Assurant cancellation checklist

Use this checklist before, during, and after your cancellation to stay organised and protect yourself against common pitfalls.

Should you cancel assurant or switch to another provider?

Cancellation makes sense if your premium has risen significantly, if you've found cheaper cover elsewhere, or if you discovered the policy doesn't cover what you thought it did. But before you cancel, compare what you'd save against the cost of finding and setting up alternative cover.

Reasons to cancel

• Your annual premium has increased by more than 10-15% without clear reason.
• You've found equivalent cover at a competitor for at least 15-20% less.
• You realised the policy includes a high excess, limited coverage, or exclusions you don't accept.
• You switched to a different vehicle or device and no longer need the specific cover.
• The policy renewed without your active consent, and you want to regain control.

Reasons to keep assurant

• Your premium is stable and competitive compared to at least three other insurers.
• You've made claims successfully in the past and value the relationship.
• You're within the first 30 days and cancellation would lose you a pro-rata refund anyway (in this case, wait until you're further into the policy).
• The policy includes benefits (like roadside assistance or accidental damage cover) that competitors don't offer at your current price.

Stopee's philosophy is simple: you own your money, and you should be in control of where it goes. If Assurant no longer offers value, cancel without guilt. If it does, keep it and review annually.

Contact assurant NZ to cancel or ask questions

Use this contact information to initiate or follow up on your cancellation request with Assurant New Zealand.

Phone

0800 443 881 (verify current business hours on Assurant's website before calling)

Email

For Samsung Care+ policies: samsungcareplus@assurant.com

For other policies: use the Assurant New Zealand Help Centre contact form or reply to your latest policy statement email.

Postal address

Assurant New Zealand Limited
Level 7, 110 Symonds Street
Grafton, Auckland 1010
New Zealand

Include your policy number and cancellation request in any written correspondence.

Final thoughts on taking control of your insurance

Cancelling an Assurant policy is your right, and understanding how to do it clearly and confidently transforms a potentially frustrating process into a straightforward one. Whether you're cancelling because costs have crept up, because you found better value, or because the cover wasn't what you expected, you're making an active choice about your money - and that's what empowerment looks like.

Assurant operates under New Zealand consumer law, which means you have real legal protections: the Consumer Guarantees Act, the Fair Conduct Programme, and access to the Ombudsman if disputes arise. Don't let Assurant's reluctance to advertise refund terms intimidate you into accepting "no refund" as final. Push back, ask for calculations, and cite consumer law when you're entitled to a refund.

For thousands of Kiwi consumers, Stopee has made the cancellation process faster, less stressful, and more likely to succeed. From writing cancellation letters to tracking refunds and escalating complaints, Stopee's guides and tools ensure you have the knowledge and confidence to cancel on your own terms. Whatever you decide - whether to cancel Assurant or to switch to a competitor - Stopee has helped thousands of consumers take back control of their subscriptions and insurance policies, and we're here to support your decision.