Animal Mother

Before we commit to buying an STi blob, we thought (wife and I) would check that the insurance would not be a hindrance. It wasn't!

£315 for both of us (I'm named driver) Fully Comp with windscreen, personal injury and legal cover and a hire car.

Now we just need to see if she can actually manage to drive one!

walsallboy

iTrader: (1)

Whos That with ?

Animal Mother

...or £337 with £0 voluntary excess and protected no claims.

1st Central via Money Supermarket.

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Check the compulsory excess though, and ring 1st Central to confirm the quote before you buy the car, as often these comparison sites don't give the actual price.

Animal Mother

£150 compulsory.

There's quite a few companies offering less than £350 so it'll be about right.

Moley

iTrader: (9)

....... Is what I hear all day, followed by a phone call a few hours later saying "oh yeah, the price went up when I went to pay for the policy."

This isn't the case all the time, and the increases don't tend to be huge, but it's always best to make a phone call just to check its all ok

Reshard1977

iTrader: (17)

Wish my insurance was that cheap! I pay £900 for a bug WRX wagon!

mtb_ed

iTrader: (4)

Don't do it. They are the worst company I have dealt with regarding insurance.

I recently had my renewal, but as 2 weeks before the due date some moron had crashed into the back of my family wagon whilst I was stationary at a junction. So as an unsettled claim a lot of companies wouldn't even give me a quote.

So I had no choice but to stay with them. So an hour on the phone I went through all the required details. As I had a letter from my solicitor and Direct line saying the third party had accepted liability for the recent accident I declared it as a non fault incident and unsettled. The sales representative advised me I was correct.

7 days after the policy had started I got an email saying that I had given incorrect information and on the insurance database it was down as fault claim. Followed by a policy increase of £168! I rang several times and went through the details and they just said I had to pay until the claim was settled! even tho I declared at quotation as unsettled.

I asked them "If the police pulled me over because they're database shows I have no insurance and I show them my proof of insurance. Do I still get arrested for driving with no insurance as the database isn't always correct." Absolute no difference to what was happening with my proof.

I have spent in excess of £50 in phones calls going through this and they would not even accept the letters from either the solicitor or direct line as evidence. I rang several major insurance companies who all said they were not compiling to required legislation.

So I sent the Insurance Ombudsman a letter of compliant and cc the complaints department of 1st Central. I then rang the complaints department and suddenly they seemed interest to what I had to say. They then went throughout the 5hr plus phone calls and found the following.

1. I gave the correct information as non fault as I had proof of accepted liability.
2. The Sales representative should not be advising.
3. The evidence should have been accepted.
4. I should not have had to pay the money, had to else they have cancelled my insurance.
5. I will get a refund within 5-7 working days. It's been 12 working days and still no money. So chase up time.

All I can say if that's how they are when buying a policy imagine having to make a claim!!!

During this I rang A Plan to which they beat the quote but I couldn't cancel with 1st Central even during the 14 day cool off as they're charges to leave are horrendous. It was going to cost me £275 of a £456 policy to leave after 12 days.