Advice please on my car insurers (Sheila's Wheels, esure, Halifax, Norwich Union)

greenfish

Hello.

Using the advice given here in MoneySaving Expert <http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/compare-cheap-car-insurance#step2>, I visited sites like MoneySupermarket and GoCompare to shortlist some insurance companies offering the car cover for myself. I took the cheapest ones and then confirmed their details by getting each of these companies to give me an online quotation.

My shortlisted car insurance companies are: SHEILA'S WHEELS, ESURE, HALIFAX and NORWICH UNION (my current insurer).

Then I may have made a big mistake!!! ... I went and read Review Centre's postings and saw some of the really bad reviews these companies had got. For example: <http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews96183.html>

Could anyone please comment on the accuracy of the negative postings in Review Centre?

For me, price is important but it's not so important if it is at the complete expense of customer service, paying on claims, straightforward admin, etc.

Any info or advice would be most welcome.

Thank you
"Greenfish"

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stugib

greenfish wrote: »

Could anyone please comment on the accuracy of the negative postings in Review Centre?

It's car insurance, not something people are going to be so passionate about that they write when they've had good service. People, as with many online reviews and including places like MSE, are far more motivated to post when they feel wronged. They also generally only have experience of dealing with the company when they claim, which will be a minority of customers, and the most likely time for people to get annoyed.

So I expect most reviews are accurate on an individual basis but I wouldn't take it as representative overall.

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

I work in the insurance industry and I am insured with NU (although I do not work for them or for a company that has anything to do with them). I made a complaint about the service I received about their callcentre (it's outside the UK and the handler gave me incorrect advice - not a good thing to do when I work in the industry!!) and NU dealt with that very well.

I think that this highlights that the service of any company (especially the ones you have named) is only as good as the last person you spoke to.

I'd go with the one that provides you with the best cover at the best price; if you are going to insure with a callcentre, you have to expect that there will be people who do not know their glutimus from their funny bone!!

deanos

I wouldnt worry look at all the other company reviews they are not very high at all.

Ive just got house insurance for my dad with sheilas wheels they have 5 star defaqto rating so they cant be that bad

Debras_Angel

Hi Greenfish,

I have my car insurance with SHeilas Wheels and they have been no problem. In fact I was with Halifax and swapped to Sheilas wheels, they are both underwritten by esure.

There customer service I have found to be excellent.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=396649

see below for earlier post. I also got it renewed this year for £3 less.

comparecom

If you are a female (which I am guessing you are) ladybird are offering some of the best car insurance prices for women and offer some great levels of cover!

alternate

I find the same thing looking for car insurance. Most insurers drag their feet when you claim so anyone who tends to review them generally is less than pleased.

Although searching boards like this the cheaper quoting companies (e.g. swiftcover and admiral/elephant do seem to get more complaints.)

esure seems to underwright a lot of names and they seem to get reasonable feedback.

jemma545

On the topic of Women drivers insurance, sometimes it is not always the better deals. The companies like sheilas wheels quote a nearly exact same quote on their partner (Esure) site. So is there any real benefit to us women, or is the gimmick of women only used to lure us in, and stop us from shopping around a little more? Take a look at the following page, it looked at the differences in quotes between the female and male insurers:

http://www.noclaimsdiscount.co.uk/news/art_display.php?show=200902131

I know that i may shop around a little more before deciding to trust....

pineapple

I was with Esure then another insurer and will probably be with Esure again. It's not just the premiums you have to consider but how efficient they are.
The middle one was a nightmare. I am not sure if I dare say who it was but never again. It turned out the front company was a broker and they and the actual insurers could not get their information correct between them. The 3 speeding points from 2007 were recorded when I took out the insurance but they got the date wrong on the policy and then the actual insurers held up a claim because they had no record of the points at all! Then when my renewal letter came through I noted that they had missed off an accident. There should have been two not one. When I rung to point it out the quote went up by £50. So I shopped around and decided on Esure. But then I realised the quoted NCD was probably wrong too. The call centre I spoke to thought it would probably have to be amended. After having 9 years with no claims, my NCD had gone down to 3 years after one accident but two accidents in one year were likely to take my NCD to one year! However they couldn't tell me as it was a weekend when I asked. So I will have to ring them again in the week and then contact Esure again. Sigh...