anyone got 1st central car insurance?

sjaineb

I have searched many a comparison site for insurance renewal prices, 1st central came up cheapest every time, as they were on so many sites I thought they must be a reputable company. I thought I would call direct to confirm that the cheap cheap quotes I was getting were true, so when I Googled for their number this thread came up as the second on the list, just within in my window space, I am very glad now.

spendtoomuch£

domll wrote: »

Wish i had found this site earlier...signed up in June and i've just lost 6yrs NCB off 10 for accidently rubbing my bumper on another car, small amount of paint scuffed. 6YRS!!! can't believe it:(

Hi all!

This is my first time posting in this forum, but I swear that I have never worked for 1st central. I have, however, worked for the 4 largest motor insurance companies. I came across this forum as I am insured with 1st and I couldn't find any info regarding DOC in my t&c's & my car has flat tyre (was going to drive my brother's). From working in sales, renewals and as a senior bodily injury/ liability claims negoiator I have beared the brunt of many angry customers and it bothers me looking at some of the complaints here how uneducated many people are about car insurance. There are also soooo many myths that I wish would stop being passed around.

Unbelieveably most of the damaging comments in this thread are regarding points which are clearly outlined in the terms and conditions- whoever enters an agreement without reading these properly should be more annoyed with yourself! Car insurance is extremely important!

To the poster above.. do you think that if you were with another company you would have been left with more NCB? Read the t&c's! And its the SAME for the majority of companies unless you have protected them..

In the event of a claim being made or arising under this policy your no claims bonus at renewal will be reduced in accordance with our declared scale:
1 year Nil years
2 years Nil years
3 years 1 year
4 years 2 years
5 - 7 years 3 years
8 years+- 4 years (anything over 8 years is counted as the same- 10 is the same as 15 and 20 years, your premium won't be cheaper- if you don't protect them it will go back to 3 or 4 years, be warned!)

Also, DOC is widely misused.. it is supposed to provide third party only cover in need of emergencies, it is not meant to give everyone who has fully comp the right to drive any car regularly. I imagine the reason that 1st don't do it is because it is so expensive for insurers (I have seen this)- classic example I have fully comp on my £1K car which has a 1100cc engine.. should that mean that I can drive my dads £80K 4200cc engine? Well yes technically if I have DOC but there are concerns that driving such a powerful car should come with finanical responsibility. There are many articles regarding the costly misuse of DOC.

Also, you can move to a "nicer, lower crime" area but that does not necessarily mean that your premium should go down.. the rating is on the postcode and the claims that have arisen- ALL claims not just theft, could be a lot of accidents in the area.

To spoikee you might have called up to inform that there would be no claim being made but they need confirmation from the other party's insurer that there will be no claim pursued, think they'll just take your word for it? You'll be suprised how many people lie.

To sarah_ps if you put your details down wrong and it requires an amendment to the certificate of motor insurance then that will incur a charge as it is a legal document, however usually this shouldn't be more than £15. Personalised number plates (particularly in younger drivers) tend to be deemed higher risk due to larger claims arising from that group. Car insurance is generalised and you will be put into categories but there are over 30 rating factors that are taken into consideration.

Rant over.. if anyone has more q's don't hesitate to ask..

As for 1st Central, I haven't had to deal with any claims but if you pay for the cheapest I wouldn't be suprised to have the lower quality service compared to other companies. That saying, I have dealt with a lot of large companies with overseas call centres who have staff that are clueless.

tonymorton

HIi, i have had my car written off, by 1st central claim ref 11/0021636, and they have deducted the the settlement figure, but not paid the finance company, guess what suddenly i get threatening letters and costs of £80, can anyone help!!! ****hope you are looking at this post Tom1stcentral

Quentin

Pass on these threatening letters unanswered to 1st C - (use recorded delivery). They will eventually have to deal with this!

tonymorton

Thanks Quentin,

i will give it a try, sorry about spelling earlier, but i were so mad with 1st C.

mikey72

spendtoomuch£ wrote: »

..............Also, DOC is widely misused.. it is supposed to provide third party only cover in need of emergencies, it is not meant to give everyone who has fully comp the right to drive any car regularly. I imagine the reason that 1st don't do it is because it is so expensive for insurers (I have seen this)- classic example I have fully comp on my £1K car which has a 1100cc engine.. should that mean that I can drive my dads £80K 4200cc engine? Well yes technically if I have DOC but there are concerns that driving such a powerful car should come with finanical responsibility. There are many articles regarding the costly misuse of DOC.........................

This old red herring.

So you have defined "emergencies" in the t&c's, or actually stated this anywhere?
If you haven't, it means exactually what it says, you don't get to quote any urban myths, or imagine any reasons why I can't.

If it says I can drive other cars third party, I can drive other cars third party. As even you eventually admit, yes, you can drive anything third party, the insurer doesn't get to make up imaginary conditions afterwards.

As your first post, if you do work in insurance, factual answers would be more helpful than myths.

Chloesdaddy

I first took out a policy with first central insurance in June 2010 "FULLY COMP" on a pay monthly policy. Due to having a new young family the time there was no way I could afford the one off payment. This is something that I have done in the past with other companies and always have had the peice of mind that if I was to have an accident I would be fully covered. In January 2011 my partner was involved in an accident that wasn't her fault. I rang the company to report my claim and spoke to a rather rude lady on the phone " hi I'm ringing to report an accident" "oh great can I take our details please" (really you think the word great was the best word to use there love?) things just went from bad to worse. Cutting a very long winded story short (and that is being polite) the company payed out. But only on their terms. They took the value of the remainder of the policy and the excess out of the value of the car (the excess I would expect until everything was finalised) which left me with "peanuts" I asked can I not just pay the remainder of the policy off monthly as I have been doing? No was their reply. I have never
Known this at any other provider. I was told don't worry you'll be insured for the remainder of the year! (great with what car????) again a lack of sympathy from the claims team. I was also told you should have read the fine print blah blah blah. It was in your contract. I just thought I would warn people to stear clear.

Tom I do not want a response from you! And I don't want to hear you say this was usually practice for your company. I've heard it all before. I have never been so disgusted with a service provided to me. I have worked in Customer service for all of my working life and would never treat people the way I have been. I am over this now and am not complaining. I am warning others to not make the same
Mistake as me and trust first central insurance.

Quentin

Chloesdaddy wrote: »

Cutting a very long winded story short (and that is being polite) the company payed out. But only on their terms. They took the value of the remainder of the policy and the excess out of the value of the car (the excess I would expect until everything was finalised) which left me with "peanuts" I asked can I not just pay the remainder of the policy off monthly as I have been doing? No was their reply. I have never
Known this at any other provider. I was told don't worry you'll be insured for the remainder of the year! (great with what car????)...

In fact your complaint regarding what they paid you is groundless.

It is the norm for the payout after a write off to have the outstanding premium deducted.

Your excess was correctly deducted (you agreed to pay an excess in the event of a claim, and this was an uninsured loss which you normally need to pursue the third party for, along with any other uninsured losses).

Many policies end with a write off, so them allowing the policy to continue was a bonus!

Next time you are involved in an incident where the third party is fully to blame you will cut out all these problems by making your claim directly with the third party instead of claiming off your own policy (esp if your policy is with 1st central!)

Westerby

I Like so many, Thought I was dealing with a reputable company. I took out a comprehensive policy with !st Central in august, assuming it had 3rd party cover for driving other vehicles, as I have had for the last 40 years, and other companies still provide. On inquiring about this missing extension, I was told it could be any reason they did not include this, and probably my AGE. So I was relieved to discover that no one gets this provision. As the policy is not any good for me I cancelled today Only to be told their is a £50 cancellation fee. What is comprehensive about their policies

1jim

I have been insured with this company in the past and had no issues but in fairness I did not need to make a claim but from what I recall getting policy set up wasn't an issue and getting the policy terminated at end of the year wasn't an issue either

I am toying with taking out this years cover with them as they are £150+ cheaper than others and the excess is £200 pounds less than others. Am I mad considering it? It seems to me that a lot of the complaints are about 3rd party cover for other cars not being present. I wouldn't need that as named driver on other policy. Other complaints seem to be about write off and deductions but again these seem standard? Other issues about charges for changing details- a lot of companies seem to do this now so are there charges way out of line with others? Reports of being slow to payout in a claim- if drivable probably not an issue but presumably there would be some way to get them to speed up- maybe obtain hire car and bill them for the delay?

Objective thoughts would be welcome
Thanks