anyone got 1st central car insurance?

kriss22

Just to let people know about my experience with 1st Central.

Afer using them for a year I decided to leave as their renewal price was substancially more than other quotes I had found.

I had no problems with them during the year but probably because I hadnt needed to claim.

My renewal was up in Sepember so I wrote to them to cancel in August. (This is where the fun begins).

They ignored my letter and went ahead and took a payment out of my bank - even though I hadnt clicked on their website agreeing to the instalment credit agreement.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt I tried to ring but was kept waiting too long so decided to write again recorded. I know this time they have received the letter as it was signed for by them over two weeks ago. (I use the word signed loosly as it was illegible)

Since then they have had 4 attempts to take money from my bank. I am now in the process of reporting them. They will not get my money as I check it every day but this should not be happening.

I would avoid this company even if they are the cheapest.

scheming_gypsy

kriss22 wrote: »

J

My renewal was up in Sepember so I wrote to them to cancel in August. (This is where the fun begins).

They ignored my letter and went ahead and took a payment out of my bank - even though I hadnt clicked on their website agreeing to the instalment credit agreement.

That's strange.

When I got my renewal in July, it said "Please note that 1st Central will not automatically renew your policy. Please go to https://www.1stcentralinsurance.com/renew to avoid any break in your cover.

sallyrsm

Here is some more information about my experiences with 1st Central Insurance. When I tried to renew my policy the website and all their systems were down. I eventually managed to get someone to issue me with a cover note, so that I could call back and renew when the systems were back up. After a few days I received a Certificate of Insurance via email which I knew I hadn't paid for, so I phoned them, spending 30 minutes on hold, to be told that the policy HAD been paid for, by direct debit.
I told them that was pretty clever as they had never had my bank details, as I always pay for my insurance in full using the credit card I use exclusively for car-related purchases (diesel, etc) and pay off every month.
They told me to ring their finance department the following day as customer services can't take payments. So I did. This time I spent 25 minutes on hold trying to get through.
I made my payment in full by credit card.
The following day I get a letter from them saying I need to pay for my insurance as they'd been unable to take payment. I ignored it, thinking that the letter had been sent before I managed to pay for the policy. Yesterday (21 days after the payment) I get a threatening letter saying they've been unable to take payment for my policy as the direct debit had been stopped (yes, the direct debit they can't possibly have had as they've never ever ever ever had my bank account details) and to ring the finance department between nine and five otherwise they were going to cancel my policy.
However, the phone number they gave on the letter was the customer service department, you know, the one that can't take payments?? so I rang it. 15 minutes on hold. Gave my info to the guy on the phone, then got transferred to the finance department after another five minutes on hold and having to explain my story twice to people who clearly didn't understand that the reason I hadn't paid by direct debit was because I'd never set one up. They kept saying "so was your direct debit returned?" NOPE.
I gave the date the money came off my credit card and they assured me I could ignore the threatening letter as they'd put a not on my account that the policy was paid for.
However, I am not convinced. I will be carrying a copy of my credit card statement for the inevitable time I get pulled over by the Police for having no bloody insurance.
I would laugh if it wasn't so blatantly unfunny.
To cut a long story short, I won't be renewing next year. If they can so spectacularly foul up taking payments then I have no confidence they could deal with me should I ever have a prang.
1st Central Insurance. Not even once.

Nsb

Hi all.
I recently had a car policy with 1st Central Insurance and I wished I read the reviews on the web and there Facebook 1st.
My problems started when I cancelled my policy in September. And I was given a final statement to pay no problems there apart from one or two extra hidden charges. the final balance was paid in full in the same month using the online payment system, with a confermation receipt email.
This is when the problems started I've been called more than 6 times by 1st central asking for there money and on every occasion I've explained that all monies have been paid.
Then I start getting calls from the debt recovery company CRS and up to tadays date I have received 24 calls even though I've explained that all monies have been paid. There response was untill our client informs use that the monies have been paid you will continue to receive calls and texts (8 texts to date).
Whilst this is going on I've emailed every one of 1st central insurance contact emails on there website from customer relations to sales and guess what all emails are not monitored. So I've received not one email reply. So I've called 1st central insurance on 4 occasions only to be on hold over 10 mins on each call at premium rate. (I'm sure this generates an extra revenue for 1st). We you do get through you are told that it will be looked in to. (what a joke) as its been going on for 2 months.
And the icing on the cake today CRS had text me to saying they are going to attend my premerses..
(I wounded if Customer relations will read this review and give me a response to how bad there service is. Policy no. Pmc0000141003fc).
Whilst this mater has been going on I've been charged an additional fee £103.01 for calls/texta and admin. as I've answered every call and wasted my time in doing so I would like to be compensated the same amount £103.01 does any one know how I can charge them.
This amount will be donated to a children's hospice.
I wish I'd never used 1st central insurance.

Nsb

Hi all.
I recently had a car policy with 1st Central Insurance and I wished I read the reviews on the web and there Facebook 1st.
My problems started when I cancelled my policy in September. And I was given a final statement to pay no problems there apart from one or two extra hidden charges. the final balance was paid in full in the same month using the online payment system, with a confermation receipt email.
This is when the problems started I've been called more than 6 times by 1st central asking for there money and on every occasion I've explained that all monies have been paid.
Then I start getting calls from the debt recovery company CRS and up to tadays date I have received 24 calls even though I've explained that all monies have been paid. There response was untill our client informs use that the monies have been paid you will continue to receive calls and texts (8 texts to date).
Whilst this is going on I've emailed every one of 1st central insurance contact emails on there website from customer relations to sales and guess what all emails are not monitored. So I've received not one email reply. So I've called 1st central insurance on 4 occasions only to be on hold over 10 mins on each call at premium rate. (I'm sure this generates an extra revenue for 1st). We you do get through you are told that it will be looked in to. (what a joke) as its been going on for 2 months.
And the icing on the cake today CRS had text me to saying they are going to attend my premerses..
(I wounded if Customer relations will read this review and give me a response to how bad there service is. Policy no. Pmc0000141003fc).
Whilst this mater has been going on I've been charged an additional fee £103.01 for calls/texta and admin. as I've answered every call and wasted my time in doing so I would like to be compensated the same amount £103.01 does any one know how I can charge them.
This amount will be donated to a children's hospice.
I wish I'd never used 1st central insurance.

Craig_f_2

I wish I'd read the reviews of this company as well

I had a policy with them at my old address.
The renewal was coming up and I'd moved house, so I asked for a quote on my new address and for them to update their records with my new address.

I now have: 2 insurance certificates, 2 schedules of insurance.
Despite not signing the credit agreement (to pay monthly) they still insist on taking money from my bank account!

A complaint letter is ongoing as we speak.:mad:

rudyxp

they have cancelled my insurance the day before yesterday, but that was not a good reason not to take next payment from my account, so here it is how does it look like:
they cancelled my insurance at 19th, then at 20th they took next payment from my account, now I am waiting for them to give my back my deposit but I can not get any information since they keep telling me all the time that they can not provide any more informations about this at this point, and I should wait for e-mail, which I am waiting for 10 days now. Not to mention numerous calls, every single one over 20 mins and plenty of emails sent, their multiple requests for the same documents etc.


If you ever see 1st central insurance - run, run, run. Big NO to them.

dolly79

Is it correct that 1st central should be taking a £30 fee of me each time i miss a payment instead of doing what most companies do and apply for the normal payment a few days later. Is this not daylight robbery

dacouch

rudyxp wrote: »

they have cancelled my insurance the day before yesterday, but that was not a good reason not to take next payment from my account, so here it is how does it look like:
they cancelled my insurance at 19th, then at 20th they took next payment from my account, now I am waiting for them to give my back my deposit but I can not get any information since they keep telling me all the time that they can not provide any more informations about this at this point, and I should wait for e-mail, which I am waiting for 10 days now. Not to mention numerous calls, every single one over 20 mins and plenty of emails sent, their multiple requests for the same documents etc.


If you ever see 1st central insurance - run, run, run. Big NO to them.

Google "Direct Debit Guarantee" which basically means banks have all signed up to immediately refund incorrect direct debits. You need to speak to your bank about it although some will try and fob you off so make sure you read up on it first.

Bear in mind the 1st Central may ask you for the refunded money back at a future date if it is owed to them

SimonSays

Next time your haggling for a cheaper price from insurance (Why do you do this you don't go into tesco and haggle) just think if you keep cutting the bottom line you get companies like this.

So companies like this existing is down to the people who frequent this website and screw the bottom line even lower.