Wiser Choice car insurance - any experience?

diadeb

A quote for this company has come up as very competitive. Reading the blurb it's a division of Europa Group and is specifically aimed at the over forties. I've never come across them before and can't find any information on the net about them. Is anyone here insured with them or ever had to claim whilst insured by them?

InsideInsurance

First of all, they aren't part of Europa Group, they are an appointed representative of them - ie Europa accept responsibility for their actions from an FSA perspective as they are not authorised in their own right.

Not being authorised tends to suggest they are very small players or that financial services are only a small part of their business.

They are a broker/ intermediary and not an insurer and so even if they are unknown you should have a bigger name on the insurance itself. Of cause they can layer their own T&Cs over the main policy and likewise can be using all sorts of different providers for different parts of the policy (eg motor, legal, direct debits etc) and so just because its a big insurer behind the core policy doesnt mean you should totally ignore who you are buying through

tdklojm

When I first checked this company out they came out as a very good quote, however reading the small print they were a few problems which I was not happy with.

The main area of concern was that in the event of an accident there may be a courtsey car if available, not what you need in an emergency.

There were also problems with other car 3rd party and lack of towing cover.

The customer care service is at best poor and generally very unhelpful as I spent over 20 minutes on the phone at a premium rate. I only had the policy for 4 days and was charged a fee to cancel the policy.

Pay the extra few pounds and go with one of the bigger companies that take pride in providing a customer based product .

rudekid48

InsideInsurance wrote: »

First of all, they aren't part of Europa Group, they are an appointed representative of them - ie Europa accept responsibility for their actions from an FSA perspective as they are not authorised in their own right.

This isn't strictly true. Wiser Choice is just a brand name that IS operated by Europa group, similar to One Quote Direct and Motorcycle Direct.

All the same company, just different brands aimed at different market sectors.

Teflonbon

Do not use this company. Just had a renewal price for over £1000 more than previous year. When I phoned to cancel the renewal was put on hold for 17 minutes, 27 minutes in total, all on an 0844 number. Just received a letter telling me that renewal is complete and starting 16 December which means a trip to the bank to cancel DD and another waste of money and time calling them to resolve the issue. Gone with a bigger company, Admiral and got a cheaper deal than I got from Wiser choice the previous year all on a Freephone number(0800). Wiser choice has no idea of what customer service is all about and doesn't care so long as they are getting your money!!!

Tracy2

Stay away from them. I fell for the quote but got bombarded with letters asking for proof of NCB (I had started a new additional policy so had no NCB and had put this in the insurance details when searching for a quote), copies of driving licence, Registration document etc. After sending them everything they asked I received demands for the same again, their admin is very poor. If you try and ring them you have to use a 0844 number and they take ages to answer. Then I moved house, changed address in the same insurance risk area but was charged £50 just for admin fees (yes it says any change costs in the small print) but after all he hassle and the extra £50 I will never go with them again. Their quote is a loss leader, remember, you get what you pay for. Stay well away

Jonna99

I found them to be cheap but the service was equally cheap, I got charged £20 3 times as a result of unpaid direct debits, fair enough, my fault, money was tight as my wife was on maternity but found that extortionate, they cancelled my policy, now got a debt collector after the money, which I begrudge paying!!! Out of interest, can the collection agency put this on my credit report???

FutureGirl

You should probably start your own thread rather than reviving an almost 2 year old thread.

And yes they can put it on your credit report.

steved164

Spent 30 minutes on renewal line to be finally answered by customer "service" who advised they were too busy and offered a call back. I did not get a call back. I then got several emails thanking me for a renewal I did no agree to. Eventually after many emails I got confirmation that my renewal was cancelled. I then got an email saying my policy was cancelled immediately and I should not drive the car!! Several emails later I get confirmation it is cancelled from renewal. Appalling service. My alternate quote was cheaper but I was calling to give the opportunity for you to match - they certainly blew that one. I will NEVER use Wiser Choice again and would not recommend them.

Poodle55555

An absolute disgrace! If you need to speak to them you have to call a Premium Rate number at 7 pence a minute and they will leave you on hold for at least half an hour EVERY time. When I eventually got through the girl said she couldn't do anything to help and would have to put me back on hold which I refused to do. She then offered me a call back which, needless to say, did not happen.

An absolute con to make money from their customers by leaving them on hold for over half an hour at 7p a minute. Go with a professional insurance company that actually cares about their customers and are not there to profiteer from premium rate lines.

paddyandstumpy

To be fair I found 3 freephone numbers in about 10 seconds of looking on their website, so you didn't have to pay to call...