Hastings Smartmiles - Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!

SkintCharl

I am so upset and angry! My 18 year old daughter took out a Hastings Smartmiles policy about 6 months ago - this is one of the policies with a black box that allows the driver to build up a driver history with the idea of reducing premiums as they demonstrate safe driving. They are very much marketed as a 'young drivers' policy.

She originally took this policy on her provisional license and on passing her test contacted them with the new information - her premiums increased substantially at this point (not a huge surprise that they went up but a 50% increase was a shock.)

She has now started university (not unusual for someone of her age) and has contacted them to discuss her term time address and they have advised her they will not only be cancelling her policy forthwith but charging her a cancellation fee for the privilege!

As the policy has been cancelled partway through the year she will get no benefit from the good driving profile she has built up over the last 6 months and no benefit from any no claims discount - she will however get all of the up front fees of setting up the policy, black box installation etc included in her costs before any settlement sum (either way) is decided.

This post is partly a warning for anyone thinking of taking a policy with this company for a young person thinking of going away to study as they may well find themselves in a similar situation. Please think twice about dealing with these people.

Also does anyone have any experience of similar situations and able to offer me any help. I feel she has been totally ripped off and am really very, very upset about the situation.

Please help.

SkintCharl

I will also add that a quick search on a price comparison database with the details as per the existing policy brings up this exact policy at approximately half the price they are currently charging her!