Anyone used 1st Central for Car insurance

Bob998

Has anyone used 1st central car insurance? Looking for a new insurer as my quote has gone up £300 this year with my existing provider. And they have come up as the cheapest by around £400 / £500 compared to my new quote. I was looking at 1st Choice premium with the breakdown ect. 
Reviews seem good. Over 4 stars on most sites. 
Thank you. 

fb1969

The more recent reviews here aren't exactly flattering:  https://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews232123.html

Bob998

Yeah I've seen that but there's always more negative people complains than post compliments. Especially online. 

Do you know anyone that's had any dealing? 

Bob998

What about Hastings direct?

oscarward

I had insurance with them some time ago, they’re cheap for a reason. Unless they have improved radically then expect everything to be ok until you need them..

had an accident and they got the car recovered then when the repairers tried to collect to assess recovery company wouldn’t release car  without payment which 1st couldn’t manage. I.e. send an invoice and we may send a cheque didn’t cut it. Then the call centre couldn’t be contacted , hour long waits on hold became tiresome before being cut off. In the end I gave up and got an accident management company to handle.  As it was a no fault case it worked out ok in the end.

Bob998

oscarward said:

I had insurance with them some time ago, they’re cheap for a reason. Unless they have improved radically then expect everything to be ok until you need them..

had an accident and they got the car recovered then when the repairers tried to collect to assess recovery company wouldn’t release car  without payment which 1st couldn’t manage. I.e. send an invoice and we may send a cheque didn’t cut it. Then the call centre couldn’t be contacted , hour long waits on hold became tiresome before being cut off. In the end I gave up and got an accident management company to handle.  As it was a no fault case it worked out ok in the end.

Oh god. This doesn't sound the best. In two minds about what to do 

annetheman

I've used them since I started driving again (2016 to present) and haven't switched as they have usually been the cheapest available option. When I last checked at renewal, I could have saved about £10 per year by switching to someone else but I am perfectly happy with 1st central and possibly about to move house so will consider it upon renewal in April.

The switch would be to save money, not because of 1st central's customer service, which I have always found to be fine. I've only ever called them to change address and update my policy, otherwise managed things online.

People are more likely to leave bad reviews than good, as you know. Happy people don't bother. I'd recommend you switch if it's cheaper for you!

chrisw

In my experience, this mass end of the market is much of a muchness. There will be many people who've had a good experience and there will be quite a few who had issues.

For savings of around £10 or so I wouldn't bother, but for savings of around £500 I'd certainly take the risk. You could equally have issues had you gone with company Y, but most issues do tend to get resolved in the end.

Bob998

Thanks for the advice guys. 
The next one that's got fair decent reviews is Hastings direct. 

JustAnotherSaver

Brother has been with them twice. They were OK. But then he was involved in a claim and it didn't go so great. 
Cheap though.