Hastings Direct demand for location data via their app

saintyuk

Hello all,

Can anyone shed any light on the following?
As far as I'm aware the policy I bought said nothing about this including in the terms and conditions

Note: my policy is not their telematics type named "Hasting Direct youdrive", it is actually their "top tier" policy called "Hastings Premier"

Goudy

It's not collecting driving data, just you run the app for your policy and that requires you to share the location of the device it's loaded onto, that doesn't mean your location.
One rule - catch all.

I would stick it on an old phone or tablet, turn on the location sharing and then delete it off your main phone.
You have then compiled.

DullGreyGuy

Hastings Direct probably can?

saintyuk

Thanks for the reply. 
I'm still scratching my head a little as none of this was mentioned as far as I'm aware, feels a bit like I've been conned

400ixl

The irony in Hastings calling anything Premier. They are a bottom feeding insurer who try to upsell / force extra payments at every opportunity.

If the App is https://play.google.com/store/apps/datasafety?id=com.hastingsdirect.mobile then it is not a telematics apps, a more general app for personal data collection, upselling and administration. Location looks like it could be for the emergency functionality as that is one of the main differences between Direct and Premier (the breakdown cover).

Precise location data they are requesting does allow them to collect data such as from the accelerometer and gyroscope from the phone as well. If you were the cynical type and see how Hastings generally work ......

Goudy

saintyuk said:

Thanks for the reply. 
I'm still scratching my head a little as none of this was mentioned as far as I'm aware, feels a bit like I've been conned

I don't see it as a con, it's just a condition of their app and you bought your policy knowing it's managed via the app.
It's for personal data collection and admin.
I guess they could question you if it kept locating in Glasgow but you said you lived and worked in Chipping Norton!

You have to have the app and have to have the location data turned on, they don't say you have to carry the device everywhere you go.

I have apps that require data location being on, they are all loaded on to my work phone that is turned off in the back of my desk.
I only turn it on once a month as one app is for filling in my out of hours pay!

saintyuk

@Goudy As far as I'm aware I purchased an online policy, not an app policy.
The entire transaction was completed via moneysupermarket on a desktop PC.

Goudy

Online as includes "limited call centre support" and a "highly rated app"?

Your support is via the app.

As you have it, they want to to turn the location data on.

Moneysupermarket aren't Hastings, they are just an online insurance search engine.
Your policy is a online policy as in via the app.

I have an online policy but it's via a web portal, but app or webportal it's all the same, it's online.

saintyuk

No, that is not correct.
A website and an app are totally different, an app is running constantly with potentially far more permissions. 

Nobbie1967

I think I had this with my Hastings policy, but I just installed the app on my IPad that rarely leaves the house. Certainly wouldn’t like it monitoring my driving unless this was very clearly stated on the policy upfront rather than hidden in the t&cs.

After all I’ve read about Hasting, I will be changing insurer next year. So far I’ve managed to avoid any extra charges by copying dates straight off V5 and driving license.

HillStreetBlues

I wonder what the T&Cs states?  Install App give permissions block it calling home via a firewall.