Hastings Direct You Drive

emmail75

paul_c123 said:

Does the car have a heated front screen?

Yes.......

paul_c123

Bingo!

The GPS function of a phone is very poor, due to the Faraday Cage effect of the heating elements in a front screen. Its not reliable to use a GPS device within a so-equipped car to determine speed, etc.

emmail75

paul_c123 said:

Bingo!

The GPS function of a phone is very poor, due to the Faraday Cage effect of the heating elements in a front screen. Its not reliable to use a GPS device within a so-equipped car to determine speed, etc.

Well !!!!!! me! I never knew that! So from day one it was never going to work. 
More ammunition for me to throw at HD! Thanks!

anon_ymous

Several months later, I know but I hope people take heed of the utter charlatans that are Hastings. I also had a makeshift dashcam at the time ie:. One that plugs into my 12V one but also acts like a rear view mirror, so they'd have access to that data too.

"I'm writing this review as they came up as the cheapest quote, to my disgust.

I was with them years ago when they were "Hastings Direct Smart Miles" instead of "Hastings You Drive"

I was 19 years old at the time, so I was naturally more nervous and checked insurance a few times and how it works

I came across something called "askMID"

For several months, my car would show as not being insured even though it was.

I kept phoning in, wasting time and money on an 0845 number back then, and asking them to please update my registration plate on that. They always said they'd do it and they never did. On one occasion they even talked about how there's an admin fee and I had a massive go at them for saying "You failed to do something which is your own responsibility to do"

It was only after several months had passed, and a police officer pulled me over, who claimed I didn't have insurance. I said I do. She told me I don't. It was only after she got through to Hastings Smart Miles customer service, that anyone took any heed over doing something as basic as that. She shouted at the company, and pointed out that if I was pulled over at 2am when the offices are shut, I'd have my car taken off me, impounded, and would have to pay fees and would be stranded as a result. It was sheer luck that I was pulled over at a time the offices were open. It shouldn't take a police officer to rectify something so simple

Another month passes, and I am told that my car was involved in a crash. I said "No it wasn't". I asked for the time and date, and where. They said it was at x location. I said "Cool. So where does my car show it was at this time?" They said it was ten miles away

I had to argue with them on the phone over this, and then because they have such an inability to talk amongst themselves (to the point that it took a police officer to force them to change things), and it took me yet more calls to rehash this as well as me telling them to come out, and they can inspect my car, see if there's any scratches, dents etc..

Eventually, Hastings stopped accusing me of doing something that their own blackbox data showed it wasn't possible for me to be involved in, but that was only after I put in a written complaint, showing just how incompetent the staff are, with teams not communicating between themselves.

I've heard of others having had their insurance cancelled too, despite having high scores. The year after, I went with a company called "insurethebox" who were much better.

The mark of a good insurance company should be based on how they help you if you need them. The insurance company should never ever give you hassle for things that they haven't done and things their own data shows to be false "

This is my trustpilot review. Screw em and don't insure your car with them