elephant.co.uk

Bilbodotcom

I have just spent an infuriating 2 hours on the phone to elephant.co.uk.

Firstly I called up to change my policy as I've just bought a new car, which was a facinating experience. I'm assuming they have an offshore call centre as TEN MINUTES of the call was dedicated to me trying to tell them the registration of the new car.

"T for tango"
"ok, S"
"no, T for TANGO. TOMORROW. TOFU!"
"ahhh, so that's B"

so on, so forth. We ended up doing multiplication for the numbers. Any way, the upshot is they can't / won't insure it as it's a US import. A concept I just had to give up trying to explain.

There's only a two months left on the policy so I decided to let it expire, but asked them to provide a letter stating my current No Claims Bonus. That was twenty minutes of conversation. The person I was speaking to said she couldn't do this. I asked for a supervisor and she refused to get one and instead starting whistling.

Phone call two - decided to call and cancel the policy and just loose this year's no claims entitlement. So we're off to India again.

"I want to cancel my policy"
"You want a quote?"
"No, I want to cancel. I have a new car and a new insurance company"
"Ok - what's the new car's details"
"I DON'T WANT A QUOTE"
"But you have a new car."
"I just want to cancel my current policy. Please. For the love of...."
"Sir, you are very quiet and I cannot understand your accent."
"Pardon?"
"I cannot understand you"
"Can I suggest you transfer me to someone who can then."
"Yes, I cannot do that."

So on, so forth.

The upshot was, for the privelage of canceling my policy - because they are unable to insure my new car and because they refuse to send me a letter with my current NCB - they are going to charge me in the region of £60.

A happy bunny, I am not.

Can you imagine having to actually make a claim from these people?

bylromarha

Don't say that...they're my insurer!

Have to say, i had to ring them to take out the policy and extremely helpful, polite and efficient.

Mind you, I don't think a "good" car insurer exists.

Bilbodotcom

Ahhh - I dialled the 0800 number which is for new business. That takes you to the UK call centre.

I then asked to be transferred to the customer service dept (the people who deal with current customers) that's when you get your trip over seas!

Please, don't get me wrong - I really couldn't give a jot where the call centre is located as long as I can hold a reasonable conversation with the person on the other end of the line!

Bandit

"Can you imagine having to actually make a claim from these people?"

i have made a claim - Someone crashed into my car, elephant paid out which was cool they said that they would then claim off the other insurance company, but i will lose my NCB for a "short time" that was july 2003 - Jan 2005 i get a letter saying i can have my NCB Back.
I spent lots of time and money trying to sort it out with them. My Suggestion ditch them and go with tesco who honored 2 of my 4 years ncb from elephant though i had no proof as, in the words of there helpline "we know what THEY are like"

Now all sorted and i have my full NCB back, i even thought about legal action, but i really do not want anything to do with elephant ever again.

At least my new Celica is lookin good though :j

Silent_Bob_3

Tescos are just as bad if not worse. A friend was insured through them and got hit by an uninsured driver (UID). Tescos have failed to even try to reclaim the money from the UID menaing he lost all his no claims bonus. To top it all they wanted £300 to sort it out. They had also insured him TPF&T when he's asked for Fully Comp and only acknowleged their error 9 months later. Only 18 months later has he got his car and his NCB back. Avoid.