| Product: |
Hastings Direct |
| Date: |
21/01/03 (974 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Very competitive rates
Disadvantages: Poor customer service
I renewed my car insurance from Tesco's to Hastings and made a saving of over £200.00. So I was so pleased. I did n't think there was a catch as I had read reviews on Dooyoo, hence the reason I called for a quote.
I must admit I was pleased with the premiums until I crashed!. I hadn't really read the policy booklet or my insurance certificate stating that the excess was £400.00 - which is how they make there money!
I paid the excess, got the car fixed then decided to sell it. I called customer services to advise them that I was cancelling. 'Fine', they said, 'no more payments to make, we will just stop your direct debit'.
Great I thought. I brought a new car with 1 yrs free insurance and said I would go straight back to them after it expires. I had afterall recommended 3 new customers to Hastings!
I got a letter a month after I had cancelled from the Debt Recovery Team, asking for an outstanding premium of £70.00. I could n't believe it. Appartently if I cancel my policy after making a claim I have to pay the rest of the premiums! How many people read all the documents. I thought if I had been told then and there I may have waited 2 months before canceling. Now I'll be paying 2 lots of insurance for a car I don't even own anymore!
A letter of complaint has gone out, so watch this space!
Summary:
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Last comments:
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- 22/01/03 Thanks for your comment nicki H. i suppose that does make sense.
It's just frustrating to get correspondence when you assume things are done and dusted.
I'll wait to see what the insurance co say in response to my letter ! |
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- 22/01/03 I am sure that this company have their calls recorded as they are quite a big company, and it is part of GISC (Insurance Code of Conduct) to tell you the excess before you take out the policy, so I would ask them to find the initial call, BUT it is your responsibility to check your documents.
In regard to the payment, when you pay by instalments for your insurance, the company set up a loan for the amount of the premium, and even though you pay monthly, this is only to help you and you must pay for the full year...especially if you have had a claim. They paid up, so now you should! If you want monthly insurance then try Budget.
I work for one of the biggest UK insurers, and this situation is common, as people make assumptions without checking the facts.
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- 21/01/03 Well, excuse my lack of sympathy, but all insurers have this requirement to pay the whole of the policy premium if a claim is made.
And surely EVERYONE assesses such aspects as policy excess/hire acr provision etc. before judging the realtive merits of different insurers?
Appare ntly not .... but do you really believe the whole world should be looking out for your personal interests? After all - you COST that insurer by making a claim - they won't have made a profit as such .... |
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