Double check with them that you actually are insured! (Diamond Car Insurance)

Member Name: lyndsey1989

Product:	Diamond Car Insurance
Date:	20/08/09 (107 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap quotes (after haggling)

Disadvantages: See review!

I have had my car insurance with Diamond for around 2 and a half years now. I first signed up with them because they were the cheapest quote I could find for a learner driver with a VW golf, back then my premium if I remember was just under £1000. When I got round to passing my test I was quite annoyed with Diamond as they charged me a fee of over £100 just for passing my test! It was not long until my 18th birthday where I received personalised number plates as a present, I rang up Diamond to change them over and that was an additional £16! I was beginning to wonder if Diamond were really worth sticking to!

When renewal time came about I received a letter stating my renewal price but actually found it £250 cheaper elsewhere. I rang Diamond up to cancel and they were quick to remedy this and knock £250 off the renewal price! I stuck with them and as I pay annually when it came to changing my car in the middle of my policy I had to stay with them again, despite their price being an extra £300 than other quotes I had found.

Renewal time soon came round again (January) and again I found a cheaper quote, I rang Diamond up to cancel my policy. This was done quickly and easily and this time no alternative quote was offered. I rang again and the woman I spoke to knocked over £500 off my renewal quote therefore bringing it down to less than my alternative quote. I paid the balance (I think it was around £700) then and waited to receive my documents through the post.

I waited and waited but nothing arrived so around 2 weeks later I rang them up to ask them to send another copy. They were sorry to inform me that I wasn't insured with them. I was absolutely livid as I had been driving my car around for 2 weeks with no insurance! It turned out that the woman I spoke to had forgotten to cancel the termination of my policy. After a lot of heated telephone conversations and a letter to head office they gave back 2 weeks worth of my money-something which I dont think really covered the hassle they had put me through.

Despite this, beforehand I had never experienced a problem with Diamond. I always find their customer care team to be very polite and helpful and aswell as being in English call centres they are always quick to answer the phone. They always confirm everything in writing for your peace of mind and always give a name for reference, I have found this useful on many occasions.

I would recommend Diamond as apart from the one hiccup, I have never experienced a problem with them before and they always manage to give me a cheaper renewal after some haggling!

I'm giving them 3 stars due to still being annoyed about the incident back in January!

Summary: An ok insurance company