Good claims service (Direct Line)

Member Name: DarkestGrey

Product:	Direct Line
Date:	12/08/08 (197 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very helpful, although most communication was by post

Disadvantages: Automated renewal

I have been with Direct Line for a number of years on Motor Insurance and am happy with their service. You never know what level of service you will get until you need to claim. I hoped I would never need to claim.

Then a woman reversed into my car (I was walking back to it) and the car appeared to be undamaged. I took the registration but the woman was reluctant to give out any details and she was probably unaware I had remembered her registration plate.

I contacted Direct Line for the claim and was calm and polite with the person at the other end (this probably helps your claim a lot). She said they would use the DVLA to track the other drivers address but she failed to respond to them.

Direct Line sent me to a Ford dealer to fix a Mercedes (would have rather gone elsewhere). I took it to the Ford dealer because if you don't take a car to the authorised repaired (where they get discounts) then they won't help you much further. Enterprise gave me a courtesy car and this was covered by Direct Lines policy.

Then I got a letter from Direct Line stating that the woman had not responded, they were getting the police to trace her insurance details and that they believed it was not my fault so I wouldn't have to pay any excess.

So it cost me nothing. A good claims service. Be nice to them and use the authorised repairers and you should be ok (same with any insurance company).

The only downside is their automated renewal. Pay them and they will use the same method of payment for next years policy, and the next.

Summary: Helpful company and I would use them again (and have)