Direct rip off but great premiums!! (Direct Line)

Member Name: pollee

Product:	Direct Line
Date:	17/05/01 (265 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheaper premiums, speedy service

Disadvantages: all on the phone, paper quotes not available , Take premiums when they are not covering your car!!

I have ammended this opinion as things have been a changing and Direct Line have definitely blotted their copy book - and they were doing so well as well!!

Ammendment is shown at the end of the op!


I have just spent a morning phoning around for quotes for my car - a VW Passat Tdi Sport. Bit of a waste of time you might think......?

My broker has always been there abouts with the figures but when I asked a few questions this year they were a bit defensive so I thought I would look elsewhere. I tried Admiral, Churchill, several companies offering cheap insurance for women drivers and Direct Line. I have always avoided them in the past because of horror stories about claims, cover not being correct etc. However the quotes system was quick, the premium was £80 cheaper than elsewhere and the service was slick.

The cons were an increase of £25 on my excess and quotes are not available. You have to accept the terms, get the papers and then use the 14 day cooling off notice to cancel cover if it's not what you want.

I have been thinking about buying an Audi TT, just because they are so beautiful!, so I asked for figures on that. I had already been quoted over £1,700 for a years cover elsewhere and they offered exactly the same cover ofr £850.

Now there is every chance that this premium will be hiked up next year at renewal, at which point I look around again, but for a saving of half them premium you have to accept they are good value. Apparently the higher group cars do come out well in Direct Line quotes.

Well worth the effort, if only to make my broker work harder next year to get the business back!


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Ammendment - Remember the cooling off notice - I used it as I didn't want to go ahead with the insurance - my broker came up with the same premium when pushed. I have sent back my cooling off notice, and direct line have continued to
take two months premiums from my bank. You have to give them your direct debit details over the phone.

Even though they are covered by the direct debit guarantee so far they are not honouring it.......so beware!!


Watch this space - I am taking them to the cleaners as soon as I get over this cold!!

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