 |
Admiral Car Insurance
by thecompaqguy
I was looking to insure my BMW 520d, but unfortunately the area I live in isn't the best (the infamous Tottenham, according to their insurers which meant a higher premium). I was directed to them by Go Compare (I guess their annoying ad stuck in my mind) and I was getting quoted silly money from the bigger firms elsewhere (Direct Line ... wanted almost £3k for the privelege), so I went thru the paying instalments option.
With that sorted, I thought I can just enjoy my new car. All was well until I had to move house, and somehow it's a hefty £40 to run off a letterhead from a Kyocera printer and stick it in an envelope to confirm this change of address (it was half a mile down the same road!)... fuming, I contested it. The first person I spoke to meant an overseas phone call on a bad line to Mumbai, I didn't feel comfortable shouting card details to this guy whilst on the train to work, so I hung up... once at work, I got thru to a cheery Welsh lass who was only too kind to take more money from me. I said to her, it's only down the road, and she waived the fee which was nice.
Admiral, in themselves I had no problem with until I met a Mr Zare, who kindly decided to re-arrange my bumper and towbar using his dad's Merc SLS whilst I was on the A1 in Finchley... We swapped details, and I contacted Admiral. I was put thru to their apparent 'sister firm' Albany Assistance, who insisted they were NOT an accident management firm, and they would speak to a local grease monkey who would 'lovingly restore my car to her former glory'... This in itself took 3 weeks of calls, and more promises than a Lib Dem manifesto...
Sadly, like the government of Somalia it seems all organization at Albany has collapsed and its each man for himself, as they fought like pigeons over a piece of bread over who would fix my car, and then I was introduced to the lovely Montagu Coachworks (by which time Mr Zare had a courtesy car from his insurance and even the bumper repaired and was back on the road), as my car was apparently 'driveable'
there was no hurry to take care of the damage... I felt like a patient at Stafford Hospital left on a gurney in a corridor, I probably would have gotten better service...
Eventually after having to sign clauses that they are NOT an accident management firm, and they will claim this from the other insurer... of course Mr Zare's insurer would deny all that's happened. I was then passed over to HelpHire (part of Albany, but NOT part of Admiral it seems) who liased with Albany (they probably sit the other side of the partition in the same office) to get me a courtesy car. Thankfully this was not a Chevy Matiz, but a nice 320d MSport to run around in. When I eventually got the 520d back, it seems Montagu Coachworks have used black paint from B&Q rather than BMW as it was the wrong shade... In the process, they broke my exhaust and DPF filter that I had to get fixed at a whopping £1700, but they kept quiet on that one. All this happened last August, then to my surprise last week (in Feb.) I get a letter from Albanian Assistance (sorry I meant Albany) that I need to pay for the repair. I said I wouldn't as this should be covered as I'm fully comprehensive then they threatened to cancel my policy if I didn't sign the document. Again they insisted the are NOT an accident management firm... but having read on here, they also 'Assist' swiftcover policy holders as well... I know this will be added to the next premium so I'm jumping ship in the summer...
So if you don't plan to have an accident by all means pick these guys :)
Read the complete review |
