To distrust all car insurers? Any to recommend? Are Bell horrendous?

[lill72]

I need to pick an insurer - help!!! Tell me your opinions.

My cheapest quotes are Bell, Churchill and Privelage.

Years ago I went with Direct Line and payments by direct debit. Took the whole amount out in one go which emptied my account. Took ages to get the money back and they then took the whole amount again.

For this reason I have never used them again

The other things direct line did: they have a "policy" that you keep your no claims if you are hit by an uninsured driver. The police confirmed the car which drove into me had no registered owner and was used by people who wanted to commit a crime. If it has no registered owner then nobody can be insured to drive it. Direct line said they wouldn't count it as uninsured. Because I didn't get the driver's details so I couldn't prove they weren't insured.

They closed my claim, incorrectly and I only found out when I phoned to change my car and asked about it. In fact 6 years on I haven't received any notification of the claim being closed or that they accept someone drove into me.

My husband had a separate claim with them when a motorbike drove into him in a queue. They admitted liability, direct line repaired the car. 18 MONTHS later they finally restored his no claims and closed the case. This was despite constant chasing. It cost a fortune moving insurers having lost full no claims, although Admiral were brilliant and when DH sent the letter through they backdated his no claims discount.

The trouble with the post office is that they are a broker. It's like using a comparison website and thinking they provide the insurance.