Has anyone used 1st Central Insurance? Worst treatment EVER!

[MissPoppy]

Has anyone used this car insurance company? I am a single mother with a disabled child, I insurance my car through them as they came up really cheap on comparison website (should have known better!) anyone they waited until the 14 days cancellation was up before asking for documents and then more than doubled it! I said I cannot afford it then and they want near to £200 to cancel. Can a company behave like this? anyone used them before? so upset

What documents did they need, and why couldn't you provide them?

If it was the proof of no claims they needed to see then I think most companies require this within the same timescale.

Seconded - what exactly were they asking for? Was it proof of NCB?

They had entered my details incorrectly on their data base which meant that I had to send in numerous papers to verify my existence. This took 17 emails to sort out from me. I called them daily and they would say, could you send it again....or can you send another document. I informed them that I had nine years NCD but as I had driven a mobility car for the last four years they said after three weeks that I could not use my NCD and therefore doubled my insurance. If this had been sorted within the 14 days then I could have told them that the revised quote was way too expensive i.e. from £280.00 to £620 and that I would have to go else where. As it was over 14 days then want over £150 for me to cancel. I feel like I have been punched in the face and charged for the privilege. I have since read many similar reports on trust pilot so I guess I am not the only one who finds this company out of line.

Hi MissPoppy, thank you for sharing your experience. Would you mind emailing your policy reference number to [email protected] so that we can attempt to resolve this for you? Thanks again, Vicky

Hope the above helps you out. I remember going back to square one after being a 'named driver' on a car for a good few years- they were the only company to take me on fairly cheaply. It did feel like pauper's insurance and they were very unhelpful in every way when I needed to contact them- I'm just grateful I didn't need to ever make a claim with them!

yes now moved to a high street company, sorted out in five minutes and for the same cheap price! wish I had done this in the first place. I went with A Plan, they are a broker but for the £20 fee then found me a cheap quote without the hassle. Live and Learn!

People, please be very careful. After 2 months my policy went up from £36 to £61 cancellation fee is £150. 1st Central Analysis team working very hard to find anything to increase policy. if they can't find anything they ll make something up. Paid this ridiculous cancellation fee and don t want to know anything about this company. Gangsters. I m hoping somebody someday ll take this company to court.

Trinity claims are the same!

Insurance quote was good £330 for my car even though I am 51yrs old BUT after 7 months paying monthly I sold my car and rang them to cancel before the folowing months payment came out to be told I had to pay £120 in cancellation charges!! £50 admin which is too much just to answer my call and tap a few buttons on their database, £50 cancellation charge which is just another name for the first charge.
£20 pro rata for the cover Id already had but as I had paid for that month and we where nearing the next month I was actually giving them the last 5 days for free.. These charges are grossly unfair and where not explained upon taking up the car insurance online!!!

Dear customers be careful with this
Be aware with this insurance company
They did cancel my Policy after 3 weeks
Of course I paid deposit and first month rate , totally I paid £180.00
Now they keep chasing me to pay £ 52.00 cancellation fee .

I did sent them all documents they asked for and there were no reason to cancel my Policy.

Avoid!! This company refused to pay out when their customer crashed into me (admitted liability at the scene)
They made us go to court
They lost! But were dreadful to deal with.

Yikes. I am with this insurance company and have been for almost a year. I've had to phone them for a couple of things like adding my husband to the policy. Been impressed with their prices and call handling so far... but this has made me nervous about when the renewal comes up. Haven't needed to make a claim so hoping to get my first ever no claims bonus from them (hooray to a whole year of driving!).

I'll definitely be cautious when the renewal comes around!

5 years after this thread started and this dreadful company is still pulling the same tricks! We took out car insurance in March 2021, provided NCD proof online which was 'Accepted'. FOUR months later in July the company e-mailed to say we hadn't provided NCD proof and they were adding £400+ to the cost of our policy which we had to pay immediately plus £100 in admin charges. Phoned the helpline and they said 'Accepted' as shown against our uploaded documents actually just meant 'Uploaded successfully' and did not mean they were approved. I pointed out that this contradicted the information in their own FAQ section. They requested a different document - we provided it, then they requested another different document which we again provided. They then accepted the NCD proof but tried a new tack of saying we hadn't declared a previous claim which we clearly had as it was on the Statement of Facts stored online in our First Central account. I was preparing to send an e-mail about that when we received another e-mail saying they had cancelled our policy and added £150 in charges for doing so! We are providing evidence of all this to the Financial Ombudsman. They shouldn't be able to get away with these practices year after year.

Hi what was the process , I am going through the same and they are not responding.

Yes and your right....my elderly dad is getting the same descusting treatment.

Giving my dad the run around and hanging up to point it's made him mentally sick....i think this is worst then the car accident he had.

Complete liars and Rob you of your time and money and insanity...your at the mercy of these animals. Weeks of pissing him about and still nothing is done and dragging out the time limit they gave him....bd wear they leave silly un truth note so when you call again they mess you about constantly.

Stay away there seriously scamming company that would make you seriously sick mentally....this is the way the world is unfortunately. Bad people with no morals.... I hope there elderly parents get the same treatment and they reflect on the job they do.
Il be on the phone again to them tomorrow sorting this out again....absolutely vile company.

I have to say I had a good experience with 1st central when I had to make two claims in the same year.

Maybe you did but in this case it was bad...luck of the draw really.
Soon as things get complicated it can seriously stress a person out...specially when talking to 2 insurance companys.
Thing is nowa day's your at the mercy of these phone operators...time is robbed and have left my dad without insurance because they wanted 500 odd quid straight away.
They lowered his leaving fee but I'm gutted for my elderly father....its Christmas and been really messed about....more from the other insurers esure.

They responded because I shamed them on trust pilot...they will respond to you there.

I'm sorry it's painfull at this time of year...my dad's not with them and be without insurance on the 15th.