I think it would be useful for CAGers to list which insurance companies use Albany Assistance for claim management given the widespread reports of Albanys practices which it seems many find troubling, including: Excessive charge bump up for hire cars Requiring fully comp insurance holders (including those with hire car included on their policies) to sign credit agreements Long unreasonably drawn out periods where nothing happens It would seem Albany wont do ANYTHING unless you sign a finance agreement and agree to their inflated car hire. Google: albany assistance claim management problems Please include a link or two, or your personal experience supporting any companies inclusion Heres the first I've found who apparently use them. Please correct any that are wrong Hastings Direct (confirmed by reps of Albany and HD here on CAG) (http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/archive/index.php/t-119377.html) (CAG search Albany) Admiral (I was considering Admiral for my renewal) (http://kwaichi.com/2012/07/17/terrible-cold-calling-whiplash-claim-companies/) (http://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jul/06/albany-elephant-car-crash-claim-excess) Diamond (http://commonvehicleproblems.com/non-fault-accident-been-reffered-to-albany-assistance.html) Now I'm not saying that any other claim management companies are any better, but these folk do seem to me to lead the way to a world of stress, pain and disappointment at a time when you will already have more than enough - quite the opposite of what they should be doing it seems to me. When I pay fully comp insurance, I want service, not grief if the worst did happen.

I am hoping someone with a similar experience can help. This morning I was about to park behind a parked vehicle and did not stop in time causing my bumper to be quite severely bashed in and the front parking sensors have gone funny but the other vehicle just suffered scratches. Anyway, contacted Hastings and gave all the details and explained the incident and the lady I spoked to (Lauren) was polite and helpful. In the end, she told me Albany Assistance will find me a local garage who handle all the repair work which I thought at the time was good. Anyway, I was put through to them and after the formalities, I was told the "local" garage was 25 miles away. I explained the journey there would be at least 40 minutes on a good day and more if there is traffic so hardly "local". Also, I need to drive the vehicle there just for an estimate which is a good hour and a half journey there and back. But i was told that is the closest approved garage to me and when the car comes in for the work, I will be provided a courtesy car so the journey back will be fine. (After reading about the courtesy car issues here, it does not sound that attractive at all.) Anyway, I then googled the garage and it is a Vauxhall garage who is going to handle my Volkswagen Golf. So I called Albany back to ask can i not use a local garage of my choice and one who has more experience with VW. They said, they can cancel this job now, and I should call Hastings back to explain that I would like to use a more local garage so I did. Unfortunately it was about 1pm and Hastings do not think people need to make a claim on a Saturday afternoon because their offices had already closed. Sorry for rambling on, but the question is, I will now need to wait until Monday before I can talk to anyone at Hastings about it so is it likely they will insist on using Albany or can I choose my local VW dealer which is 5 minutes drive away or even a local independent German car specialist which is 2 minutes WALK away rather than a Vauxhall workshop 25 miles away. Does the fact I turned down Albany now delay my car getting fixed anytime soon? And will Hastings 'persuade' me to stick with Albany by incurring fees and hoops to jump through? Any help or words of comfort is much appreciated, I just don't want to stress too much over the weekend. Thank you.

Hi All, I have been charge £60 on an admin charge from albany assistance, just so that they can forward an unfair parking charge (which is less that that) notice. Has anyone dealt with them successfully? if so i would like to know the experience Thanks, sk