1ST Central Car Insurance

[B1GGY2009]

Hi,

 

I am writing for advise regarding 1st Central Car Insurance, i insured with them last July, i made a claim in January due to me accidentally damaging it myself so no other vehicles were involved, they picked my car up and took it away to a local garage for assesment, i still havnt heard a thing from them, i have emailed and rung on numerous occassions but ive not got through or when i have they said someone will have to ring me back, i rung the garage who took the car away and they informed me it was a write off and the insurance company had taken it away for salvage. i still had a valid tax disc and a bluetooth headset in the car (no one had told me to remove any items) i am at a dead end and i dont know what else to do.

 

 

Thanks

[Mossycat]

Ring them again and ask for the claims manager. Explain to them the garage have told you the car is a total loss and salvage has been removed, they must have arranged this therefore they know the current state of the claim. Do not be fobbed off, stand your ground and insist they give you an update and get you an offer out within 24 hours, also advise them that you have personal items in the car and demand to know where it is been held in storage so you can recover them.

 

The car is still your property until you have accepted the offer so they cannot sell it or remove anything from it.

 

When you have your offer post back if you are unhappy with it and we'll give you further advice

 

Mossy

[rudekid48]

anyone got 1st central car insurance? - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums

 

You are not alone!

[B1GGY2009]

I recieved the cheque yesterday and accepted it, i couldnt be bothered to argue or even attempt to contact them, the guy who cashed it was on hold for over 15 mins after being cut off twice! He even laughed and said do they have staff there?? But all sorted now, i wont use them again, cheapest isnt always the best i learnt the hard way!!!

[yorkstone]

Hi,

 

I am writing for advise regarding 1st Central Car Insurance, i insured with them last July, i made a claim in January due to me accidentally damaging it myself so no other vehicles were involved, they picked my car up and took it away to a local garage for assesment, i still havnt heard a thing from them, i have emailed and rung on numerous occassions but ive not got through or when i have they said someone will have to ring me back, i rung the garage who took the car away and they informed me it was a write off and the insurance company had taken it away for salvage. i still had a valid tax disc and a bluetooth headset in the car (no one had told me to remove any items) i am at a dead end and i dont know what else to do.

Thanks

 

To what my son has experienced with them you are somewhat lucky. He had an accident last October and for two months they were going to repair the vehicle which although slightly damaged was not roadworthy. After numerous phone calls to them asking when the can was going to be repaired they decided late December 2010 that they were writing it off. They then offered 1600 pounds in a payment but when we checked on the Internet we could not find any under 2000 pounds. We sent them advertisements showing ones for sale 2000 pounds plus but 2 weeks later they advised us they were no longer for sale so could not access them. We sent other examples and the same thing happened. I pointed out that clearly the cars sold at at over the 2000 pound figure but they would not accept that. I spent an hour checking the internet and sent a whole raft of examples to them and followed that up with hard copies through the post January 13th 2011 and have nothing since.

 

I tell you this so you and anyone reading this will be forewarned that this company is a bad one to deal with. Insurance of any kind should be a protection to you and not purchasing a companies services to rip you off. I personally have 3 cars and to be sure I will not be using this company or any associated with it.

[Super Bean]

Oh...come to me baby...

 

This is my specialist subject. If you really want to find out HOW lucky you are go to the review centre.com (sorry I have low post levels so can't post the link yet)

 

Check this. I had an accident MARCH 17TH 2010. My claim has STILL not been settled. This is nothing but a mickey mouse outfit. As it happens, the guy who ran into me, decided in his wisdom, to commit fraud and say I caused the accident...despite me having a totally independent witness.

 

First Central promised me free legal cover if I wasn't at fault. Not so. Because the lying little toe rag said it was me, they almost led me into £1000s of solicitor charges as they failed to support me. The only way I have been able to pursue this is because I had a v v small amount of whiplash (which I wasn't going to bother claiming for) so I claimed under no win/no fee for personal injury, and as a consequence, fault will be proven and all my other losses claimed back.

 

My car is still in my garage and finally being inspected (for the third time) on Monday. Hopefully then I'll get rid and at least the claim will be closed, even if the legal stuff is dragging on. Little sheister is now going to court and still professes his innocence (am I missing something here??).

 

Oh and the best bit...I'd just started my new job and because I didn't have a company car I bought an old banger to tide me over in the probation period. The MOT was due on 17th April 2010 and the tax 1st May 2010. As 1st Central had indicated they would probably write it off (but hadn't got their thumb out of their butts), I was reluctant to MOT or tax the car as it would cost me. The Friday before the MOT was due, I was on the phone stressing because I needed a hire car whilst all this was sorted. 'Advisor' Robert Johns (after having consulted with his supervisor) stated that the car was driveable so I had no need for a hire car. When I explained that it would have no MOT I asked "What if the police stop me". He said (almost verbatim) "Just tell them you have a claim ongoing, they'll understand" and it was being 'sorted' by them.

 

I nearly choked. Needless to say their policy states if you have an invalid tax/MOT on the car then you are not insured.

 

Basically I have a 3rd party only insurance which states it is fully comp as it covers you for FA.

 

Trust me, I've heard stories of people coming home to find their 'written off' cars towed away and scrapped along with personal effects. Thankfully my garage is locked.

 

STAY AWAY FROM THEM. Unfortunately your only option is to keep on hassling them and I'd also throw a report into the FSA for good measure. They have to cough up £250 for every complaint. My energy is being spent on the court case (God knows when that will be), but after that 1st Central will be getting a lovely complaint letter.

 

Oh and another laugh. I wrote to them cancelling my insurance (I cancelled the DD too just in case). I had a good moan in the cancellation letter. Imagine my surprise when they wrote back saying they would respond to my 'complaint' in due course...if they'd wanted a complaint I'd have been more factual!!!! Anyway, the exciting bit is, over a month after the cancellation, I've now got a renewal notice.

 

Happy days!

 

Good luck!

Edited February 17, 2011 by Super Bean
accuracy

[xf95will]

Good evening to one and all, WARNING TO ALL, stay away from these reprebates, they suck the life right out of you and try to bleed you dry. I have been with them for a whole 4 days, i needed insurance quickly, so done an online quote and these failed medical experiments (1st central) were the cheapest, problem was i thought i was accruing no claims on my wifes policy, but not the case, so i called them (and its an 0843 premium number) to clarify this and hold my hands up and asked if they would now re quote me with no co claims bonus, i was told in a robotic fashion that it would cost me £50 administration fee, i politely said that aint going to happen, when i was repeatedly told about the terms and conditions till it got annoying and i lost the rag a bit. Anyway i asked to cancel the policy but said to the woman before cancelling i bet i can tell you that there will be a cancellation fee and that it would be £50, where i was politely told no, its £40 + a £10 admin charge, i burst out laughing. i am out of pocket from these cowboys £137 for deposit for 4 days car insurance hmmmm, insurance companies are bleeding the country dry. Im gonna sell the car as i aint starting at £900 insurance for a 1999 audi A6. Fell like a teenager again with quotes like that.

[malique]

Hi, I was wondering when i buy a car insurance from 1st central insurance, would i need to pay one months installment in advanced with the deposit, or is it just the deposit you take first?? please can you reply fast thank you.