I recently was in an accident and my car had been written off. I kept being told over the phone to just transfer my new... I recently was in an accident and my car had been written off. I kept being told over the phone to just transfer my new car over to my current policy when I got one. When I got a quote online using the change the car on my policy feature the breakdown it gave me was ridiculous. They wanted me to pay for a year’s worth of insurance for the new car over 4 months which is when my policy ends as well as paying the current policy I have on my car. I used the web chat to try and talk to someone as I wasn’t understanding this breakdown when they’d been saying transfer a new car I thought it would just let me pay for the new one until the policy ran out. The person they connected me to (Sinothando) was completely useless I was talking to them for 40 mins and I just couldn’t get an answer as to why I was being charged for two policies and why I had to pay for 12 months of coverage over 4 months. They just kept telling me that there are different premiums for different cars which I was obviously aware of and that I wasn’t going to be paying for two cars but clearly I wasn’t from the breakdown. Then any time I asked about why I would have to pay for 12 months of coverage over 4 months they just would not answer the question. It was 40 mins of just going round in circles and they just wouldn’t answer my question. I looked it up online afterwards and if you make a claim you still have to pay out the policy, so I would have been having to pay the rest of my policy for my written off car and the new one. So the person I was speaking to was outright lying to me as it was completely the case that I would have to be paying premiums for two cars and yet they said multiple times that wasn’t the case. Then for the paying 12 months insurance over 4 months looks like it was just to maybe align with what they have on their system but then I would have been stuck with them for another year which I definitely didn’t want to be after the hell they have put me through the last few weeks and I would have had to have paid it in 4 months for no real reason other than to align with their system. Again the person I spoke to just wouldn’t answer this question I have no idea if they were just clueless or knew there was no real reason for this but they were awful and gave me no help. Just avoid this company they’re a nightmare to deal with and everything just feels like a lying scam with them. Read more Read less

Rip off company! Scam you into paying another £60 after paying in full for the policy to change the date the car was purchased 3... Rip off company! Scam you into paying another £60 after paying in full for the policy to change the date the car was purchased 3 years ago as i got the dat a month wrong. A completely irrelevant detail to the cover just a scam to get more money. Funny how they only asked for the info after the 14 day cooling off period and wanted a big cancellation fee. Worst of the worst company. When questioned they didnt care Read more Read less

After I was hit by a van and this was no fault accident where other party accepted full liability, my actual nightmare started with 1st... After I was hit by a van and this was no fault accident where other party accepted full liability, my actual nightmare started with 1st Central Car insurance. A car hire company, repair shop and 1st Central, they all made me chase these 3 separate companies repeatedly for my courtesy car and getting my accident car repaired. After 2 months when I got my car back it was very shoddy repair with water leaks coming in, lights not working and wrong car logo stuck on! I made a written complaint (they acknowledged receipt) but they have still not responded after 2 months!! Now I am escalating my complaint to Financial Ombudsman. AVOID buying car insurance from them at all costs, you will regret it. Read more Read less

avoid at all costs you r not covered shameful service!! 7 days on no call back

They have been awful to deal with the last few months. One of the first things was that I needed to update one of them... They have been awful to deal with the last few months. One of the first things was that I needed to update one of them named driver's details and tried to do it online but I kept getting an 'oops something went wrong' page every time I tried to submit. I had to call up and do it over the phone and was charged a fee, I told them I wasn't able to do it online because it wasn't working, but they were still happy to charge me. I've since read a lot of reviews saying the same thing, it seems like an extremely common occurence and conveniently they get to charge fees when it happens. We also unfortunately, had to make a claim recently when we got hit in the rear by a direver who was speeing and changing lanes wihout indicatind and hit us when he was trying to sped up and squeeze behind us. We had 3 witnesses that put him at fault due to his reckless driving. We tried to call 1st central to get our car picked up from the road wherer the accident happened. I couldn't ge through to a preson the automated phone system made me click for a breakdown pick up and they asked why I clicked it and I clicked the accident option and it kept taking me back the the breakdown options and just kept me in a loop between the two. We had to call someone else in the end. They were completley USELESS at even try to contact for a service they offer. Then for the claim they put us fully liable despit the fact we had witnesses and the third party was driving recklessly as caught on a dash cam. The best part was when the claim agent called me to say we were going to be fully liable and even said themselves that they could see the the third party was speeding and changing lanes illegally an that they know we have 3 witnesses who say the same thing and he had none but we were still going to be put at fault. They also looked at our case for about day before decing this no back and forth with the thrid party insurance company. They didn't even try for joint liability, which definitley would have been possible give how the third party was driving and we had 3 epople to back it up and they SAID THEMSELVES that he was driving dangeously. There was also a clear reluctance to go to court, ehich is very convenient since legal fees are covered in my policy. They clearly just didn't want to actualy have to put the time or money into fighting the case, but what is the point of having legal feed covered in a policy to then never bother fighting for your customers. I was essentially paying for somehting they clearly had no intention of paying for. I wish I had read the reviews before using this company as I've read so many reviews where people have been in the same situation as us. They've had evidence and the company has just settled almost immeadiately and showing signs of ebing reluctant to go to court. Never use this company they have loads of hidden fees and they WILL NOT FIGHT FOR YOU even if the evidence is stacked against the third party. They are completley USELESS if you have an accident. I have been telling everyone I know not to use them and I will continue to do so, they are scammers. I will not be renewing my policy and I will never use them again. Read more Read less

AVOID AT ALL COST!! SCAM!!! They attract you in with a low insurance quote, then wait until JUST after the cooling off period has ended... AVOID AT ALL COST!! SCAM!!! They attract you in with a low insurance quote, then wait until JUST after the cooling off period has ended to say you have to phone their "Policy Analysis Team", at which point they aggressively assert a change needs to be made to your policy (even if that's a complete lie) and therefore the price will be much higher. In my case, they claimed it was because my job description was wrong, which is complete and utter nonsense. Despite stating as much on the phone to them and making it quite clear I don't accept any change to the policy, a few days later I get an automated email saying my bank card will be charged more money. I did not authorise this and I'm fairly sure this is in fact fraudulent. This company operates a scam, has no intention of ever honouring their original quote, and will be reported to the financial ombudsman. If you're a customer with this company then you'd better pray you never need to make a claim, because I have a feeling they'd never accept it! Looking at other negative reviews, it seems I'm not alone in this experience, which is putting it mildly. Read more Read less

DO NOT USE!!!! you will be trapped into paying extra!! i have been with 1st Central for a good few years now, since 2019 and... DO NOT USE!!!! you will be trapped into paying extra!! i have been with 1st Central for a good few years now, since 2019 and i have not had any issues until now! i have been a loyal customer for years, and i have never cost them a penny, never claimed never missed a payment, they offered me a renewal this year an after looking around i thought no i will stay but i definitely regret my decision. They contacted me 2 days after my cooling off period asking for more information, i rang them and provided this, and then due to my occupation changing from admin assistant to accounts assistant they have tried to charge me an extra £226!! baring in mind i work from home, i am still the same assistant i have always been and i pose no risk sitting at home ALL day to work. I feel they are coercive, as its either pay £226 or £150 to now cancel ???? i havent even had a full month and they feel this is acceptable behaviour. after reading reviews it seems to be a reoccurring pattern of contacting customers after the cooling off period to TRAP you!! i have spent hours on the phone and noone can help. I know the response to this will be the same generic that all other reviews have ! this company goes against the Consumer Duty and Treating customers fairly. And will be reported to the FCO after 8 weeks. There is an ongoing complaint, and im waiting 2 weeks nearly to hear back from someone on this. Appalling company, disgusting behaviour! Read more Read less

Gave me the lowest price but after buying the car insurance they jacked the price right up so I cancelled which cost my over £140... Gave me the lowest price but after buying the car insurance they jacked the price right up so I cancelled which cost my over £140 to do so, surely this can’t be legal? I will never use the again and to everyone else steer clear of them Read more Read less

Useless customer service. Have been trying to get MY money back that they owe me for almost 8 months and they are useless. Will transfer... Useless customer service. Have been trying to get MY money back that they owe me for almost 8 months and they are useless. Will transfer you to different people multiple times and hang up. When asking them to confirm phone calls through emails they say they are unable to do that. All in all, an absolute mess. Insurance is meant to make your life easier but that is not the case with this company. Read more Read less