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1st Central: Car Insurance reviews

Name: Car Insurance
Rating: 1.69 (849 reviews)

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1.50

Based on 849 reviews, last reviewed 29th Nov 2024

50% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

16% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

12%

79%

Latest highest rating:

5

Very good quote on car insurance, and recommended on... Very good quote on car insurance, and recommended on go compare site Reviewed on: 25th September 2024

Latest lowest rating:

1

BEWARE!! Ludicrous charges! THEY DO NOT CARE!! Took out insurance and over a week later they asked for proof of NCB and proof of claims. Asked my last insurance provider for this. When I didn’t get... Read more Reviewed on: 29th November 2024

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About this product

Here at Smart Money People, we collect 1st Central car insurance reviews from genuine customers, to help you make an informed decision about your next provider.

1st Central was founded in 2008 and has been growing fast ever since. Specialising in car insurance, the brand offers a variety of products with different levels of cover, including a telematics policy for newer drivers.

When choosing a new policy, take the time to ensure it is suitably robust and meets all of your needs. Do you want breakdown cover included in the policy? Do you need legal cover? What about cover for any medical expenses that may occur after an accident? Working out your priorities before searching for a policy can make the selection process much easier. Check out our 1st Central car insurance reviews to find out what others think.

Have you had a car insurance policy with 1st Central? Whether good or bad, share your experience with the Smart Money People community to help us increase trust and transparency in financial services. Were you satisfied with the price of the premium? Did you have any interactions with the customer service team? Leave a 1st Central car insurance review today to help other drivers just like you.

1st Central Car Insurance reviews (849)

Review of the 1st Central, Car Insurance:

Took ages to sort out an accident that was not my fault!

My car was hit when parked by a truck. 1st Central said they'd take control of the claim but simply handed it over to a shady third party claims management company, and then refused to discuss the matter further with me. They eventually compensated me for the inconvenience but come January I'll be moving my policy to someone else. Reviewed on: 10th November 2015

Fees and more fees, they take unauthorised payments

I switched my unsuitable over to my new car in which they charged me a £100 admin fee, my old car which my partner was driving was then switched from her old car also with 1st central but the advisor charged us both £100 admin fee for 5 minutes on her keyboard. I also stated whilst on the phone that I wanted to opt out of the auto renewal which now 9 months later, I noticed they’ve taken two payments of £83.90 out of my account in Nov and Dec’23 which are duplicates direct debits which they’ve denied taking double what is due although my banks confirmed they have, my policy has just renewed although as mentioned earlier I opted out in which they’ve taken £401.02 from my account as the deposit for my new policy (which wasn’t authorised) and another £202.20 for the first payment (also not authorised) I called them up and explained the above which they replied I hadn’t opted out and they hadn’t taken the direct debits twice, they said they sent my policy to me email although I’d received nothing I asked what my new premium was per month in which I was told it’s £202.20 a month from £83.90 so over double what it was although nothings changed from the previous year except my no claims bonus has now increased to 9 years! I said I wanted the policy void not cancelled as I never agreed for insurance to roll over and I was told it’s started and my car would be insured that if I cancelled I would lose the £401.02 deposit and have to pay a percentage of my annual premium plus a £50.00 admin fee and cancellation fee. This company is a cowboy co-operation avoid at all costs, I will be reporting it and contacting the financial ombudsmen Reviewed on: 20th January 2024

AVOID AVOID AVOID

AVOID AVOID AVOID My son Had a third party accident was offered two settlement offers felt it was not enough so asked insurance company 1st central to reconsider to be told they are cancelling the policy as the car had been modified. It was an MSport BMW had absolutely no idea the car had been modified as all the cars are like this when searched on google. Treated him as if he was a criminal trying to make out these modifications were done by my son when he purchased the vehicle like this from the garage. If they can get out of paying a claim they will do avoid as all costs the worst insurance company around! Reviewed on: 20th January 2024

TAKING LEGAL ACTION. AVOID THIS COMPANY PLEASE!

I joined 1st central connect using the blackbox. I also had a 2nd driver on my policy. 1st central connect sent an email giving steps for me and the 2nd driver to complete regarding downloading and connecting to the blackbox/telematic device. We both did the steps required of us. I got emails saying that we did not download the app but if we did please ignore this email. Since we did, we figured it was a wrong email. Next thing I knew my policy was cancelled. When I called to ask why they said because the second driver did not register and downlaod the app. THIS IS UNTRUE! I explained this to them multiple times but each customer support worker rudely dismissed me and refused to listen. I have email PROOF from 1st central connect outlining the steps for the main driver and the 2nd driver: (Policy Holder), follow these simple steps: Download the 1ST CENTRAL Connect app to your smartphone (make sure you say yes to those cookies and permissions!) Link your sensor to the 1ST CENTRAL Connect app – it takes less than a minute Stick your sensor to your windscreen without it blocking your view – the sensor shouldn’t be kept loose in your car, pocket, bag etc. (second driver) will need to do the following: When registering, it’s important that they register using their own email address and mobile number, this is so we can set them up with a unique driver record on the app. Then, they need to go to the welcome text message from 1ST CENTRAL Connect and download the 1ST CENTRAL Connect app to their smartphone (making sure they say yes to those cookies and permissions!) The 3 steps required by me and the 2 steps required by the 2nd driver were COMPLETED! YET THE POLICY WAS STILL CANCELLED! Now I have this unfair cancellation on my record because of an untrue claim by 1st Central Connect. I have contacted the OMBUDSMAN AND HAVE BEGAN LEGAL ACTION AGAINST 1ST CENTRAL CONNECT! STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY AND THEIR FRAUDULENT AND SCAMMING TELEAMTIC/BLACK BOX DEVICE Reviewed on: 16th January 2024

1st Central are best avoided.

These people are best avoided. They messed up my quote by getting the information I'd provided wrong (I had copies of what I'd sent them but they still somehow changed it) and so I cancelled the policy before it started because they changed the premium from the quote by +£150! When I canceled it the told me that they'd charge me the remainder of their £50 arrangement fee! I told them I refused to pay it so they threatened me with "lawyers getting involved". Then an hour or so later I noticed that they had processed a transaction for the remaining amount on my debit card without my authorisation... surely there are laws to protect consumers from this? Either way, if they're that desperate for £23.55 then there's clearly a problem in their business! Reviewed on: 12th January 2024

Not a real company based in Africa and calls answere...

Not a real company based in Africa and calls answered by virtual assistants that do not have a glue Reviewed on: 11th January 2024

Disgusting company!

Disgusting company! Charge you additional fees and no way of challenging it! I got the purchase date of my vehicle out by a few days and the additional cost of £51 was for admin to change it. Bad customer service, avoid at all costs! Reviewed on: 9th January 2024

Disgusting business!

Terrible business! Firstly they tried to rip me off, telling me my occupation was incorrect and I should have to pay an extra £120 on top of my quoted price (pretty sure I know what I do for a living) Then auto renewed after being told not to and charged me £50 for the privilege. Rude customer service staff, and now ignoring my emails regarding thieving £50 of my money. Disgusting Reviewed on: 6th January 2024

Avoid

Utterly useless Phone to discuss renewal, they went competitive so I instructed them to to auto renew and they completely ignored me, why can’t simple instructions be followed? Now they chatbot can’t help, the web portal is useless and won’t let me cancel Simple things shouldn’t be this painful, no doubt when I actually manage to cancel they’ll try and charge for something Reviewed on: 1st January 2024

7 weeks for claim

7 weeks for claim. Every single agent was giving me different information. „Senior agent will call you tomorrow” - five times didn’t call. I received calculations by phone, gave bank details and 1h later email to send pictures like 2 weeks earlier. After a few weeks I find out engineers can’t open my pictures. It wasn’t even attachment, was as part of email. „Replay in 1 day for comments for your claim” - never did. According to 1stCentral if you have accident abroad you must back to UK. Courtesy car? Only in paper. I may get one if I back to country first. In axa I had money in my account in 5 days from accident. Here bank transfer took longer. Ok, my accident was abroad, let’s say my fault, but second driver finished with claim in 2 weeks. With courtuasy car and expert at home. Plus they offer cover abroad for 90 days. Mess as hell. Accident on 14th Nov, week later information by phone - it will be written off, I was calling and texting them everyday to get money on 29th Dec Reviewed on: 31st December 2023

Awful company

They charge you extra money at every possible opportunity and they have the worst customer service! Reviewed on: 29th December 2023

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