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1st Central reviews

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Rated Poor 1.53/5

1st Central reviews

Verified business
Last reviewed within 7 days

Review summary

People rate this company as Poor based on 868 product reviews

Average score of 1.53/5
5 star
13%
4 star
6%
3 star
2%
2 star
2%
1 star
77%
Reviews for 1st Central have trended negatively over the past 90 days

Latest positive rating

5/5

Very professional and helpful when needed

Very professional and helpful when needed

Latest negative rating

1/5

Ok where do I start !

Ok where do I start !!!!!! If you want to get car insurance then look else where !!!!!!!!! I have spent more time on the... Ok where do I start !!!!!! If you want to get car insurance then look else where !!!!!!!!! I have spent more time on the phone trying to get help with my policy than I ever have with all my other policy’s in the last 31 years !!!!!!!!!!!!! People say they will call you back and even email you……….they don’t !!!!!!!!!! Their call centre is in South Africa and I couldn’t really understand the call workers……and this just build up the blood pressure!!!!!!! I am sure they try and keep you from getting all ur paperwork sorted in the first 14 days so they can then hit you with a £50 admin fee like they did to me :( and I have sent sooooooo many emails and wasted soooooo much time trying to do this in the first 14 days that yes I do feel hard done by !!!!!! I really feel hard done by as it’s their poor admin why I am now having to pay an admin fee !!!!!!! I have opened up a complaint : Your case reference: 34639373 Our reference:FPM6022725531FC And if I do ever hear back from them and they do me right I will come back to this review and do an update………..but I am more than sure they won’t !!!!!!! Please learn from my mistake and don’t just go for the cheaper option as it really is not worth the hassle………some times in life you realise that you are dealing with amateurs…………….. :( Please be warned !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more Read less

{"display":"Kevin","full_name":"Kevin","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Car Insurance
Kevin 15th November 2024

About 1st Central

1st Central insurance are a UK Car insurance provider which launched in 2008 based in Haywards Heath.

Are you looking for the perfect car insurance to keep you on the road? Our 1st Central car insurance reviews can help you decide if it’s the right option for you.

If you’re considering taking out an insurance policy with 1st Central, check out our reviews first. Discover which insurance policies 1st Central policyholders have and how satisfied they've been so far. Learn more about the benefits of being a 1st Central member. All of this and more can be found in our 1st Central reviews.

Smart Money People is the place for 1st Central reviews. Read and write reviews to help increase trust and transparency in Financial Services.

1st Central at a glance

Reviews for 1st Central

Showing 11 of 868 company reviews Last reviewed within 7 days

Ok where do I start !

Car Insurance 15th November 2024

Ok where do I start !!!!!! If you want to get car insurance then look else where !!!!!!!!! I have spent more time on the... Ok where do I start !!!!!! If you want to get car insurance then look else where !!!!!!!!! I have spent more time on the phone trying to get help with my policy than I ever have with all my other policy’s in the last 31 years !!!!!!!!!!!!! People say they will call you back and even email you……….they don’t !!!!!!!!!! Their call centre is in South Africa and I couldn’t really understand the call workers……and this just build up the blood pressure!!!!!!! I am sure they try and keep you from getting all ur paperwork sorted in the first 14 days so they can then hit you with a £50 admin fee like they did to me :( and I have sent sooooooo many emails and wasted soooooo much time trying to do this in the first 14 days that yes I do feel hard done by !!!!!! I really feel hard done by as it’s their poor admin why I am now having to pay an admin fee !!!!!!! I have opened up a complaint : Your case reference: 34639373 Our reference:FPM6022725531FC And if I do ever hear back from them and they do me right I will come back to this review and do an update………..but I am more than sure they won’t !!!!!!! Please learn from my mistake and don’t just go for the cheaper option as it really is not worth the hassle………some times in life you realise that you are dealing with amateurs…………….. :( Please be warned !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more Read less

Rated Terrible 1/5
Read more product reviews
Reply from 1st Central
Hi Kevin, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. I can see this has been raised to our complaints team. I've passed your review on to them. Once they have investigated your complaint, they'll be in contact with you. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service and training for our agents. Ashley
18th November 2024
1st Central

Avoid 1st Central Car Insurance at all costs.

Car Insurance 12th November 2024

Avoid 1st Central Car Insurance. They come up as the cheapest on many insurance comparison websites but they make their money through high administration fees... Avoid 1st Central Car Insurance. They come up as the cheapest on many insurance comparison websites but they make their money through high administration fees any time you or they make changes to your policy. They requested added information 30 days after I applied and with only 1 day to go in my 14 day period, so when I had a disagreement over the documents I couldn't get out within the 14 day grace period. When they find fault in your documents, they don't explain what the problem is online and you can't make any changes to your policy until you've paid the admin fee. The call centre operator had an extremely noisy background (yelling and laughing) so I couldn't hear what was being said. They also failed to action something I requested over the phone. Two separate operators gave me incorrect information as to why my policy was being changed and why I had to pay the admin fee, wasting a day of my time and one less day to get this all sorted. They made it as difficult as possible for me to give them the new information to have the admin fee removed - I couldn't just upload to my online account and I have to call them once I've sent the documentation otherwise my email goes to the back of the 5 day long queue and I'll miss the due date. Most people wouldn't bother and just accept the fee, but that is how they make their money. I'll be cancelling as soon as possible. Could not imagine trying to go through this process if I ever had to make a claim. Read more Read less

Rated Terrible 1/5
Read more product reviews
Reply from 1st Central
Hi J A K, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience with us. All details on the policy impact the price of the policy we offer, if details are found to be incorrect we need to update them and this can impact the price of the policy. If you’d like to speak to the team about this process, please give us a call on 0333 043 2095. We’re here to help from Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm. We’ll use your comments to help improve our service. Ashley
13th November 2024
1st Central
  • 1/5

    This has to be the worst company I have ever dealt w...

    This has to be the worst company I have ever dealt with, they accepted my insurance then decided they wanted more information after insuring me,... This has to be the worst company I have ever dealt with, they accepted my insurance then decided they wanted more information after insuring me, and when I said you should have asked before accepting they raised the price and charged admin on top, absolute charlatans. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Alan P","full_name":"Alan P","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car Insurance
    Alan P 11th November 2024
  • 1/5

    AVOID AT ALL COST

    Worst customer service on the planet, i had made an error on my application my finger must have hit a 1 instead of a 2... Worst customer service on the planet, i had made an error on my application my finger must have hit a 1 instead of a 2 as in 2021/2022 so they decided to add £175 onto my policy lucky i was still within the 14 day cancellation period ,tried discussing with 3 differrent agent all were so rude and unhelpful Read more Read less

    {"display":"Mark","full_name":"Mark","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car Insurance
    Mark 11th November 2024
  • 1/5

    They offer low quotes but end up charging you more.

    They offer low quotes but ask you to call for additional things they could cover for them to only tell you that your policy will... They offer low quotes but ask you to call for additional things they could cover for them to only tell you that your policy will go up even if you don't want any additional cover. They charge £50 admin fees for the privilege of adding more to your policy. If you then want to cancel they'll take even more than the policy is worth leaving you with nothing. Avoid at all costs. Read more Read less

    {"display":"R Adams ","full_name":"R Adams ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car Insurance
    R Adams 11th November 2024
  • 1/5

    AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS APPALLING COMPANY IF...

    AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS APPALLING COMPANY IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT THEY DO NOT LISTEN TO YOU OR FIGHT YOUR CLAIM A 3RD... AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS APPALLING COMPANY IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT THEY DO NOT LISTEN TO YOU OR FIGHT YOUR CLAIM A 3RD PARTY HIT MY SON HE TURNED OUT OF HIS LANE INTO MY SON ON A DUAL CARRIAGEWAY AND APPARENTLY ITS 50 /50 CASE LAW SAYS BOTH ARE AT FAULT SO MY SONS FAULT TOO EVEN THOUGH HE STAYED IN HIS OWN LANE AND DIDNT MOVE HE HAD NEARLY PASSED THE DRIVER WHEN HE DECIDED TO CHANGE LANES AND HIT HIM YET THE INSURANCE COMPANY DO NOT FIGHT THE LIABILITY JUST TAKE THE NO CLAIMS WITHOUT PAYING ANYONE OUT AND WITHOUT NOTIFICATION ABSOLUTELY AWFUL AVOID AVOID AVOID BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAP DOES NOT MEAN GOOD AVOID AVOID AVOID Read more Read less

    {"display":"Joanne c","full_name":"Joanne c","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car Insurance
    Joanne c 10th November 2024
  • 1/5

    High £30 admin fee

    High £30 admin fee when you have to call them even when it's something you can't change online. They don't warn you at beginning of call

    {"display":"K p","full_name":"K p","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car Insurance
    K p 28th October 2024
  • 1/5

    AVOID. 0 STARS.

    DO. NOT. USE. THEM. I was in a crash and told it was my fault, then two weeks later phoned again and told it wasn’t... DO. NOT. USE. THEM. I was in a crash and told it was my fault, then two weeks later phoned again and told it wasn’t and first central had made an error, that this is unacceptable and I will not be liable and get compensation. Then, after around 25 hours of calls and constant hounding, silence Months later I get a letter saying I am liable, the case is closed and my insurance is going up, and I will be writing to the ombudsman to take this further Do not let them handle ANYTHING for you, they don’t communicate between teams and have cost me thousands Read more Read less

    {"display":"AR","full_name":"AR","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car Insurance
    AR 21st October 2024
  • 1/5

    Such a awful customer service with foreign agents wh...

    Such a awful customer service with foreign agents who had no compassion and understanding of company structure. It's a shamble of management. Their website is... Such a awful customer service with foreign agents who had no compassion and understanding of company structure. It's a shamble of management. Their website is full of bugs and the process is ancient. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Saeed","full_name":"Saeed","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car Insurance
    Saeed 20th October 2024
  • 1/5

    Shocking service

    Tried to cancel policy because doubled my policy price just outside 40 days from renewal date received quote of £81 to cancel rang back to... Tried to cancel policy because doubled my policy price just outside 40 days from renewal date received quote of £81 to cancel rang back to do so increased to £135! Helpline said because of 3 days interest asked to speak to supervisor on hold for over 30 mins appalling customer service do not touch!!! Read more Read less

    {"display":"Penelope N","full_name":"Penelope N","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car Insurance
    Penelope N 18th October 2024
  • 1/5

    They drew money from my account

    I did not renew the policy this year, but they withdrew money from my bank account. I have been trying to talk to them for... I did not renew the policy this year, but they withdrew money from my bank account. I have been trying to talk to them for the last two months without any success. I am currently holding my phone for the last 57 minutes trying to talk the right person about this. Read more Read less

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