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1st Central reviews

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Rated Poor 1.56/5

1st Central reviews

Verified businesses always have up to date contact details and can respond to reviews.

Verified business
Last reviewed within 14 days
  • FCA approved and regulated
    FCA approved and regulated
  • Award winning organisation
    Award winning organisation
  • Fully digital service with no in-person branches
    Fully digital service with no in-person branches
  • On-line application and approval process
    On-line application and approval process

Review summary

People rate this company as Poor based on 952 product reviews

Average score of 1.56/5
5 star
13%
4 star
5%
3 star
2%
2 star
2%
1 star
78%
Reviews for 1st Central have trended negatively over the past 90 days

Latest positive rating

5/5

I have used this company before, and have never had...

I have used this company before, and have never had any problems.

{"display":"Tina Keeble","full_name":"Tina Keeble","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/793517.png"}}'s avatar
Car insurance
Tina Keeble 6th September 2025

Latest negative rating

1/5

AVOID AT ALL COST! SCAM!!

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

{"display":"L H","full_name":"L H","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Car insurance
L H 6th November 2025

About 1st Central

1st Central is an award-winning, UK insurance company.

Launched in 2008 in Haywards Heath, today 1st Central policies currently protect more than 1.4m people across a range of products. You can get a quote and manage your policy online.

1st Central provide car and home insurance policies. You can also get breakdown cover and personal accident cover.

1st Central at a glance

Contact details

Phone
0333 043 2085
Social media

Reviews for 1st Central

Showing 11 of 952 company reviews Last reviewed within 14 days

AVOID AT ALL COST! SCAM!!

Car insurance 6th November 2025

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

{"display":"L H","full_name":"L H","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
L H
Rated Terrible 1/5
Read more product reviews
Reply from 1st Central
Hi L H, 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. Ashley
7th November 2025
1st Central

Avoid - Coercive pattern,will trap you, non consented £

Car insurance 30th October 2025

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

Rated Terrible 1/5
Read more product reviews
Reply from 1st Central
Hi Jess, 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. Ashley
31st October 2025
1st Central
  • 1/5

    Scam scam scam

    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

    {"display":"Jon Johnson","full_name":"Jon Johnson","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/1315383.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Jon Johnson 25th October 2025
  • 1/5

    Useless customer service

    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

    {"display":"Amelia A","full_name":"Amelia A","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Amelia A 17th October 2025
  • 1/5

    Customer Service that won’t speak to you!

    At first it looked like 1st Central offered reasonable value for car insurance. However after being asked to contact their ‘Policy Analysis Team’ I have... At first it looked like 1st Central offered reasonable value for car insurance. However after being asked to contact their ‘Policy Analysis Team’ I have to change my mind. They asked me to contact them and then went ahead to dispute my employment status suggesting I was incorrect bizarre but true. As a result they insisted on me having a different employment status and wanted to charge me £98.80 to change it. sound unlikely I agree but is true. Since this dispute I have called three times, each time no one can answer my questions but promises each time someone will call me back, so far no call back. I did ask for a cost of cancellation which was £148 for a policy running three weeks but the reason for the high cost was ambiguous to say the least. This should be easy 45 years of driving and 10 + years of NCD and I am made to feel like a crook, I would not recommend 1st Central. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Nick Walton","full_name":"Nick Walton","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/1315082.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Nick Walton 15th October 2025
  • 1/5

    Cheapest quote didn't last long

    They came in as the cheapest quote and even though they're was done technical issues getting signed up I went with them then 1 week... They came in as the cheapest quote and even though they're was done technical issues getting signed up I went with them then 1 week laid they needed to check a form that showed i had the purchase date of the car wrong and to update this they charged an additional £150 pounds. I'm currently trying to cancel the policy which is a nightmare and none of the links to do it online work so I'm stuck in chat bot hell. Wish I had just gone with one of the reputable companies and paid the extra £100 then Read more Read less

    {"display":"James ","full_name":"James ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    James 4th October 2025
  • 1/5

    Be careful for additional charges!

    Be careful for additional charges! I have bought car insurance and paid up front for it, after a week I have been asked to send... Be careful for additional charges! I have bought car insurance and paid up front for it, after a week I have been asked to send vehicle registration documents which I did and got charged £80 extra !!(checks + administration fees) obviously if you want to cancel your insurance you will have to pay more admin fees so you will get stuck paying the additional costs which you didn’t know anything about ! Avoid this company!! Read more Read less

    {"display":"Ann o","full_name":"Ann o","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Ann o 15th September 2025
  • 5/5

    I have used this company before, and have never had...

    I have used this company before, and have never had any problems.

    {"display":"Tina Keeble","full_name":"Tina Keeble","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/793517.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Tina Keeble 6th September 2025
  • 3/5

    Got me a good deal.

    Got me a good deal. Had a non fault accident. The customer service lady was nice but she didn't explain the claim process very well.

    {"display":"Faye C","full_name":"Faye C","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Faye C 5th September 2025
  • 1/5

    I have never had such an appalling experience with a...

    I have never had such an appalling experience with a company in my life. 1st Call Central Car Insurance has shown me exactly how NOT... I have never had such an appalling experience with a company in my life. 1st Call Central Car Insurance has shown me exactly how NOT to treat a customer. I took out a policy with them, only to later be told (after the fact) that I’d be charged almost £500 more. When I challenged this, the representative on the phone openly admitted that they understood I had not been given the full information needed to make an informed decision about taking out the policy in the first place. So essentially, I was misled into agreeing to something I never would have accepted had I known all the facts upfront. Despite this clear failure in duty of care, I was still told I’d be charged a £100 cancellation fee just to say, “No thanks.” After more discussion, the agent acknowledged the lack of information and agreed to refund the £50 cancellation fee as a “gesture of goodwill” – yet refused to refund the £50 arrangement fee, even though it was agreed that had I been properly informed, I would never have taken the policy at all. When I raised this obvious contradiction – that if you admit fault, the arrangement fee should also be refunded – I was told it was simply “her decision” and that my only recourse was to take it up with the ombudsman. I fully intend to do exactly that. Even more disturbing, the conversation I had earlier in the day seems to have mysteriously changed. The written record now being offered to me does not match what was actually said. Instead, I’ve received an empty “gesture of goodwill” in writing – a far cry from what was acknowledged on the call. I will be submitting a formal Subject Access Request (SAR) so that the recording of this conversation can be passed to the Financial Ombudsman. They deserve to hear the full picture, not the rewritten version the company is trying to pass off. It’s not just about the £50, it’s about principle. A company that admits wrongdoing but still fines the customer for their own failings is not a company that deserves to be in business. I’ve now wasted hours trying to resolve this and will be exploring my right to bill them for my time as well. Steer well clear of 1st Call Central. They are untrustworthy, dismissive, and operate with a shocking lack of transparency or fairness. If I could give them zero stars, I would. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Rebecca ","full_name":"Rebecca ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Rebecca 5th September 2025
  • 5/5

    Good and not too expensive

    Was looking for good value car insurance and found this one. Not too expensive and so far can’t say anything bad. Very easy to sign up.

    {"display":"Matus","full_name":"Matus","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Car insurance
    Matus 5th September 2025

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