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Footman James reviews

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Rated Excellent 4.88/5

Footman James reviews

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Review summary

People rate this company as Excellent based on 590 product reviews

Average score of 4.88/5
5 star
92%
4 star
7%
3 star
0%
2 star
0%
1 star
1%

Latest positive rating

5/5

Classic car insurance

Easy to sort what I needed, friendly knowledgeable staff on the phone, and a competitive renewal price

Latest negative rating

1/5

Check your policy

I had a classic loved BMW E30.I believed that Footman James were my insurer, they were not. Although their glossy website looks great, READ THE... I had a classic loved BMW E30.I believed that Footman James were my insurer, they were not. Although their glossy website looks great, READ THE SMALL PRINT. There was an accident where my E30 was deemed a total loss. Then all became clear, I had been passed to Ageas. Ageas are not classic car insurers they will not insure a classic car unless it is passed to them by a BROKER. I now know that Footman James acted as a broker not an insurer ,I was oblivious to this. I specifically wanted an insurer that appreciated a classic car owners needs, they are so unlike modern vehicles. I believed that Footman James could provide this. They did not. Ageas have made my life an absolute nightmare and I would not wish this on anyone else. I have been through hell. Check your policy you could be with Ageas or similar. Just be very careful, you could lose your precious vehicle and your mind. Read more Read less

About Footman James

Read or write Footman James reviews on Smart Money People. Footman James are a specialist insurance company for classic cars and motorcycles, founded in 1983, and as part of the Towergate Insurance company. If you've already got a car or motorbike insured with Footman James, please share a review of your own and help others decide if they should use this insurance company for their cherished vehicle!

Footman James at a glance

Reviews for Footman James

Showing 11 of 590 company reviews

Classic car insurance

Classic Car Insurance Broker 22nd September 2023

Easy to sort what I needed, friendly knowledgeable staff on the phone, and a competitive renewal price

Rated Excellent 5/5
Read more product reviews

Check your policy

Classic Car Insurance Broker 1st June 2022

I had a classic loved BMW E30.I believed that Footman James were my insurer, they were not. Although their glossy website looks great, READ THE... I had a classic loved BMW E30.I believed that Footman James were my insurer, they were not. Although their glossy website looks great, READ THE SMALL PRINT. There was an accident where my E30 was deemed a total loss. Then all became clear, I had been passed to Ageas. Ageas are not classic car insurers they will not insure a classic car unless it is passed to them by a BROKER. I now know that Footman James acted as a broker not an insurer ,I was oblivious to this. I specifically wanted an insurer that appreciated a classic car owners needs, they are so unlike modern vehicles. I believed that Footman James could provide this. They did not. Ageas have made my life an absolute nightmare and I would not wish this on anyone else. I have been through hell. Check your policy you could be with Ageas or similar. Just be very careful, you could lose your precious vehicle and your mind. Read more Read less

Rated Terrible 1/5
Read more product reviews
  • 5/5

    Great Broker

    Competitive and Great Staff with good knowledge

  • 1/5

    Outrageous attempt to rip me off

    Utter rip off. A failed attempt to rip me off after 8 years by trying to charge me over 51% (£182.71) more for classic car... Utter rip off. A failed attempt to rip me off after 8 years by trying to charge me over 51% (£182.71) more for classic car insurance than that provided by another well known and renowned classic car insurance provider. I have been with Footman James for over 8 years for classic car insurance. Unfortunately, they decided to use that longevity in order to try and rip me off with the upmost contempt. I can only assume that those 8 years loyalty suggested to Footman James that I am either stupid or gullible or too lazy to shop around. Probably all three. I received a classic car renewal quote of these people showing a marked increase in my premium that I believed could not be justified. A premium quoted at £436.91. Upon questioning their price they stated that if I came back to them with a cheaper quote off another supplier they would look at their pricing. I came back to them with a quote at £100.91 cheaper for increased insurance provisions. I also informed them, as I had the other provider, that I had had a modern car wrote off by a lorry in December 2019 as a no fault and settled claim. A no fault settled claim as my car had been parked in a car park, empty with no one in it when a lorry decided to drive over it. That declaration was like a green light for them to really treat me like a fool. Upon this notice they decided to stick on a further £98.80, increasing the quote from £436.91 to £535.71. They even threw at me the added insult of claiming this further £98.80 increase included a 10% discount. On my challenge this was all justified by way of claiming the increase was computer driven and there was nothing they could do to reduce it. To that end I have dropped Footman James with the same contempt they have shown towards me. I have now insured with another renowned classic car insurer with better provisions at just £353. This includes full breakdown, home start, recovery, tax and arrangement fee, etc. To spell this out in no uncertain terms, Footman James wanted £182.71 more for providing less cover than that which I now have with another well known provider. In percentage terms that is approximately 51.25% more for less cover. This was nothing less than an outrageous attempt to rip off even though I had been with them for over 8 years. I hope as many people as possible read this review in its entirety. Read more Read less

  • 5/5

    Simply the Best

    I have or have had all (10 at present) classic and modern motorcycles covered by FJ for many years. They offer great value are very... I have or have had all (10 at present) classic and modern motorcycles covered by FJ for many years. They offer great value are very knowledgeable and you can always speak to a human being. I have learned to my cost recently hoe frustrating your portal! or live chat! can be. John Knibb Read more Read less

  • 1/5

    Over £400 stolen from us

    My husband and I are having awful problems with Footman James! My husband rang to inform them that his bike was no longer being held... My husband and I are having awful problems with Footman James! My husband rang to inform them that his bike was no longer being held in a garage, and they said they wouldn’t insure it and that he’d have to cancel his policy. He was then told that they couldn’t cancel his policy until his third instalment of £225.68 which was due to come out the following week had been paid, and that his bike would no longer be insured. I found this exceedingly odd but agreed and when the third instalment was due, he paid it. I knew he was due a refund as he had paid three instalments (one of £225.69, and two of £225.68) which makes up for 9 months of the year, and he’d only had the policy since 11/01/19 and he’d called at the first week of March! But he received a call today to say he would only be getting a refund of £218. So extremely unfair! I am very unhappy that he has been first made to make a payment when they told him he needed to cancel, and then have the audacity to only give him a refund of £218. Absolutely disgraceful. They pretty much put the gun to his head and stole the money from him. I’d warn everyone to stay away. Seriously, it’s not worth the time or money. Read more Read less

  • 5/5

    Great service

    When I bought my classic car I looked at numerous Insures but came up with Footman James great personal advice and service. Thanks to very one

  • 5/5

    Footman James are Wonderful

    Footman James offer a friendly, personal service adaptable to you and your needs. Their insurance service is clear and affordable, while offering high quality cover for you and your vehicle's.

  • 5/5

    friendly and helpful

    A very personal experience making insuring my vehicle simple and hassle free.

  • 5/5

    Perfect

    Excellent service and Customer Care

  • 5/5

    Great Insurer

    Great communicators, swift and helpful in understanding needs. I will continue to use FJ for my insurance needs

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