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1st CENTRAL Reviews

3.9 Rating 5,237 Reviews
75 %
of reviewers recommend 1st CENTRAL
3.9
Based on 5,237 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Own Driver, Postal Service
On-time Delivery
99%
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In
Under An Hour
Customer Service
4.1 out of 5
Read 1st CENTRAL Reviews
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Phone:

0333 043 2066

Email:

marketing@1stcentral.co.uk

Location:

Capital House, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath
RH16 3SY

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1st CENTRAL 1 star review on 8th January 2025
Anonymous
1st CENTRAL 1 star review on 8th January 2025
Anonymous
1st CENTRAL 1 star review on 22nd August 2024
Mehrdad
1st CENTRAL 1 star review on 21st August 2024
Valeria
1st CENTRAL 1 star review on 21st August 2024
Valeria
1st CENTRAL 1 star review on 21st August 2024
Valeria
1st CENTRAL 1 star review on 9th May 2024
Marcus Wickwar
5
Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
First central asked for more info about our policy, i emailed it. They then wanted more info, i emailed it. They asked me for a code i dont understand what it is and ask them for more info. They cancel the policy and try to charge me £75 for admin, £50 non refundable for something, and for the 3 weeks i was insured with them. I already paid £86 deposit! Avoid avoid avoid!
Helpful Report
Posted 8 years ago
I got original quote £75 a month and l got e-mail 3 weeks later saying my payments had gone upto £108 l rang to query this, l had stated on the policy l had a accident 3 years previously. They said l didn't disclosed as fault accident. So l went on the internet and put it in as new quote and even put fault claim price was £75 a month same as my original quote with fault claim. When l queried this was told that risks change some pathetic excuse what in a month period. Just some pathetic reason to extorting money from people. By getting new quote showed putting fault claim didn't change it Rip off company avoid
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Posted 8 years ago
Cancelled my mothers car insurance after she passed away only to be told I'd be charged a default fee every time a payment was missed till I provided a copy of her death certificate.
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Posted 8 years ago
I called up to amend my registration number, as the last two characters were incorrect. Considering I only had the insurance for four days, I was amazed with the rude and abrupt worker on the phone who was demanding £30 to amend my policy. Not only was this a mistake by your company, I was clearly advised by a polite employee a few days early that we could amend our registration number for free during the 14 days as I was hoping to transfer our private plate onto the car when the details were up to date. His manner was disgusting, and for the sake of £30, I decided to cancel my policy and over something so pathetic. Regardless of how much cheaper you quote me in the future, I will spend my money elsewhere.
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Posted 8 years ago
WARNING DO NOT GO WITH THIS COMPANY Had to make alteration to car insurance policy (change of address). Usual monthly insurance was £40 monthly, to make this change I am now being charge £250 (excess including £20 admin fee), then £180 a month thereafter. Absolute daylight robbery! Will now change insurers, however have to pay £50 admin fee and no claims will be gone for the year. But, better that then paying these extortionate prices. Absolutely fuming!!! .
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Posted 8 years ago
Worst customer service non responsive. Hidden cost of admin fees. Spend a little more and go somewhere reputable
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Posted 8 years ago
I feel as though I have been mis-sold my Car Insurance, I went through compare the market to buy this car insurance, it turned out you had not carried through the information from compare the market correctly. This meant that I got an email saying my car insurance had been increased including a £50 admin fee- which I think is disgraceful when you did not get the information correct in the first place. It seems as you lured me in with a good price knowing full well that your system doesn't correctly receive information from comparison websites, so this price was not accurate. You then even add an extra £50 admin charge on when you correct the information. I asked if I could cancel the insurance and go elsewhere but this was at a cost too, which I just cannot afford. It is disgraceful that you do not use the correct information, and then when it is wrong charge people £50 for something which is practically your mistake. At renewal I will not be using this company and will absolutely not recommend to others.
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Posted 8 years ago
1stcentral are ok until you want to cancel a policy. They charged me nearly 6 months of insurance just to cancel my insurance I used for only 32 days with them, and this was just the cancellation fee and their hidden costs . They become wolfs and use all the tricks in the book . If you think a court divorce was the most stressful process , try to leave 1st central . Worst experience
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Posted 8 years ago
If only there is no star you people saying there are cheap just pray and hope you dont have to claim or get in accident that wasen't your fault customer service is poor they dont respond and goes round in circles for you to even put your issue forward very very very bad companystill chassing them for my refund £475
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Posted 8 years ago
Terrible!!!!!!! 1st & last time using these, stay well clear, charged me £108 for 6 days cover, be so carefull of their "£50 admin fees" my original quote was £315 on money supermarket and ended up at £680, never again, stick to the big boys & pay for the extra
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Posted 8 years ago
my wife of 74 years , sold her car a week BEFORE her renewal was due and 1st central was informed not to renew by email AND by post, but they still went ahead and renewed against her instructions, NOW they want a cancellelation fee of £50. I thank God I never had an accident with this company, I dread to think of the outcome, nevertheless we intend to fight this in the courts if necessary, Please tell me how such a company is allowed to operate in the Insurance Business, REMEMBER STAY AWAY !
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Posted 8 years ago
My first payment this company took double. When I contacted them I was told to cancel my direct debit and pay by card which I did. When paying I asked if they needed new direction debit set up and they said no. They tried to use my old debit details which where cancelled which resulted in no payment. I was not made aware until I got an email to say my insurance was cancelled. They said they sent an email.but none was received. They now say I owe them the rest of the years premium and £50 cancellation. I am refusing as it wasn't my fault it got cancelled and I know I did not receive any communication until it was cancelled. Stay clear of this company. Defo cheaper but cheapest isn't best.
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Posted 8 years ago
Be aware, it might be the cheapest insurance you find online but the way they handle a claim is just unbelievable. I had an accident - not my fault, 1st central decided to close my claim without telling me on the basis that the other party wouldn't admit liability. So in other words, if you are insured with 1st central and have an accident you won't get your car repaired or any compensation because they won't pursue the other party to admit. absolutely useless is not enough to describe this insurer. stay away from them
Helpful Report
Posted 8 years ago
Be very careful. Initial premium can look good but if you make any slight change you will be charged even when it makes no difference to the premium (sons dob was wrong as he was older than i stated!!) NCB - IF YOU MAKE A CLAIM AND DO NOT HAVE PROTECTION (this is pure profit for the broker / insurer) NCB goes from 10 years plus to 4!!!
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Posted 8 years ago
I have been with this company for 3 years but recently they have changed. For no apparent reason they cancelled my policy and did not tell me until I received a call stating I owed them £50 cancellation fee. I was shocked as it actually turns out that id been driving for 3 weeks with no insurance and my children in the car, unbelievably the advisor could not tell me why payments had been taken but she had me listed as cancellation due to none payment, she gave me a premium number to call ! Called number and after 25 minutes on hold then being hung up on and having to call and be put on hold again (premium rate ), I was shocked to be told that in fact the payments taken were not payments but none payment fault fees! So they could take a none payment monthly fee of £30 but not a payment of £28, the lady could not explain this and actually laughed. THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Referred them to FOS
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Posted 8 years ago
2 years ago I used your insurance and when I finished my contract with you, you charged additional 2 month fee and when I sent a couple of emails about the issue to get my money back and nobody responded. In the end it took you 2 months to give me the refund and I hope I don't have the same experience again.
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Posted 8 years ago
If only there was no stars I'd have picked none they don't even deserve 1. I canceled my policy in March 2016 and paid what was due. Now they call me in February 2017 looking 34.77 from policy I canceled with no explanation. Complete joke avoid them, useless customer service.
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Posted 8 years ago
Look at independent review sites before dealing with this company. On telephoning this company there call operator's talk round in circles without answering questions. They clearly use this as a tactic to confuse and get you off the phone. Promises are made and not kept. Emails have not received a response. Poor customer service.
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Posted 8 years ago
I took out a car insurance policy September '16 as they were the cheapest on a comparison site, paying by monthly Direct Debit. 2 months in and they charged me (and thousands others apparently) 2x the monthly amount in 1 month. They then refunded both of these amounts and issued me with a final notice that my policy was to be cancelled due to non-payment! No prior warnings, no correspondence regarding their payment error just a letter threatening to cancel my policy. I called 1st Central to discuss the matter, the person I spoke to was lovely, she told be about the issue they had with their payment systems, apologized on their behalf, and set up a new policy whereby the 'missing' payment would be spread across the remainder of the term, which I did. Then, In December I noticed that my monthly payment hadn't left my account. I checked the MID website to see If I was still insured and to my shock my policy had been cancelled on 7th December! I'd been driving uninsured for over 2 weeks without any correspondence from 1st Central regarding any of this! I was horrified, I called them immediately and discussed the matter. Again they were apologetic, insisted it was a system error on their behalf and that If I paid Decembers installment my policy would be reinstated. I don't like hassle in my life, so I paid Decembers installment, had my policy reinstated and thought that must be the end of it. However, I received an email today from a collection agency stating that they have been instructed to collect £173 from myself on behalf of 1st Central for missing payments, and a cancellation fee. Un-be-lievable. I check my policy online and nowhere does it mention any outstanding balances, so I call 1st Central for an explanation as to why a debt file had been created in my name, to which they had no idea. I've never met such an incompetent business in my entire life. From taking double payments, out-of-the-blue threats to cancel my policy with no substance, to actually cancelling my policy without my knowledge, to selling a false debt in my name to a collection agency! And I've only been a customer for 6 months! I'm still waiting to hear what their response is regarding the debt collection agency, however the FCA and the Financial Ombudsman will be getting involved from my behalf. If you're reading this and pondering taking a policy with 1st Central - Don't. go elsewhere, anywhere, but don't trust these guys. Trust me
Helpful Report
Posted 8 years ago
Due to an admin error on my behalf I missed the deadline for submitting my no claims bonus and driving license details on time. I have a combined no claims bonus on two vehicles of 20 years, my last driving conviction was over 25 yrs ago. So hardly a boy racer! 1st central cancelled my policy and charged the admin fee (no problem! its in the T&C's I agreed to) So..... I wanted a new policy, so I got a quote, 1st central were the cheapest again, I attempted to buy a new policy and was refused. It now appears that I am blacklisted now due to having a policy cancelled. I now have to declare that I have a policy cancelled and only have an option to say yes/no. After speaking to their customer services and explaining the situations why I missed the deadline I was passed on to the 'policy analysis team' I explained my situation again and explained again. All my original declarations were accurate, no claims bonus and driver details, no attempts to defraud or lie about anything. I am now being punished merely for returning paperwork late. Apparently human error is not permissible at 1st central, on behalf of the customer. I'm sure that errors have occurred on their side over the years, which, they will have apologised for. I now have to declare all car insurance companies that I have had a policy cancelled. My original policy was over £1000 and was paid up in full, obviously a refund is due and will take up to 5 days to process, funny how they can cancel so rapidly but not refund so quick? No,,, its not funny at all. My paper work was 5 days late,I wonder if I could claim 5 days interest for my refund??????I wont hold my breath. My new quote from them was £1300, unfortunately they choose not to insure me, just because of late paper work. They have my paperwork at their office now, just sitting there, proof of my no claims bonus and driving licence. However they don't want my £1300 to insure my car. I run my own business and often have deadlines broken by customers, however if one of them rang mea few days late I'm damn sure I wouldn't turn down £1300. The excuse 'the computer says no' is ridiculous, the idiot sat in front of the computer tells it what to do. The company must employ brain dead zombies spaced out by blue screen syndrome. Reading from a script all day must have turned their brains into mush. No sympathy, compassion or feelings about the impact they have just by pushing buttons. They cant have only done this to me, they must have done it to others. Makes me think that it might be easier just to drive it uninsured as many of the 'real' criminals on our roads. It would be cheaper than my new quotes. According to 1st central I am public enemy no.1 and must be punished form here on.
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Posted 8 years ago
1st CENTRAL is rated 3.9 based on 5,237 reviews