“THE ACID TEST IS WHEN YOU CLAIM - this was the last line of my 5 star review posted on Trustpilot, when I decided to switch my car policy to Budget Insurance in April 2019 after they quoted £80 less than my renewal quote for the same cover, a saving of 27%. However, I was involved in a non-fault accident in January 2020, when another driver ran into the back of my car. Reported the incident and Budget referred me to IMS Solutions their accident management company. I declined a courtesy car initially as my vehicle was still driveable. I was asked to provide photos to evidence the damage to my vehicle. It was declared a write off due to being beyond economical repair. The car then failed it's MOT due to damage caused to the boot floor not visible from the exterior. Although I had 'courtesy car ' cover this does not apply when your car is declared a write off. The accident management company were left to pursue the third party but after 90 days without success told me the matter would be passed to the underwriter. Contacted the underwriter who had to start the claim from square one. So 4 months on I have been paid out but from my own insurance with the excess deducted. So currently it is going against me as a fault claim. Clearly not happy and I will not rest. The underwriter is now issuing legal proceedings against the third party insurer.
I have complained to Budget Insurance, who confirmed that I should have been made aware of the option to have the accident dealt with by the underwriter from the outset and I have received compensation for their failure to follow procedures.
I maybe stating the obvious but Budget Insurance forms part of the BGL group of companies that includes Compare The Market and amongst many things I have learnt from this experience is that price is not always the best component on which to base a decision.”
“Automatically renewed, Budget failed to take the Direct Debit, I had funds available and hadn't cancelled the payment. Policy cancelled. Stupidly I started a new policy and set up DD over the phone, Budget failed again to take the DD. Customer Advisors made no attempt to rectify the problem within their system. I had been a customer for over 3 years without ever missing a payment. Budget didn't take the Direct Debit.”
“I am grateful to budget insurance because at my age and health they made reinsurance very easy for me. Today I have never had the need to claim on my insurance but if I had to the people of budget insurance would make it easier for me.”
“Charged £150 to change address having recently moved on my van insurance. The address I moved to has zero crime locally and my house insurers gave me a refund as a better post code. My car insurers did it for free. So how can they justify a fee of £150 for my van and the only good news was a further admin fee was waived. I will not be renewing as they will only pull my pants down the once!”
“Absolutely awful insurance company! Given 7 days notice of cancellation of my insurance policy due to a glitch through no fault of my own. Sent an email with the relevant document it took the “Que Team” 5 days to open an email! Still cancelled my insurance despite having proof of said glitch! Then tried charging me cancellation fees.
AVOID AVOID AVOID!!”
“Started a policy for a second vehicle obv with 0 no claims bonus as its being used on another vehicle! They ask if u have a ncb on any other vehicles then ask for proof. Your current insurer wont releasse an ncb letter as of course its being currently used, and they wont even accept a letter to say u have had 5 years good driving with no claims, which is technicllay what they are asking for! They then say its unacceptable and bang 700 quid onto the policy! cancelling as we speak just a real propeghanda to make more money with a false set up”
“I phoned Budget Insurance today to let them know I had a dash cam hard wired into my vehicle and to find out if it qualified for a reduction on my policy. I was then informed that it was classed as a modification and had tripled my policy cost!!! Needless to say I cancelled my policy and have spent the day shopping around for a new one who did indeed discount my policy for having a dash cam. The Budget insurance response makes no sense whatsoever as it is an added security measure and could save them money. Ludicrous.”
“Horrible experience.. fully comprehensive insurance with budget with recovery option. After a year of paying and never used service, car broke down, it took 5 hours for the guy sent to show up and then he looked like a 23-24 yrs old kid, I knew I was in trouble. Fumbled with car for 3 hours and was calling colleague to take advise anyway he couldn’t fix car and gave the dumbest excuse ever, that’s whe. I know I’d trusted an idiot to tamper with car. He promised he’s asked me to be recovered home at 10pm and I asked him if he thinks I should wait or go home, he couldn’t advise so I called budget every 30 minutes and no-one could advice until midnight when Jill on the phone rudely said they wouldn’t be able to get to me until 3:00am... I was livid please understand that’s 11 hours of waiting and also having a 23 yrs old supposedly read a book with no real life experience or practical totally messed up the car for me.. I’m still sitting by the roadside as I type, missed my last train home and there’s no decency from budget to have a manager call me back... I really don’t know why we have to be at the mercy of this companies and they get away with total disregard for customers plight while they continue to take your money.. is providing a service you charge for such a hard thing to do? Why take money if you can’t? Never under it 🤦🏽♂️”
“Had the renewal from Budget for my car insurance. Gone up 40% since last year. Negotiated with the agent to knock it down, but still much cheaper to go onto the Campare the Market Website and get a better deal. In fact same price as last year!”
“After having online quote, insured my second car with them. My wife as named driver. After a week found email about increased premium from 600 to 1700. The reason being an undeclared claim which I clearly mentioned during first quote.
I had to cancel the policy and got one from my main insurer (Tesco).”
“After agreeing on the premium and paying my first instalment Budget, who I had been a customer of for three years then located a telephone call I had made to them explaining that a driver had hit me from behind whilst I was at traffic lights. There was obviously no claim by the driver at fault and I was not going to make a claim so the call was just for informative purposes. They used this non-claim incident to increase the premium by 45%.
Their customer services were brilliant and Blake, the gentleman helping me, was also quite shocked at the situation and spent some 40 minutes trying to resolve it in my favour but all to no avail. He did though quash the charge for cancellation and credited me with a goodwill payment.
I would advise anybody reading this to NEVER divulge any situation/accident/incident where you are not at fault and do not wish to make a claim, this insurance company will use your honesty to fiscally punish you.”
“Been with this incurance for about 3 years and now I'm happy to break up with them... Do not recommend them as you will have lots of trouble to win your claim...”
