“Why is Diamond getting good reviews on the whole? Maybe they haven't experienced the other side of them yet! Whilst I can fully understand the poor reviews from a few others? Diamond was VOTED BOTTOM out of 40 insurers in AUTO EXPRESS.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-2381640/Best-worst-car-insurers-Diamond-slumps-NFU-reveals-Auto-Express.html
I've just found out how awful they are too. To get my 18yr old daughter insured, who is a superb driver btw, used Diamond, part of the Admiral Grp, aimed at women drivers (like Shelia's Wheels). The saleswoman was very pleasant but knew very little about cars, but none of that mattered to me, though I spent hours literally on the phone several evenings, going through one car after another and making spreadsheets. I should have suspected their poor CS when she couldn't give me a phone number to call her back on, not even an email, so as I had to send spreadsheets she gave me someone else's email.
The plan was to get my daughter insured and they were best for price but only because when another car of mine finished cover it would switch to Diamond, so they had discounted my daughter's policy. So far so good I thought.
I found out last evening they had cancelled her policy and claim to have refunded the rest of my premiums less costs. Checking a day later and I still haven't been received a refund. I was shocked knowing she could have been driving around with no cover.
Diamond claim to have tried to take a payment, not for her car, as that had already been paid in FULL UPFRONT, but for another car of mine which was going to 'switch over' to them. This was at Christmas time and the letter recently received states they tried to take an amount which was about double what it should have been for. Also, there's no trace on my bank account that they tried to take anything, so maybe they got the wrong details. What infuriates me is that they didn't warn me, gave me no notice, not even a reminder that they were going to take a payment, added to which it was double the amount and my bank records don't show they tried anything; all for a car not even on the road, not being used and not the car I'd already paid for in full and was being used.
They told me they'd sent a letter telling me that the policy was cancelled. That still hasn't been received, so could have been driving a car they cancelled cover on for considerable time, who knows when their letter will arrive.
All Diamond has offered is to go to a 'comparison site' or take out new
policies with them, so I tried that route with their new business team, guess what? They've nearly doubled the premium from aprx. £670 to £1,100 for a Ford KA. Checking the other cars due to be transferred over they've all increased considerably.
I'll take this to the ombundsman and then to court if necessary. Meanwhile I hope I can warn others off and post my experience on review sites and SM.”
“Three drivers (mom, dad and daughter) and two cars on one policy. Daughter had a provisional driving license and as a result the premium was quite high. When daughter passed her driving test Diamond asked for additional £96 premium due to the extra risk of insuring someone who has a full UK driving license as opposed to just a provisional one. Not fair! Noticed some chips and scratches in the paintwork on the bonnet of one car and decided to get a clear plastic wrap professionally fitted at own cost to protect the paint from further damage. Diamond then saw an opportunity to charge an extra £30 insurance premium because of this "cosmetic" alteration to the car. Seems like they only want to insure bad drivers who care nothing for their cars. We've not yet claimed on this policy yet, so don't know how competent they are in that regard, but don't expect much. Avoid.”
“I crashed my car, diamond got it picked up n scrapped. They then sent me a cheque for £29.00 n told me thats what was left after they got my car recovered. Even though i ad an excess of £450.00.”
“Good quote for first time buyer. Helpful re policy on the phone. I hope quote this year i a bit cheaper with no claims discount but am sure it will be.”
“When I phoned Diamond to put in a claim for a cracked windscreen the callas answered quickly but I had difficulty understanding some of what she was saying. They passed my details on to a local company and when they phoned on Sat morning said it would be Tuesday before they came out and I would receive a call first thing in morning to tell me when they would be. Did not get a call till 10:45 to say they would be there in 20 min. When they arrived there was a little very light rain so said they could not do it. And I would get a call to arrange another time. I had to end up phoning them and it is now Thursday before they will come. The guy told me the car was okay to drive even though it has a 10inch crack on the windscreen, if that is the case why is there all these adverts telling you to get hips and cracks fixed straight away as they could shatter. I think Diamond need to look into what 3rd parties they are using”
“I had been with my previous insurer for 17 years with only a couple of claims when other people hit my car and had no problems making the claim, a couple of times when the insurance renewal came through I checked with other providers and as it was less than £50 difference I didn't see the point in changing. However last year my daughter passed her driving test and they wanted to charge me £1300 to cover the remaining 9 mths of my policy meaning that the annual policy would have been close to £2k, I shopped around and initially got a quote for £1700 when I rang to see if my previous insurer would match they weren't interested, I shopped around further and a quote off Diamond for just over £800 with no obvious differences in the small print. My previous insurer has now lost my household and pet insurance also as I didn't get quotes when I took the policy out on the basis I was happy with the car insurance, I let the policies come to an end and then shopped around and saved yet more money.”
