Insurance Factory - anyone dealt with these guys?

[tigger]

Hi all

I have what could be a big problem! I took out insurance for my 300ZX on 7th September with the Insurance Factory, online. They took the full 12 months premium from my account on the same day.

A week later and not only have I no documents or anything but according to the police database I am NOT insured!

I therefore risk having my car impounded and crushed if stopped by the policy without any proof and of course, they haven't sent any documents! BUT, they have my money!

Has anyone else dealt with these guys?

 

[zpuppy]

Can you call them? Any chance they emailed the docs etc to you ? Not much to go on really,,Ive never heard of em , but I get my docs through email .

 

[smaurikid]

yep - for many years! Have you spoken to them? Never had an issue with them myself, I think they covered about 5 of mine over the years, and never had a problem. Hope its sorted tomorrow.........

 

[tigger]

Have just read some scary reviews which doesn't help matters

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/c.../reviews/38/0/

No documents by email. They said they'd post them to me and I should have had them within a couple of days. I'm just cheesed off that they have my money and I don't have any insurance at all.

Just waiting for there office to open but by all accounts from those reviews I am not sure that's going to help!

 

[tigger]

Spoke to customer services. Documents were posted on the 9th so should be with me today at the latest. If not here by 14th I have to phone back and they will get a second lot out to me. They said they couldn't understand why the insurance database doesn't show me as insured and would chase that up. So far so good, but I'll be happier when I get the documents.

 

[tigger]

Quick update. Very helpful customer services just emailed me a PDF copy of my certificate to tide me over until the real one comes in the post.

After some of the reviews they sounded pretty dodgy but was relieved to hear from smaurikid that they were ok. All looking good so far.

 

[smaurikid]

Hopefully thats it then. I did have something similar with someone else, there is a form or notification they have to give, so in my experience, I actually had a cover note, but for a very small time I didnt have any insurance noted with the relevant authorities, which was kind of rubbish cos that car was on the go for at least 5 hours a day.............
All got sorted within a day, and it wasnt with this crew, which is why I didnt mention it before.
Anyway - hope its sorted mate. Sounds as if it might be getting there.

 

[FAST EDDIE]

i know this doesn't help your situation but i use performance direct for the z, £130.00 a year fully comp and agreed valuation of £10k!

 

[BrianC]

I have had a similar problem on renewing my policy through them.

I wanted to add my wife onto the policy and agreed the terms via email and phone confirming I wanted to proceed. They obviously hadn't updated their system to include the bank account details for the direct debit (according to them). They wanted my new details despite having taken the monthly amount from my bank account for at least the last 9 months.

Low and behold the missus has a bump a couple of weeks later AND I'M NOT INSURED!!! They never contacted me telling me they hadn't renewed the policy so I was effectively breaking the law!!

I complained to the Ombudsman who had an adjudicator rule in my favour for the £350 cash I paid the 3rd party BUT THEY REFUSE TO COUGH UP!!! on the basis that it leaves them liable to claims form the 3rd party. It is now going to be another 6 months until the final ruling from the Ombudsman as it has been escalated up to him.

This company is absolutely useless. Any time you want to contact them they tell you to redial to someone who can't help you. They are truly the worst company I have ever come across.

 

[BrianC]

The Insurance Factory

I am not sure if I actually named the company involved as it was my first post.

They are called the Insurance Factory - avoid at all costs!!

 

[rhanagar]

I have my Isuzu Trooper with them. To be honest never had an issue. Documants arrived safe and wel. Direct Debit is fine for monthly payments. Mind I did everything online which is easier and your more in control of what happens.

 

[zedache]

Hi all.

A good site to check whether your car is currently insured is www.askmid.com
It usually takes a couple of days after renewal to show your details but if its not showing up after that, give your broker or company a call. Sometimes it is just that the registration number has been input incorrectly. It is free to check your own car's detail.

Cheers

Paul

 

[riske]

If you didn't get an email confirming you are now insured within 24 hours then why would you expect to be covered just because the money has gone?

Internet accumulators and comparison websites are all well and good to save money but what service are you getting? You really don't have much of a leg to stand on with these guys.
Do you even know the level of cover you are receiving?
Who are these people apart from someone with a bank account for taking premiums.
We are moving into an age where service and relationships are being lost because of peoples eagerness to do things quick and cheap.

My recommendation would be to use a real life insurance broker.
Use the sites to gauge a price and then phone up and tell them what prices they are up against. Usually they will be able to match it. They will send you a quote and make sure you are getting the service and cover you need.

By law they have to have your best interests at heart. Insurance companies do not have this requirement except to pay your claim should an incident happen.

I know this is slightly off tangent to the fact that they have taken money and not put you on cover (which is fraud/theft)

Hopefully you get it sorted.

 

[sams-z350]

Have been in touch with the ABI (Association of British Insurers) they might be able to push things along for you.

 

[sams-z350]

The above is in reply to Brian C's last post.

 

[BrianC]

I am being helped by the Insurance Ombudsman - it has gone up to the highest level now to get them to cough up. Yesterday I received a letter out of the blue from The Insurance Factorys legal team threatening action against me FOR A ZERO BALANCE!!
I just have to laugh about this now.