First Central Services - Haywards Heath

Shawn H.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS.. if they were the last insurance company in the world, I still wouldn't use them. Absolutely useless. Couldn't even been bothered to send out an assessor to view my car so I had to send them over a hundred pictures.
Had to do half the work myself.
Then just to insult us they run us up and after offered us pittance for my car.
After I told them it was a limited edition and only limited numbers were made. Did they listen? No.
If they phone again with a silly offer, I'll be contacting the financial ombudsman regarding their code of conduct.
At this rate I'll be cancelling all my policies with them and going elsewhere. I do not deserve my money.

Kyra S.

Similarly to most other reviews I am reading, I have had no end of trouble with this insurance company. Do not buy if you are using learner drivers insurance as when you cancel they will keep chasing for payments. I cancelled over a year ago when passing my driving test and am still having issues with this company despite having contacted their customer service team on multiple occasions.

They say they will deal with the issues you pose and then do absolutely nothing about it. As a result of their incompetence, your credit can be affected, this causes so much unnecessary stress. It's as if they don't understand that their lack of efficiency can affect people lives in the long term. Avoid!

jessica N.

Absolutely Terrible Experience – Avoid This Company

I cancelled my car insurance policy over a month ago, and I’m still waiting for my refund. Despite repeated attempts to contact them, they either ignore my calls or hang up. There’s no explanation, no update, nothing. Completely unprofessional and unacceptable.

This company has no respect for its customers – they’re quick to take your money but vanish when it’s time to give it back. I would strongly advise anyone to stay far away. There are far better, more reliable insurers out there. If I could give zero stars, I would.

Anthony E.

Had a accident in my car not at fault they were brilliant from start to finish plus they waivered my compulsory of £150 car was written and they made payment to me within 8 working days
Customer service was so helpful

Chris W.

Absolute scammers would definitely not recommend. They say it’s £50 to cancel policy, but when you go to cancel the policy they charge fees on top of the £50. Only had policy for 52 days, and I ended up paying £170 and the 1 years insurance policy was only £271.
I would never use this company.
They should be looked into because you are charged nearly the price of the policy to cancel it. Compare the meerkat should not have this company on there. All the other insurance companies that I have used before you only get charged the cancellation fee and nothing else on top so how are these scammers getting away with it.

waqas M.

They are scammers how the hell authorities are not doing anything against them, basically they take your details and then use it against you send you letters saying that you have outstanding balance etc, so don't use it you will regret it letter , i have inform authorities about their scammes, they are conning people it's not a real insurance company, i try to talk to them but they seemed well aware of their frauds and cut the call

Ellie C.

Tried to charge me £830 PLUS admin fee UPFRONT to make amendments to my policy when it was originally £400 p/y. I cancelled with immediate effect as any normal person does not have the money upfront to just spend that amount!!! Then I got charged £50 admin fee and £50 cancellation fee!!!! Absolute outrage - all because of some MINOR mistakes on my policy. Avoid at all costs!!!

Jill F.

Don’t insure with First Central because they’re a disabilist company and they have no customer service. If potential new customers can’t get service, then no one will get any service if they make a claim, and it will turn into a nightmare. It was impossible to ask questions prior to taking out insurance. Took over a week as a vulnerable disabled potentially new customer before I even had a call back which I had to email to ask for. Difficult to find a phone number. Claims number wasn’t answered. Complaints number was a South African call centre where the handler admitted she’d only been awake for an hour and remained half asleep even though it was mid afternoon UK time. South African complaints handler said I’d have to keep calling until someone in UK answered but I’d most likely keep getting S Africa.

First Central say they have a vulnerable person mission which is in their DNA.

“…we strive to embed accessibility into everything we do. Our Vulnerable Customers mission is part of our DNA. It’s what drives us to keep seeking ways we can further support our customers - in both online and offline spaces.”

That’s a lie. For example, disabilities requiring phone or text relay contact incur a £25 charge for policy changes; these are free for non-disabled persons with online access.

I spent over an hour setting out my consumer and disability access complaints which took a week after I first tried to speak to them. Three days later all I was told by a senior complaints executive was that she was very busy with lots of complaints (which doesn’t surprise me) and my complaints as a potential new customer were with their legal and compliance team! No attempt whatsoever to arrange my insurance, and no timescale for a resolution even though my current policy expires on 27 Sept. She asked what I wanted for a resolution and said she couldn’t provide a resolution so I’ve no idea why I was being made to speak to an unempowered, untrained, senior customer services executive.

I can’t use First Central because:
1. They said I’ll have two contracts - one with them and one with the underwriter who is located in Gibraltar and not regulated by the FCA.

2. They’re a disabilist company and don’t make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to have accessible service, product and information. Disabled vulnerable people are not in their DNA. I was told FG21/1 was unheard of and unread, and the statutory requirements of the Equality Act 2010 was unknown to staff.

3. They act contrary to the FCA’s mandatory business principles.

4. Their customers service is non-existent.

Prices get dearer every day it gets closer to renewal. I wasted time, energy and money I don’t have giving this business a chance to right their wrongs which they had no intention of doing.

First Central Insurance Management Ltd, Capital House, 1-5 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3SY