1st Quote (Hero Insurance/MRB Insurance)

[drwigglesworth]

Is your broker 1st Quote Insurance? If so please check whether they have added 'legal protection' to your household policy - renewal notices will contain 1 sentence advising you that an extra £1 a month will be taken to cover this. If so, have you EVER been sent a policy for this so called legal protection? Their renewal notice advising of the so called cover will state that it is to be sent in a separate post.

I have used 1st Quote as a broker for my contents insurance (Folgate) since 2003. In 2005 1st Quote added legal protection at an additional £1 a month but their letter advised that the policy would be sent in a separate post. It never was. Again in 2006 the renewal advice for my contents insurance contained the same sentence regarding the legal protection and fee - also that policy would be sent in a separate post. It wasn't.

We recently had cause to make a claim against our so called legal protection (have never claimed on contents) but guess what? Not covered.Of course, 1st Quote, General Legal Protection (provider) and Groupama (underwriter) all stuck together like glue. We have established that 1st Quote did not even set up a policy for us in 2005 but they maintain that they didn't take the extra £1 a month either. This is actually quite crucial as this covered the start of the dispute we wanted to pursue legally. They maintain that they did set one up in 2006 but of course the provider has been able to argue that the incident preceded the policy. Groupama have of course got behind General Legal Protection - both of which presenting a distorted interpretations of contractual terms in order to solidify their position. Our counter argument that we were NEVER afforded the opportunity to even inspect the policy has been refuted by 1st Quote who stated in writing that they have no reason to believe that it was never sent to us. A Data Subject Access request resulted in our being able to see that the very person from 1st Quote stating this had 2 days earlier rang General Legal Protection to inform them that we had not been sent a policy!

There is more but I won't go on.

Please if you are customer of 1st Quote could you check you policy and let me know whether they have added the legal protection at an extra £1 a month but not sent you a policy.

Hope this makes sense as I'm in a bit of a rush.

Thanks in advance to all.

[pugsley]

I have had car insurance with first quote and noticed that even though I paid for Breakdown insurance it was not set up (processed) properly until I actually needed a call out. This happened over about 3 years, now I keep my car insurance with them and get my breakdown cover with the RAC.

I have paid extra for legal cover on my car but can't remember ever getting any proof of this.

I do wonder if they calculate that a certain percentage of people will not have a breakdown call out ro need legal cover and so save money by not setting them up until they need them, although this is pure speculation on my part.

[drwigglesworth]

Hi Pugsley

Thank you for your response. I would definitely chase up your legal cover policy document to make sure you in fact do have it, and that it's the type of cover you require (just as important believe me) in case you need it in the future. It tends to be too late then as you found with your breakdown cover. I was really interested in your experience of not having breakdown cover given what I read yesterday on the following link: 1st Quote - Review - 1st Quote but not my 1st Choice

For ease of reference here's the text which I've copied direct from source:

"No beating about the bush here. This company is possibly one of the worst insurance companies going. You may think this unfair, but I have had the dubious pleasure of working for them.

The company has just one aim - to make money. Customer service and satisfaction do not come into it at all. They want your money, and will tell you what you want to hear to make you part with it.

OK, their quotes may be cheaper than a lot of others and this is fine, until you have to make a claim. There were, when I left, 5 people working in the claims department. 5 people to service a client base of several thousand. Is it any wonder you wait for months to get repairs authorised and claims settled?

The quotes staff are little better, in the motor department there are around forty staff members all trying to reach target figures, and be the best selling salesman for the month. To achieve this aim, they will assure you your policy has breakdown cover, when in fact it does not, that your vehicle is garaged, alarmed and will do less than 5000 miles a year, regardless of the true facts, in order to beat your best quote.

If they do persuade you to part with your money, your credit card number will be written down, and passed around the office until it reaches someone qualified to take the payment.

You will be very lucky if your documents are sent to the right address, and if by some miracle they are, the likelihood is that your details will be wrong anyway.

And don't even think about complaining, you will be left on hold until they think you have given up and more than likely cut off.

In short. Steer clear of this company. Believe me, I know!"

I so wish I could contact the author is this damning confession.

Thanks again for your response. Please also inquire of any family and friends not part of this forum to see if they purchase any insurance products from 1st Quote and whether they have been sent relevant information.


Best wishes and good luck!

[mpg]

Hiya Folks first post

I also have a policy with 1st choice (MRB) and have noticed £1 being taken by direct debit before my home ins payment. I have never revieved anything regarding this only a letter saying i could add it for £1 I have actually never recieved a proper policy for this or my building and contents and it has just re newed itself without notice from them or myself. i think i will be phoneing them on monday

[drwigglesworth]

Hi MPG

How did you get on with 1st Quote then? I suspect they said they would send the policy documents out but that you'll find yourself waiting and waiting!

I've made a formal complaint about my case to the Financial Services Ombudsman and hope they will investigate as I strongly suspect the matter to big of much bigger significance. My understanding is that it is would be regarded as misselling if you are charged for a policy you are not permitted sight of. Also I wonder at the legality of them misusing personal information as provided by customers to facilitate payment of premiums for chosen insurance but then to take it upon themselves to use this to 'add' this legal expenses insurance provided by some other company. I've reported this the the Information Commissioners Office. Also, how lucrative would it be if they are taking this additional £1 a month out of all their customers accounts - who, as an individual would take much notice or even think about whether they had been provided with a policy!

Readers, please make sure that as many people as possible know about this.

Good luck mpg and cheers