Just to update you this company IS THE WORST I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH IN MY LIFE I have dealt with some really bad companies in the past this one takes the p** I will be leaving a full review of why they are so bad here and why I would not recommend this company to my worst enemy ! In comparison the 3rdy party's insurance company were excellent if it was not for them (Zurich Private Clients) I would still be dealing with the completely inept and rude Hastings Direct thats assuming I could even get through to there battery farm of a call center.

Another example how bad they are just had a phone call from the physio department who had been instructed by Carpenters Solicitors who has been instructed by Hastings Direct.. This is an example of poor communication I had already phoned Hastings Direct to tell them I would not be using any of there services and was told everyone would be informed clearly this was not he case. It just goes to show how inept they are.

I will keep this updated.

Ok thanks I have emailed you.

I don't have a land line there a waste of money I do use say no to 0845 but just wanted to have a moan because i hate 0845 numbers. Anyway I found a link on a website and it says "It has been agreed with the Office of Fair Trading and The British Board Of Motor Insurers that as a Motor Vehicle insurance policy holder you have the right to choose the repairer you wish to carry out the repairs on your vehicle, regardless of the insurance company's advice. You are not obliged to use their approved repairers." so is this law? I would love to see an official reply from someone at Hastings about this looks like Insurance companies have upset the OFT as well as OFT is currently investigation this!

Thanks HB I just found my policy details online and it says 'We will cover Loss of or Damage to your car, up to its market value. If you do not use our nominated repairer, the excess shown for the section on your Schedule will be doubled." it seems criminal they can do this I think the OFT should look into this!

Hello All I was recently involved in a crash where a lady drove into the back of my car as I was waiting at a T junction. So of course I phoned my insurance company Hastings Direct...my policy is a Hastings Essential policy. Initially they wanted me to use 'Albany Assistance' which I thought was a great idea until they started to ask me to agree to a hire agreement for the hire car alarm bells started to ring. After googling them I realized there was a huge danger I could be left with a huge hire car bill. Some horror stories on the honest John website where someone has had to fight a 7k bill! First off Hastings wanted to use a garage down in Southampton called Silverlake Garages latter on this gets changed to another garage in Portsmouth. So I canceled Albany Assistance and decided to take my car to my local main dealership they where excellent and gave the quote to Hastings that day! I was told by Hastings that if I went ahead and decided to use my own garage I would have to pay double my policy Excess! Apparently because I have the Essential policy. (I am going to try to find the policy documents but can they do this?) The whole process of phoning Hastings has been a nightmare ive been passed around so many different companies its hard to remember all there names and the amount of times ive been put on hold. God knows why they all use 0845 numbers too!. I have read online that often the insurance companies like to use there approved garages purely as it is beneficial to them selves and often the garages use substandard parts I dont know how true this is though. So is it true that because I use the Essentail Hasting policy they have the right to double my excess just because i wont do what i want? Thanks In Advance Paul