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Just been going round the insurance comparison sites to get a better quote for SWMBO's car and found Admiral came out with best package. Can anyone recommend them? I've not used them before.
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Highly recommended, although last used them over a year ago, when I had a car!
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This is my second year with them. Can't fault them and just had a chip repaired on my windscreen for free - my gf was surprised as she usually has to pay £10.
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You never know how good your insurer is until you claim :)
If you use confused.com, Admiral group (incl. Bell/Elephant/Diamond) nearly always come as cheapest (might be due to the fact confused.com is owned by Admiral?)
In my case, I found that NUD was even 30% cheaper than Admiral - though NUD quote was much higher in confused.com site.
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I was with Bell when I had my one and only claim. It was a fault accident with no 3rd parties and no damage to council property. I was without a car and it took them 2 months to pay out. (every document they requested was sent within 2 days of the accident and sent recorded delivery).
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If you use confused.com Admiral group (incl. Bell/Elephant/Diamond) nearly always come as cheapest (might be due to the fact confused.com is owned by Admiral?)
I always find swiftcover come up cheapest on confused.com - out of interest, are they part of Admiral?
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I have had my cars insured with them in the past and as insurance companies go my experience with them from a customer service point of view was fine - never claimed though.
However, I moved away when I changed cars because they classed manufacturer fitted options as modifications and as a result specifically excluded them eg my Xenon headlights would have been replaced with standard lights if I had a fault claim (eg rear end shunt). I also noticed that has a clause that they could use second hand parts which probably isn't invoked often but just concerned me slightly. This may not be an issue but if you have options fitted eg like most Mercedes, BMW, AUDI cars (to name a few who have extensive option lists) then you might want to look elsewhere or accept the risk. Off the top of my head I believe More Th>n and Norwich Union Direct cover manufacturers options as standard. I guess to an extent there's an element of 'you get what you pay for'
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Generally I feel they're better than average. Used them a few years ago and only changed insurers as they wouldn't price match a new quote.
Gone back this year and they have matched a better quote so fairly pleased.
And the clincher for me - got to speak to someone (in the UK) after only being on hold around 30 seconds.
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classed manufacturer fitted options as modifications
Admiral are well known for that. Write off you BMW or Merc with £10K of options and they'll replace it with a bog-standard one.
Both my kids are with Admiral and the customer service has sometimes been a bit trying - the people on the phone in Wales and (bizzarely) Canada have sounded competent and capable but then nothing happens.
With both daughter's this year I was able to get the renewals over £100 cheaper than their first offer. Confused.com threw up much cheaper premiums with Bell, so you call Admiral, given them the Bell quote number and, as they're all the same company, they can look it up and rejig their quote to match. Amazing that, isn't it!
Oh, and Admiral actually reduced their premium when we added class 1 business to one of the policies!
Edited by Bill Payer on 18/12/2008 at 14:41
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Check the cover.
Bell told me on the phone that I'd be covered to tow my 7m caravan (after consulting a supervisor), but when the policy docs came through, I wasn't covered. When I phoned them up, they said they didn't cover caravans over (I think) 6m (again, after consulting a supervisor). Fortunately they were very prompt at issuing a refund.
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I've used them, they're fine. I generally end up swapping between them and Elephant. Never had to claim though, touch wood, but the customer services have been friendly and helpful every time I've used them
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I've been with them for 4 years, and they have always offered the cheapest quote, and cheaper than a quote for the same company via Confused.com. Never had to claim, but no Indian call centres so that is good. I won't deal with any Manchester insurer after two unpleasant experiences one being threats of legal action from an insurer whose phone message was vertually unintelligible, and the number given was not valid. I'd better not name them, but s'not Admiral.
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No, they are far from OK. I was insured by them up until about 18 months ago and we parted company when they paid out a wholly fraudulent claim against me, would neither discuss or explain why they were paying out on the bogus claim and screwing up my (justified) full NCB.
The motorway muncher in question was alleged to have run into the back of a new Honda Accord estate, doing several thousands of pounds of damage. (The car is currently parked on the driveway, no work done and with scarcely a stonechip on it, it must be made from some new memory metal.)
At renewal time, chopping my NCB to two years, the sales department called me to ask if I would be renewing and on declining, instantly offered to reinstate my bonus if I would reinsure!
I've been on the other side of their simplistic models (presumably for their simplistic staff), when Elephant called to offer a substantial sum in compensation for the damage done by one of their customers to another of our cars. This was before our own company had called back to arrange a hire car.
There is good insurance and there is cheap insurance.
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colino, I thought Admiral and Elephant were the same company? So one is useless and the other good?
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Currently have multi car policy and going through a claim. Response after minor shunt in snow was pretty good; I hit stationary car so presume my insurance will pay out, but no word on that. All details taken over phone. Interesting to see if 'ncd protected' has any influence on our renewal due in March!
Telephone response pretty good, repairs booked and loan car arranged within a couple of days. Very confusing dealing with 'legal subsidiary' and separate car hire company.
However, had already decided to dump them next renewal as they helped themselves to an additional premium payment after we switched to multi-carpolicy. Only spotted it by scrutinising visa statement. Did a refund but no apology written or otherwise after tallking to Canada! Didn't know they owned Confused- which is where I started with them.
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My understanding is that Admiral is more an insurance broker rather than first line insurer. List of its companies at:
www.admiralgroup.co.uk/corporate/our_companies.php
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