Review of 1st Central Car Insurance: Avoid at All Costs I had an incredibly frustrating and disappointing experience with 1st Central Car Insurance, and I would strongly advise anyone considering this company to look elsewhere. Despite initially being drawn in by their competitive pricing, the subsequent complications and poor customer service have convinced me that the cheaper rates are not worth the hassle or hidden costs. My Experience: I’ve had three cars insured with 1st Central under a multi-car policy. When I sold one of my cars and wanted to transfer the insurance to my new car, I encountered several issues that made the entire process difficult and costly. Here’s what happened: • Unfair Cancellation Fees: When I informed them that I was selling my car and transferring the insurance to my new car, they treated this as a policy cancellation rather than a transfer. This distinction resulted in unexpected cancellation fees, despite my intention to stay with the company under a multi-car policy. I ended up being charged £111 in fees for the last three months of coverage, even though my monthly premiums were only £90. This makes no sense and seems like a deliberate way to penalize customers who make changes mid-policy. • Loss of No-Claims Bonus: Because they considered it a cancellation, I also lost the no-claims bonus I had accumulated over the previous nine months. This was completely unfair, as I was still continuing my insurance with them on the new car. Despite my numerous attempts to explain that I hadn’t really “cancelled” but merely transferred the policy to a different vehicle, they refused to reconsider. • Confusing and Unclear Policy Terms: When I asked if this meant I could not buy a new car mid-policy without incurring cancellation fees, the customer service representative confirmed that was the case. This essentially locks you into the 12-month policy period, making it prohibitively expensive to make any changes, even when you’re not leaving the company. If you buy a new car, expect to be hit with cancellation fees as if you’ve decided to terminate your policy altogether. Terrible Customer Service: • Long Wait Times: Trying to get help or even a straightforward answer from customer service was a nightmare. I called four separate times about the same issue, each time getting a different response that did not solve the problem. It took an excruciating four hours to get through their chat service, and in the end, I had to abandon the conversation due to sheer frustration. • Inadequate Support: The customer service representatives I spoke to were unable to grasp the nature of my problem and offered no practical solutions. It seemed as though their systems and policies are designed to confuse customers and discourage them from seeking help. • Multi-Car Policy Issues: If you have multiple cars insured with 1st Central, be aware that you will need a different email address for each policy. This is extremely inconvenient and prevents you from seeing all your cars under a single “dashboard” view. It’s a logistical nightmare that makes managing your policies unnecessarily complicated. Hidden Costs and Potential Risk: While 1st Central may offer lower premiums than many competitors, the hidden fees and penalties for making any changes to your policy can end up costing much more in the long run. My experience with their customer service has also made me very skeptical about how they would handle an actual claim. If it’s this difficult to get basic questions answered, I shudder to think what it would be like to pursue a claim in the event of an accident or damage. Overall Rating: 1/10 The only positive aspect I can mention is the initially lower price, but even that doesn’t make up for the significant drawbacks. I’ve decided to stay with them for my other two cars only until the end of their 12-month policies to avoid further cancellation fees. After that, I will never deal with this company again. Conclusion: If you’re considering 1st Central Car Insurance because of their attractive rates, I urge you to think twice. The money saved upfront will likely be lost in hidden fees, lost bonuses, and hours of frustration. They make it extremely difficult to get anything done, making you feel trapped and ultimately powerless. I would never recommend 1st Central to anyone and would advise anyone in the market for car insurance to steer clear. Save yourself the trouble and look for a more transparent, customer-friendly insurance provider.