Hastings Direct Insurance
Discussion
I've used them for a number of years. They seem easy to deal with and a lot can be done via their website once you've set up an online account. Never had to claim on anything, which is the only real time you find out how good/bad a company actually are.
However, as always make sure you double check all the cover details and compare prices at renewal time. I ran a new quote with them instead of just renewing and it came back cheaper for a higher level of cover.... exactly the same details etc, which was strange but that's insurance for you.
However, as always make sure you double check all the cover details and compare prices at renewal time. I ran a new quote with them instead of just renewing and it came back cheaper for a higher level of cover.... exactly the same details etc, which was strange but that's insurance for you.
Billy2023 said:
Zio Di Roma said:
They are utter
s, if that helps your buying decision.
What was the problem you had with them? 
I assume they really are that much worse than other insures, I've always thought they are all ....
"Computer says no" when their computer is faulty and "no" resulted in the incorrect cancellation of a policy.
In the end, they confirmed in writing that the cancellation was not our fault. But technically we should now be answering "yes" to the question "have you ever had insurance cancelled" when applying for insurance, which is a question that we should not need to have to answer "yes" to.
Billy2023 said:
gareth h said:
Yes, don’t! See Facebook page “Hastings are w
kers”
It is a private page but I'll join and have a look. 
I take you have had a claim and a load of problems?
And passed his address to those having problems on the Facebook group

I tend to look at insurance in 2 ways. You can either pay the big renewals and get the good customer service and/ or support if you need to claim. Or go cheap, and hope you don't need to claim. I tend to favour the second.
To answer the op, I have had Hastings insurance in the past and, although I haven't had to claim the minimal dealings I've had with them have been fine.
To answer the op, I have had Hastings insurance in the past and, although I haven't had to claim the minimal dealings I've had with them have been fine.
I was just over 6 months into a Hastings Direct policy and changed my bike for the same model but 2 years newer (slight increase in cc). I phoned to change the policy to the new bike and they said they would not insure it and as I had cancelled my policy they would keep the 6 months premium (it was on page 17 of the policy). They also wanted 35 pounds admin fee to rip me off. I protested that I was not cancelling but they refused to acknowledge it. All,I managed to was get them to waive the admin fee. Never again
I just renewed my car insurance with them. Called them on a Sunday to discuss the renewal: they answered the phone straight away & discounted the price by £100, almost no haggling involved. I'm not sure why, but worth a 10 minute phone call....
I don't see them being any worse than any of the other budget brands, but haven't made a claim so can't really comment further.
I don't see them being any worse than any of the other budget brands, but haven't made a claim so can't really comment further.
mattstr675 said:
I tend to look at insurance in 2 ways. You can either pay the big renewals and get the good customer service and/ or support if you need to claim. Or go cheap, and hope you don't need to claim. I tend to favour the second.
To answer the op, I have had Hastings insurance in the past and, although I haven't had to claim the minimal dealings I've had with them have been fine.
Does paying a premium get better service?To answer the op, I have had Hastings insurance in the past and, although I haven't had to claim the minimal dealings I've had with them have been fine.
I was with one of the big bike insurers last year, I added a second bike to my policy and when I went take the second bike off my insurance and they tried to cancel my policy!!
The only company I have had good service off for both renews and a claim is a specialist motorhome insurer. the renewal goes up very minimally if at all each year and the claim I had was sorted out within a couple of days and I could take the van to whoever I wanted for quotes and they simply agreed it.
Biker 1 said:
I just renewed my car insurance with them. Called them on a Sunday to discuss the renewal: they answered the phone straight away & discounted the price by £100, almost no haggling involved. I'm not sure why, but worth a 10 minute phone call....
I don't see them being any worse than any of the other budget brands, but haven't made a claim so can't really comment further.
Wait until you have to deal with an issue where they have to pay you, a completely different story!I don't see them being any worse than any of the other budget brands, but haven't made a claim so can't really comment further.
sooty61 said:
I was just over 6 months into a Hastings Direct policy and changed my bike for the same model but 2 years newer (slight increase in cc). I phoned to change the policy to the new bike and they said they would not insure it and as I had cancelled my policy they would keep the 6 months premium (it was on page 17 of the policy). They also wanted 35 pounds admin fee to rip me off. I protested that I was not cancelling but they refused to acknowledge it. All,I managed to was get them to waive the admin fee. Never again
Biggest mistake people make is telling the person on the phone they have already sold their old vehicle; they won't let you insure a vehicle not registered in your own name so instantly cancel your policy.The best way of doing things is to tell them "I am thinking of doing xyz, how much would that cost?"
As long as you keep everything hypothetical, they cannot make changes you haven't asked them to.
d
heads. Never using them again.
Had them insuring my Ninja 125 for 9 months as I very slowly did DAS.
Pass mod 2, ring up to update the policy on my 125 and also to ask for a quote on my ninja 400. Turns out they won't insure either of them so they cancel my policy on the 125, three months short of obtaining 1 year NCD.
They were back at it on comparethemarket offering to insure all kinds of other stuff for me a few days later. Not a chance. They'll never have another penny of my money.

Had them insuring my Ninja 125 for 9 months as I very slowly did DAS.
Pass mod 2, ring up to update the policy on my 125 and also to ask for a quote on my ninja 400. Turns out they won't insure either of them so they cancel my policy on the 125, three months short of obtaining 1 year NCD.
They were back at it on comparethemarket offering to insure all kinds of other stuff for me a few days later. Not a chance. They'll never have another penny of my money.
Edited by Wololo on Wednesday 19th March 09:17
All of them have some good and some bad points
I was with Tradex for years everyone says they're appalling but they were the only company that would cover me
I had one claim and that was handled really well
Dad was with NFU and everyone says they're great, yet when someone else's van burnt down one of his buildings, he wasn't covered and the van's insurance didn't cover it either
If you are in any way not a standard insurance case, I've been shocked how good some brokers are
I've used a broker for over 10 years and he can get me better cover, for a lower price than I can, with the same insurance company
I was with Tradex for years everyone says they're appalling but they were the only company that would cover me
I had one claim and that was handled really well
Dad was with NFU and everyone says they're great, yet when someone else's van burnt down one of his buildings, he wasn't covered and the van's insurance didn't cover it either
If you are in any way not a standard insurance case, I've been shocked how good some brokers are
I've used a broker for over 10 years and he can get me better cover, for a lower price than I can, with the same insurance company
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