Visit Hastings Direct >>Name: Hastings Direct Insurance No. of Reviews: 14
Another well-known insurer working with specialist underwriters to bring you a range of insurance products. They claim to be able to check multiple policies within seconds in order to find the right company for your specific needs. Not a new service by any means but certainly one for those who prefer established brokers and price checkers over the come-lately web-only incarnations.
The original product offerings were launched in 1997 by David Gundlach, who also facilitated the launch of Admiral (the bloke with the parrot on TV). As of writing, they have three contact centres and have extended their product range to include homes and motorcycles, as well as a range of extras such a breakdown cover.
In July 2003 the brand grew to add the Peoples Choice insurer (www.peopleschoice.co.uk), which strengthened their position with surveys by Consumer Intelligence naming HastingsDirect as the cheapest car insurance provider in 2004/5 and for the first half of 2006 for over the phone motor coverage. In 2005 they further broadened awareness of their brand and raised company profile with advertising on both terrestrial and satellite television. The company mascot, "Harry Hastings", and the phone number jingle became well known across the UK -- well-liked? We're not sure, but well-known definitely.
2006 saw the acquisition of Hastings Direct by IAG and it was also in this year that both Hastings and Marks & Spencer were singled out as the two best value insurers who offered massive savings over other providers. However not all their press has been on such a positive note, as this year they were fined after 4,550 car insurance policies were cancelled leaving customers uninsured. This was caused because of a pricing error due to faulty software but customers were contacted and told they may be entitled to compensation and apparently extra remedial action regarding management and processing systems was taken.
2008 appears to have been eventful year as, not content with being the 17th most recognised motor insurer in the UK, a modernising rebranding effort was made and that the armoured mascot, Harry, was given a face-lift for a multi-channel advertising campaign. By face-lift, we of course mean the move away from traditional cartoon drawings into your more flashy computer graphic stuff. The excessive muscles look a little awkward but no complaints we've heard -- it would be another story if it were a woman with excessive cleavage though (but that's an argument we're having against other insurers already).
In April '08 the Sunday Observer reports of the many car insurers under fire for charging high admin fees to policyholders making simple changes midterm. Hastings was named because they do not charge any fees whatsoever, which is how it should be really. How much "admin" does it take to type a new address in to a computer?
In the end of '08 IAG announce their, quite newly acquired brand, is taking on more than 150 employees, teaming up with Allianz in order to provide its household insurance customers with a legal expenses policy.
The closure of two call centres in Leicester and Manchester and the expansion of the business in Bexhill seems to be less of a cut-throat operation than most (see our Norwich Union news pieces!). Most of these changes are due to the fact that more and more people are buying car, motorcycle, van, travel, motorbike, home and classic car insurances over the Internet at HastingsDirect.com than they were ten years ago when the call centres handled a larger volume. How they are taking on more staff whilst closing two call centers due to more online activity beats me. We've covered news reports of several insurers who are sacking left, right and centre but none that announce closures and increases in hiring within months of each other.
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01/06/2010 Sent renewal policy with incorrect details. Tried phoning and phoning and phoning (always on hold) emailed (got reply after one week) Did get hold of somebody at opening time (8am). Was going to phone me back (didn't). They were going to take payment without my approval even though I had not set up a direct debit (they had kept my card details for a year including security code). Yes, it's legal, but, I feel, unethical. Hoping I can cancel without them taking the money. They may be cheap but they are CHEAP! Not good value. Heaven knows what it would be like to make a claim!