I've seen much discussion on the relative merits of Noel Dazely and Greenlight so I thought I'd share my claims experience of Greenlight with you.
When you take out a policy they advise you pay a fee of about £28 for their claims handling service. This includes a payment to Greenlight and to a company called Angel Assistance who are supposed to deal with everything if the accident is clearly not your fault.
Back in August last year I came home from a night shift to find a Cinquicento sticking out of the side of my car. At the time I thought it unlikely the car had been driven into mine and had most probably been pushed across the car park by the local pondlife
I contacted Greenlight who said I should speak with Angel Assistance. I contacted Angel, explained what happened and provided contact details for the 3rd party as she lived locally. I also offered to email them the photos I'd taken on my phone but was told that wouldn't be necessary.
The car was repaired at a garage of my choice as the approved repairers didn't return my calls. This added a delay as I had to get a quote authorised and Greenlight lost the first copy I sent them. I paid my excess of £275 on collection of the car.
After about a month of silence i called Greenlight to find out when I'd get my excess back and was told to write to Angel including the receipt for the excess. After 2 weeks I called Angel and was told that the 3rd party had denied all involvement, my case was closed and that Greenlight were notified of this by fax about 2 months previous.
I sent an email to Greenlight including my photos and requested they refund the claims handling fee. The next morning at 08:50 I got a phone call. They were very apologetic and assured me they would contact Angel and Highway and reopen the file.
Another 2 weeks passed without a cheque so I called Highway. They were able to tell me that they had received no contact from Greenlight, that the 3rd party was also insured with them and gave me her claim reference number.
More letters passed between me and Greenlight and they finally agreed to pay my excess and refund the claims handling fee. It did however take a further 2 and a bit weeks and another email before any cheques hit the mat.
The story doesn't end there though. Before I got my excess back I had to renew the insurance on my 43yr old Land Rover. As I had an outstanding claim on the coupe they weighted the landy premium. As soon as I'd banked the cheque for my excess I called Highway and asked them to speak to my Landy insurer to confirm it was all settled in my favour.
A week later I opened a letter from the Landy insurer confirming the premium had been reduced as the claim was settled. On the same day I got my renewal from Greenlight with a 2yr NCB reducton as they said the claim was outstanding.
Now swithched to Noel Dazely - they were cheaper with a lower excess and protected NCB. I'm still waiting for proof of no claims from Greenlight after 2 weeks and 2 phone calls.
Greenlight Insurance will never get another penny of my hard earned cash as they have shown themselves to be completely incompetent on more than one occasion. If anyone does choose them I would certainly think twice about paying their claims "management" fee.
Rant over
Adrian
