Hastings Essential Avis 

Where to start. Well took my deposit straight away. Told me to download the app, sorted. Then couple weeks after sent an email stating they need more info. Said to wait for further email stating what info they needed, thought fare enough so waited. O then waited some more, then waited further. Finally thought il just get in contact with them. Rang, number not connected, rang again, number not connected. Continued for next few days with same outcome. No other way to contact as hastings general dont opperate hastings essential. Well that is until they just decide to cancel on you. Then hasting get involved. Took my deposit, then took my monthly installment on the 6th of the month. Then decided cancel my insurance on the 7th charging me a cancellation fee in the process without me even knowing it. To further the blow they didnt contact me until the 8th to let me no i wasnt insured. What a company well done. Not only have you extorted your customer but also made them break the law due to me not realising i had no insurance.
Absolute shambles pathetic and extortion to the fulliest level

Considering buying home and contents insurance, however after reading the reviews I wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole
Thank you to everyone who put on their experiences with this not fit for purpose outfit

I wouldn't even give them a star. Please don't use this company. They use Integra for home insurance who have terrible reviews. I called and basically they said its up to Integra as in my policy it states they use Integra. Look at Integra reviews - two star , customer service terrible. Meanwhile I have water flooding my house and has been like this since late December. So far I have spoken to 5 companies involved and no one cares or communicates with each other. Don't use Hastings (Essentials or and Hastings company) , they are just a front. Classic example of taking my money but not delivering & passing the buck

After a very scary experience of burst water pipes on the 16th December ( 12 days ago) which caused me to have no electric, heating or water I tried to contact home emergency. Unfortunately I was unable to speak to anyone but instead was sent a form via text to fill out. Was told to except a call back. After numerous attempts to speak to someone has still not heard regarding a claim, guidance or how we go about fixing our issue. Would definitely not recommend this company. This is not the level of care I would expect in this very worrying and stressful situation

Told me they’d change some details on my policy which was fine, so I called up and paid the outstanding amount. (Which took about 30 mins of waiting on the phone). They then have sent me a email threatening to cancel my policy if I don’t contact?? Now I’ve been going in circles on the phone with the same 2 questions about policy number and DOB. And the deadline given to me is 30th or they’ll cancel my policy. don’t use Hastings

AVOID!! CON ! 6 months (4440 hours) to repair 2 bumpers! no courtesy car as contracted. car returned with same warning light on dash, extra scratches & a dent. Quality of refit questionable, panels ill fitting, bonnet closing higher on one side. Also closed my case in their "Repair Hub" 1 month before the car was returned. Extremely bad comms. i had to chase them. Despite being polite & professional about the issue. I'm now being "ghosted"/ignored by customer services, not even a chat or visit to check. To get them to repair the repair & scratches is going to cost me. I have a disability and car cannot be used. had to buy a cheaper car to get around. PLEASE AVOID THIS "CON"PANY... they may reply to this so use your own judgement whether the reply is good enough if this was you. No idea where all the good reviews have come from ???? 27/11/22 Still no action, no calls, just an email to say sorry. Formal and legal escalation a real possibility. 3/12/22 Still nothing. 8/12/22 Finally got an email response :) but.... Disingenious info, false statements and "legalese" tefflon answers based on opinions. oh and £50 compensation (v £1,000 plus repairs?) 20/12/22 still no calls or reponse. 23/12/2022 another email asking for details... but ... 05\1\2023 still no action... bet hasting staff had a great xmas.

If I had the option for no stars I would do it.

Once again Hastings has messed my direct debit. After changing my car, one normal dd amount was taking. For 3 months they took £3 then my bank contacted to say they had changed Sept to £240. Called and was told it was an error on there system but my payments would now be back to £68.
Checked my Hastings account and low and behold the dd for this month says -£127 and my bank shows £3 again.
Sort your self out Hastings. I will be cancelling my policy when it ends.

After taking out an insurance policy and filling in the details accurately, Hastings proceeded to try charge me an extra £250 due a data issue at their end. Really poor customer service.

I was about to get this insurance but no way ... they have to improve the service when they get paid ....
thank you for sharing your experience! I would not buy this !

Thank you for saving me guys, I was about to purchase this Insurance which was lowest with Compare the Market. I wouldn't proceed further.

Sent a letter asking for proof of my no claims bonus 3 weeks before my car insurance policy with them begins and of course before my last insurer has sent me the proof! Emailed them and had no reply. Sent another letter stating if I haven't uploaded this information and my driving licence (they have the number so no idea why they need a photo too) I will be charged extra. Again no response. Once the policy has started I email my driving licence and proof of NCD they reply saying they can't open the document. I ask which one, they don't respond. I send them again then get an email saying I don't have to do anything. Look at my credit card balance that I used to pay the insurance with and they've taken out £409.59 - which is nearly the same price as the original policy! When I look online on my account this is due to having 0 NCD. What an absolute disgrace! I have been driving for 14 years and have NEVER dealt with anything like this before including with Hastings direct - but never been with essential before - AVOID - I have complained to them and will complain to the financial ombudsman if I am not quickly refunded and compensated. I suggest others do the same.

UPDATE - eventually got through to them today and they said whoever sent the email confirming they had received proof of my NCD hadn't bothered to revert the extra charges! It will take 3-5 working days to be refunded. I asked for compensation was told no, persisted - he spoke to the team leader and they will send me £30. 14 days later...I got the refund for the overpayment back but not the £30. Will be complaining through the financial ombudsman afterall in another 6 weeks!

These are a bunch of thieves and robbers who should not be in any kind of business. i purchased a car insurance with them a few days ago and then i decided to cancel the insurance after seeing these bad reiews and they have decided to take £20 off the annual pemium i paid yet the insurance hasnt even started. Please do not buy insurance with this company

Damaged my vehicle 6 months ago and still not repaired
Customer service very poor
I would say extremely poor would highly recomend not to get insured through Hastings

I have been with Hastings Essentials for many many years I’m looking at getting a new car,smaller engine capacity newer model car my policy expires end of June this year so I compared the Meerkat I was amazed at such low prices I found but out a sense of loyalty I decided to see what Hastings could do for me… Raised the price over £17 per month I advised that I must be covered until my next payment is due but I was told I would have to pay £60 odd pound which includes a £45 cancellation fee.
In this day and age when they make you do all the inputting of information yourself I am staggered at what I was told !!!.
I will never even consider Hastings again as they just make a blatant money grab at any attempt to leave them in todays financial crisis I took this new car option to reduce monthly outgoings obviously Hastings have no concept of customer value.

Thanks for the advice folks I was going take the policy for the price but will avoid seeing these reviews

Unbelievable ratings!
I'm rewarding five stars for the cost, they've renewed my policy for the third term and each time lowering the cost.
It is now £100 lower than the first time that I took a policy out.
I just hope that I don't have to claim as it looks a right nightmare from reading the reviews.
It's cheap for a reason...There's evidently no aftercare!

thanks God I was going to buy insurance with them but I said first I will see what customers say. so now I know. thanks gays.

Hi, this Insurance company very struggled, don't won't pay money of the car accident. Long process.

Complaint REF e5z r r d r n Keeping money and not even setting up the policy - Disgusting company avoid at all cost
Mrs Earp complaint reference e5z r r d r n Lady 77 years -I arranged a policy online 10 hours ago 11/11
Start date for 5th DEC so it’s pending set up
Weeks away but paid in full on credit card
Changed mind rang up first thing this morning
Charged £20 fee for setting up policy
The policy has NOT been set up it’s and won’t be till 5th Dec
By law they cannot charge a fee for a product not in place or provided and it is not provide and not even set up yet.
Would not credit my card back in full
Can you even imagine having a claim the treatment of customers is disgraceful and illegal and immoral
I now have to try & reclaim this through my credit card provider because a company must provide a service to charge you.
I will be writing to Martin Lewis he will love this story i am a 77 year old lady who lives on a pension and has had £20 taken off a card payment for a service not provided or set up
You cannot take money if a service is not provided by law this is not allowed as the policy had not been set up and started a full refund is due. Any online purchase has 24 hours to change mind without penalty by law

worst company i have ever had to deal with! quoted me £550 told them the quote is fine was meant to get a call back but didnt when i rang they told me the quote was £850 the 1st was wrong.....but would discount me £50 for the mix up. saved the quote as i wanted it when i rang to pay the quote wasnt saved now quote me £2000 what the hell? also the documents wasnt changed as they stated which meant if my partner drove the car she would not of been insured even though it stated shes the main driver on full licence they had left it as a provisional which meant with an accident or police pulling her over her insurance was void and as a new driver its 6 points and ban........absolutely terrible company do not recommend and advise people avoid this company or you will get stung