First Underwriting Limited Reviews 39

I cannot give a low enough rating for this company. You should avoid them at all cost. It's bad enough to be involved in an accident or have a serious problem but then to have to deal with inconsiderate, uncompassionate, faceless bureaucrats who cannot manage to take responsibility for any part of the process - it's always someone else's problem - is adding insult to injury. I have never experienced such careless treatment from any kind of company before. The lack of communication is utterly outstanding and they have absolutely no concept of time. Everything is done in their own sweet time and require constant badgering to get anything done. It's not even as if they are a budget operation as their premiums are considerably higher than alternative companies.

Absolutely the worst company I've ever had to deal with will do anything and everything to not pay out STAY AWAY !

That should be -5 stars, but not available. My motorhome was stolen from a service station carpark on the 24 August 2024. I am still awaiting a settlement, every time I call I am told they are awaiting information, our enquiries are on going, and other excuses. On the 28th October I was informed that I should be hearing good news by the end of the week, surprise surprise I didn’t. On my next phone call I was told that on the 31st October the underwriters had requested further enquiries. I have since found out that these further enquiries was nothing more than a request for CCTV recordings from the service station (something that I would have requested the week after the vehicle was stolen). On the 21st November I called again, trying to explain the stress fill situation I find myself in, my wife had dementia and on a regular basis I am asked where the motorhome is, for her it is like finding out for the first time
it has been stolen. On the 25 November I received an e-mail requesting an update. Once again a no reply to the e-mail. I could go on with more ineptitude from this totally useless company, my advice to anyone looking for insurance to steer well clear of this lot.

Good overall. We had serious water leak in kitchen.
Disappointed they couldn't give any indication whether my situation was maybe suitable for a claim without going through claims procedure. Made a claim and they took control of all aspects and although it took a long while everything was to our satisfaction.

It's been 7 months my car is off road after their insured writt my car off they keep saying it's being reviewed!!!!

Great service by classic insurance service and first, always easy to moan about things but as easy to give good service comment, thankyou roger for your help

First Underwriting were my insurers....if you can call them an insurance co,, I've since found out they are based in Malta with limited FCA license to operate in the UK which says it all. I was involved in a none fault car accident 3 weeks after the renewal of my motor trade policy. I never got to deal with FUL direct just their accident management company AAC Auto Accident Claims who were the worst, picture a bunch of rottweilers standing in front of an 8ft steel gate which you have to get past o deal with your insurer and you will get a feel for the experience. AAC can argue for fun and enjoy taunting you as they deflect your claim, this was a none fault claim, I was rear ended in traffic but rather than chase the third party they just tried to mitigate what they had to pay out by arguing with me for months and months about the value of my car and the expenses I wanted to claim. The whole saga took virtually 12 months because they let the third party insurer run rings around them whilst they just argued with me their supposed client.
I can't stress this enough check who your broker is offering you as an insurer and if they offer you FUL walk away from both because your brokers integrity is also in question if they offer you this outfit

Took 3 attempts to get a company to do 'search and reveal' for leak in concrete floor. (the first 1 - was a builder, the second company didn't even do search & reveal)! Very poor communication from 1st underwriting agents. Twice had a call from one agent with info that was a week old (e.g. they were getting a co to install blowers/heaters - the blowers/heaters had already been in place a week)!
The contractor they employed forgot to glue down some of the floor tiles and had to return.
Can't believe the amount 1st Underwriters state the claim is for. Glad they were not renewing any policies, as we wouldn't anyway.
Avoid.

As a previous person said if you could give 0 stars that is exactly what they deserve and less,
Starting with them not being able to find the policy number, And then refusing to put me through to a supervisor, (citing data protection, such a shame the the supervisor cannot due the due dilegen ce of confirming me as a client)
Well next call will be to try and find other means of getting answers so i will be leaving another revies , possibly in minutes from now.

If i could give this company 0 stars i would, lack of communication, going around different people, never getting proper answers, did pay some but still no proper answers to queries or explainations when asked, either by Broker, Email or Telephone Conversations with other people who supposedly passes messages on. Even when upgraded to Management not a lot of difference. My Father is an 82 elderly gentleman, good job he had family or would have been left in a fire and smoke damaged house, for weeks, possibly with their builders working round him, not impressed.

I found First Underwritting Limited's claims company to be obstructive, totally unresponsive, after three months of continually asking for an update I only got a response when I found their COO's email and sent him a direct email.
They then rejected my claim despite it being clearly covered. I was forced to go through the Financial Ombudsman who, as expected, upheld my claim.
This company is nothing more than a scam! Never use them.

Everything was very straightforward and helpful. At no point did I feel I was battling to get my claim.

27/09/2023 ...WELL LOOKS LIKE THE UNDER WRITTERS HAVE BLACK LISTED ME ...... IV BEEN WITH HASTINGS DIRECT FOR OVER 5 YEARS AND MORE ..BEEN DRIVING 40 YEARS HAD A ACCIDENT 3 YEARS A GO NOT MY FAULT BUT MY WHEN UP A BITE WANT I UNDERSTAND.. BUT THIS YEAR MY RENEWAL WAS DICLINED FORM HASTINGS insurance I ASK WHY. They wouldn't tell me . Saying the underwriters say no with no explanation so I'm in the dark and hasting won't help find out why or won't tell ..

A frequent problem.
So I report leaking on the roof along the adjoining wall with next door - so the roof has sustained damage.
This was a night of thunderstorms and localized flooding - I know as I had to walk back through it.
-I called an emergency policy to stem to damage, they came out the following day, I was told "Dont worry". But a week later told they would not assist.
Ok over to FU ltd.
Explain tried to use alternate emergency policy to stem the problem. Then the assessor came out.
They claimed the water was seeping through unspecified damage through the dorma window. If it was, it's up there with the Kennedy assassination bullet for its travels (along a wall a 90 degree turn and then up the adjoining wall). Also "Oh its been wet for a while this" Yes 10 days I should know.
The assessor just stood on the pavement and took pics. I had a similar issue with a storm 10 years ago in Scotland - how can an assessor judge a roof without a ladder (especially if they cant see the roof properly from the road). HAs been the reply from both roofers.
Also the 'local weather station' report had rain and some high winds, but not enough to match their criteria. Well the pub we were at had water sloshing through it!

Turns out it was the communal chimney stack with next door needed reporting.
So the diagnosis was incorrect, if I had done their actions I would have spent thousands and had the same problem.

So FU ltd, how would you feel? The minimum I would have expected would have been an emergency tarpaulin til repairs done, but no.

I wouldn't have written a review ordinarily, as it's not something that I do, however I have just been emailed a link by First Underwriting asking for one; I can't think why as they must surely be aware of the type of review that I would give!
To summarise; my father died in a house fire in November 2022 and following on from that his house flooded in mid December. Since then I have had one battle after another to try and get Frist Underwriting (his insurer) to sort things out. This has included emailing one of their Directors to try and get top management involvement.
It is now the end of August (9 months since the original incident) and the house is still a complete disaster zone; mould on the walls, plaster ripped off, etc. ... and no timeframe to get it properly repaired.
First Underwriting's incompetence has added a whole level of additional stress to an already horrendous situation of having lost my dad.
I am in the process of complaining to the Financial Services Ombudsman about them.
BEWARE of using First Underwriting, or any brokers who use them.

I was very impressed with First Underwriting. The insurance assessor was quick to visit the property and extremely helpful. Thereafter my claim was dealt with efficiently and quickly and with very good customer service. I felt like I mattered as an individual and the team at First Underwriting were willing to help and returned calls and emails quickly. they also kept me informed along the way so I knew at what stage of the process we were at and when I was likely to receive a payout for my claim.

I purchased my home contents and buildings insurance through a broker and unfortunately I did not do my due diligence in looking into the underwriters that they use. My home was broken into and ransacked on the 24th May 2023, I came home with my vulnerable son that evening to glass everywhere. I paid out that evening for my door to be boarded up and made safe. I have submitted all of my statements, including photos, valuations, quotes for replacing doors, invoices for work carried out to make home safe on the 30th May 2023. Since then I have had a Senior Technical Claims Consultant come to my home on the 20th June. Since I have been broken into I have not had anything repaired or replaced by this insurance company, this is now 8 weeks and nothing. This is appalling customer service, I would never recommend them. This is causing so much anxiety and emotional upset of myself and my son. As he is struggling to move on with things when he can constantly see a boarded up door. They have awful customer service and time scales, they do not reply to emails or messages left.

The company representatives I engaged with were very helpful and dealt with our claim very quickly.

Exceptionally rapid, helpful response, with issue (external water leak) all resolved within the next 2 days. Only criticism was the disappointing initial contact - very difficult to reach an advisor and succeeded only with help if my broker.

A slow drip from a concealed pipe upstairs caused damage to the bathroom floor and ceiling and cupboards downstairs. Assessor came very quickly and offered me a cash settlement which turned out to be much less than I could get the job done for. After several calls and notes with the Claims Consortium (CC) who were handling the claim, it was discovered that the assessor had said I wanted to DIY the job myself which I am not capable of and would never have requested. Hence the low settlement offer. I then found out CC would take over the job and arrange repair. Phew what a relief. Unfortunately this restarted the process and a new assessor had to come. Eventually a contractor was assigned. Work started with a good plan going well until mould was discovered behind a wall cupboard. Work stopped until the assessor approved the extra work. Then the trades had to be lined up again which took a while. In the end the job was done ok but it took 7 months in which time we lived in chaos. The sting in the tail came two months later when my insurance came up for renewal. My broker said that First Underwriting had declined to quote and I have had to change company.