Last Saturday I rode to town on my bike with my kids, left bikes locked in busy area (with CCTV) for 45 minutes. Came back to find daughters bike (had been locked to mine) laying on ground and helmet broken. Some theiving scumbag had lifted my bike, helmet and chain, I was devastated by this as my bike was probably my most favoured possesion. It was a Specialized hybrid that I’d paid £450 for plus a few accessories on it, I’d done 600 miles on it and enjoyed them all and the bike was as good as new.
Anyway as luck would have it there were two coppers on patrol across the road, so I was able to report it there and then and saved a trip to the station before walking home.
Sunday, Police phoned and made an appointment to come and take a statement.
Monday,
Rang insurance company (Direct Line) after work to report theft (covered up £1000 per cycle) told loss adjuster would be in contact within 24 hours.
Tuesday.
9am missed call and message left.
1pm rang them back, spoke to bike expert who looked at spec for my bike and looked at what could be offered. Offered me a Boardman bike from Halfords, told them I’d have a look and call them back. Bike priced at £1000 in Halfords.
Wednesday
Rang them at 4pm, questioned why they’d offered me that model and told that it was the best match. They then agreed to also pay out another £115 for 2 helmets, bottle cage and lock and would get replacement lights, computer and pump sent from Evans cycles.
Friday. Vouchers from Halfords arrived.
Saturday. 1 week from theft occurring went to Halfords and purchased £750 Boardman bike plus about £300 of bits and pieces (still got £60 left) collect bike tomorrow and other bits due next week.
So I am happy to report that Direct Line have handled this claim very well.
8wheels:
So I am happy to report that Direct Line have handled this claim very well.
I know a couple of people who have had to claim from Direct Line for car accidents and they were very good in both cases. It’s a rare thing to have an insurance company that is helpful with claims and in many cases they are also the cheapest premium at renewal time too. We have our car insured with them.
Paul
repton:
8wheels:
So I am happy to report that Direct Line have handled this claim very well.
I know a couple of people who have had to claim from Direct Line for car accidents and they were very good in both cases. It’s a rare thing to have an insurance company that is helpful with claims and in many cases they are also the cheapest premium at renewal time too. We have our car insured with them.
Paul
myself personally has had a claim for a car, i was insured with Direct Line, the woman who drove in to the back of my car was also with Direct Line, nice and easy you would think?
NO!!! 
firstly, you do not get a courtesy car, you have to hire a car and they will refund the costs if you are found to be the victim
my experience with them as a company throughout the length of this claim was that bad, i put in 3 official complaints about them
i would go as far as to say, if Direct Line was the only insurance company left, i would sell all my vehicles and use public transport or walk!!!
Well I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a big pessimist and am fairly cynical about most things, so it’s fair to say that the prospect of making a claim on my household insurance didn’t fill me with joy. I expected all number of hoops to have to jump through and to have to haggle and negioate to get recompensed properly for what I’d lost.
As well as virtually throwing money in my direction, I have had to do no more than make 1 phone call to Direct Line and it would have been settled next morning if I’d not wanted to check things out myself. I have not even had to prove that I ever actually had the bike in the first place.