Collingwood Insurance Services UK Ltd

My son got a learner policy with this company online. After about 6 months my son passed his test and had to inform the insurer and cancel this policy according to their terms. I would have thought he could get a partial refund for the months he didn't need to insure with the learner policy. However, instead of getting refund, he was required to pay additional funds because of a £40 cancellation fee!! He wasn't allowed to just leave the policy to lapse either. This is extremely unfair.

Would like to give it NO stars. Do NOT use this company. Hid a lot of info in the terms and conditions etc and hide behind - 'well you ticked the box'. My son passed in month 11 of insurance. He was not driving following this as he didn't have a vehicle so we decided to let the insurance lapse. However, Collingwood contacted us in month 12 having cancelled it themselves and then insisted we pay a cancellation fee of £35.00. My son was bombarded with threatening e-mails and texts saying that they would pass his 'debt' over to a debt recovery service and that his credit rating would be affected. They couldn't explain why the needed to charge a cancellation fee (remember, we didn't cancel!) just that it was in their terms and conditions...... I think it is a perfectly reasonable assumption that you can let the insurance lapse having PAID FULLY for the entire length of the cover just as you would with any other insurance company. But no, they want additional money - for what?!!! PLEEEASE use another insurer!!!!!!!! Following response from Collingwood: You are talking about two different documents. The cancellation fee is NOT shown in the Terms and Conditions but is shown in the Terms of Business which is why I said it was hidden. In the terms and conditions you hint that a cancellation fee 'may' be incurred rather than WILL DEFINITELY be incurred unless you can explain to me in what situation it wouldn't be incurred?! No, I don't take comfort in what we paid for daily cover as the whole experience has caused a great amount of anxiety and stress to both my son and myself - in hindsight I would much rather have paid more to a reputable company. Reading the other one star responses, what I do take comfort in is the fact that he, luckily, never had to make a claim!! Still would absolutely recommend to anyone that they steer clear of your 'insurance company'. UPDATE - BTW obviously we knew the insurance was invalid once our son had passed but as he passed so close to the end date we thought it would just lapse. We had purchased insurance elsewhere for Oscar to use as a qualified driver (d'uh!). Just nearly finished a year's learner driving insurance for our daughter - due to take her test in July, insurance runs out on 18th June. I phoned her insurers - Adrian Flux - who advised we could just let the insurance lapse, no admin fee. They suggested we phone again should we require more insurance if she didn't pass her test. They were lovely. Would definitely recommend ADRIAN FLUX over Collingwood - do not use Collingwood!

DO NOT USE THIS INSURANCE COMPANY! I wish I had of read these reviews before taking the policy out, but at the time we were sitting in somebody's lounge buying their car, trying to sort out some insurance for my daughter so she could drive the car back. Their fees are disgraceful, I do not understand how they are allowed to get away with this. 1st PAYMENT - £33.00 12th September 2nd PAYMENT -£26.25 9th October 3rd PAYMENT - £26.25 9th November My daughter passes her driving test on the 6th December, we look into cancelling the policy as it "has" to be cancelled and we are told "thats ok to cancel it, and that will be £105 to pay"!!!!!!!!!! Having just brought another normal insurance policy that day she passed her test with a deposit of £117.00 and monthly payments of £112.00 going forward, this shambolic company then wanted £105.00 off her as well!!!!! after she had already paid £85.50 for less than 3 months cover! so in total she will of paid £190.50 for less than 90 days cover!!! its an absolute disgrace, she is in full time education with a part time job struggling like the rest of us working class families. I will be taking this further regardless of the fact we "ticked" a box to agree! This is shameful and I would like a breakdown of how they justify these fees. I wouldn't even leave 1 star!

Too many unfair fees , they will try to overcharge you out of all the money you have . By the way to anyone curious they charged £121 pounds in fees for a cover which was purchased on a monthly basis the cover cost £67 please avoid . They make you think they aren’t a scammy company yet they are . They will milk you out of all the money you have and take it without consent from your bank account without an issue of an invoice or anything.

Absolute Con. £1000 excess to replace windscreen which costs a few hundred pounds. They are making money on your repairs which is morally wrong.

Save yourself the headache and DO NOT give this company any business. Never have I encountered rudeness like i encountered from these clowns. Huffing and puffing when asking questions and laughing down the phone - utter disgrace and the fact that they dont even acknowledge that behaviour speaks volumes about the type of organisation they are, DISGUSTING! They sell a learner policy that becomes invalid once the learner is no longer a learner AND they charge a fee to cancel that policy AND they retain the entire months premium, irrespective of whether it has been an active policy for only 3 days or not. Shocking business model. Complaint against them currently with FOS and the Insurance Ombudsman.

I have read other reviews regarding a lack of refund, which was also correct in my son's case, having passed his test today after 8 months. However, on balance, I rate this company highly due to the quick and effective way it dealt with an accident my son had (another driver failed to give-way at a roundabout), making a stressful time so much easier. I too was charged the whole year (still a good price for a straight forward no-nonsense learner insurance who cover a group of drivers many insurers wouldn't touch). The dealings we have had with Collingwood have been professional and timely - the assessor arrived within 2 days of the accident, the car was written off and towed within a week and the payment arrived within 2. Today, Jenny in customer services talked through the process of cancelling (the insurance is invalid on passing the test) and went above and beyond with useful information which enabled the printing of all documents before the account was closed. Thank you Collingwood!

Quick and easy to use

After 7 months my son passed his test, cancelled his insurance and then was required to pay additional funds!! This insurance is aimed at learner drivers I intend to complain to the ombudsman!!

Bought 12 months learner insurance for son. He passed after 6 months. I therefore cancelled the policy straight away as it was no longer required. I did this online using the Collingwood Portal. The next day I received an SMS informing from Collingwood informing that that I had underpaid and to contact them immediately. I called them to understand the reasoning for the txt (after all, I was expecting a refund given only 6 months of the policy had been used) and was advised by the agent that I owed them an additional £12.50 because of the broker's (Collingwood) cancellation fee (£40), and the underwriting insurance company's requirement of a min. 70% of policy cost. The lesson here is to read the T&Cs very carefully before choosing this insurance. If you take out 12 months insurance and are fortunate enough to pass your test within this term, then DO NOT expect any refund - indeed, expect to spend more depending on when you actually pass within the 12month insurance period.

For years I got the best prices from them and the online policy purchase is even better. Done my policy in 10 minutes, straight forward. Can only recommend

Rang to take out Learners insurance for my son. Spoke to firstly Cameron for the initial quote, then Denise, who was extremely knowledgeable and saved us £70 on the original quote. Great customer service and the cheapest Learner insurance around!

Very good experience

Had this firm recommended. Paid up front and was told a refund is made for any unused period. Be warned. I have 2 months left and zero refund due (which I accept) BUT they want £35 EXTRA to cancel as soon as my son passes. An admin fee when my son passes!! Ridiculous, money making scam that is hidden on sign up. I would avoid at all costs and look elsewhere! In my opinion. If I (or anyone else) pays for a years insurance, additional fees at pass point should NOT occur. If it lapses or I cancel ahead of renewal point, it should be factored within ‘the advertised price’. To hide it is nothing less than underhand and sneaky. I see LOTS of complaints and reviews online. I wrote this for others to see so they either factor it in when comparing prices OR choose to use a less unscrupulous insurer! Update: 24.10.22 In regard to the poorly written and incorrect response from this insurer, I can state for a fact, my son failed his test and no additional fee was charged. However, I will now check my statement to make sure you haven't charged me and will immediately issue a chargeback on it, via the bank as it's theft! I remain disgusted at your attitude and way of doing business online. It's underhand, unprofessional and my review of your firm will hopefully guide others to avoid you!

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Only contact I had with them was when I took out the policy for my daughter online. Never received any documents. Car was never really used as I am a driving instructor and she learned in my car. When she passed the congrats came with a £25 fee for cancelling. They hassle you send nasty letters phone and text CONTINUALLY. I will be sure not to recommend collingwood to anyone I am teaching. YOU ARE NOT GETTING IT THREATING A 17 YEAR OLD WITH LEGAL ACTION . SHAME ON YOU.

Rip off company. Do not take out insurance. I took a £238 years policy and passed within 4 months. READ THE SMALL PRINT!!! I did not get 8 months refund. They have a clause that says they keep a huge percentage regardless and charge a large cancellation fee. I ended up with £27 back. So angry. Cost me over £52 a month to insure. Friends were paying less than £30 with more honest insurers

Beware! having paid for a 12 month policy for my daughter for £218...she past after 3 months, I got back £19.20? they have justified this by a £40 cancellation fee and a % calculation which wipes out the payment. Great way to treat 17 year olds, disgusting approach and I hope people go elsewhere Their calculation - You paid £218.01 – less the intermediary fee of £70.00 – the insurer premium is £88.81 the cancellation fee is £40.00 = a refund of £19.20 My fault for not reading the T&C's and relying on my previous experience of dealing with +30 car insurers who have always refunded a reasonable amount when ending a policy

Don’t read the 5* reviews from people who have just taken out the policy, read the 1* reviews from everyone who has just passed!! The learner policy is cheap at the front end, but when you pass the driving test & you have to cancel the policy, they ring you up / hassle you, as there is then an admin fee to be paid to them plus a cancellation fee, so they chase you for extra money beyond what you paid at the start of the policy, despite it being in force for considerably less than the 12 months cover paid for. It may be a good business model for them, but it is shocking customer service practice & this company should be avoided.

Absolutely disgusting service... Took out a learner policy which we used only for 2 months. I paid monthly to be sure it could be cancelled when my daughter passed her driving test. I was made aware that it was a £40 cancellation charge, which I thought was a bit steep, but it was only £20 something per month so thought it would still be way under £100... How wrong I was?!! They are now trying to also charge me 40% of the annual premium, which is nearly £120 on top of the cancellation!! Absolutely outrageous policy, and distinct lack of customer service skills when trying to deal with it. They think because they still have my card details on file that they can steal the money which I haven't agreed too, but I will be contacting the bank if they take more than the 40 quid I knew about. Those complaining about a £25 charge were lucky to be honest!