Footman James - to be avoided

[GerardJPC]

I have owned classic cars since the late eighties, and Lancias since the noughties, but have never until this year made a claim on a classic car insurance policy.   The response to my claim from Footman James and the (generalist) underwriter with which FJ placed the insurance has been poor.  My 1962 Appia Berlina, which I clouted into a fence post quite a while back (that was entirely my fault), probably won't be repaired in time for the LMC rally.   

I first had to deal with a claims management company, which tried to rent me a car.  The underwriter knew nothing about the policy, appeared surprised to learn that the car is an old car, and merely said that it's a write off (the car has a dented door and rear wing).   Someone from an anonymous generalist body shop came to look at the Appia, went away, left a garbled voicemail, and was never heard of again.   A placatory email from the Head of Claims at Footman James' parent company led to nothing happening.  Now FJ has sent me an anodyne letter about its complaints process.

My group policy is up for renewal next week, and I won't stay with Footman James.  I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who has had a good experience with a claim made through another broker.



PS:  I'm a lawyer with extensive experience of the law of libel.  I'm not worried about anything I have written above. 

[Scott]

I remember asking a question about who people insured with a while back - https://forum.lanciamc.co.uk/index.php?topic=13189 - when my renewal came up and noting that Footman James, who I was with at the time, got pretty shockers reviews on Trustpilot.

Hagerty got a majority positive reply response so I went with them. Although I've never had to claim on insurance through my long Lancia ownership (now I've jinxed things  )
Hopefully other folk can answer your specific claims experience question.

You've also touched on an important point - the broker/agency that is the face of a classic car insurance policy is ultimately not the insurer. Noting that Hagerty was using Markel when I first insured with them but now use AVIVA. That's presumably another good indication of a claims process were it to arise though i.e. if there's a well-known insurer behind a policy and who get good ratings themselves.

[GerardJPC]

I used Adrian Flux for my new policies.  So far so good, but the acid test is of course a claim.   I hope I won't have to make one!