Bell Reviews 315

What a bunch of crooks! Paid for car insurance, got email saying your black box will arrive in 7-10 days, I don’t think so, cancelled straight away, I don’t need this spying, I drive when I want and how I want. Had to pay them £25 to push some buttons on the computer, that’s how they make easy money. Like I said crooks. AVOID

Totally misleading. Took out a policy and 24 hrs after paying was told we had to fit a box tracker to the car. Avoid them at a cost.

Set up car insurance with them and only then was told by text about the mandatory drive monitoring device. Policy was not valid without it.

Cancelled the following day and forced to pay a £25 admin surcharge. Blatant misselling.

Buying a new car was a hassle free experience until I had to deal with Bell Insurance - the payment section of the website was unavailable and getting through on the phone took ages. Waiting for an hour on the forecourt while this happened was just embarrassing. Once I got through to a Welsh call centre the member of staff was very helpful.

Bought insurance policy with start in few days. Then I asked to cancel as they were going to install a black box. Charged me £25 even before the insurance started.

Don't trust this company, they just canceled my policy without any notice !!! can you believe that ! and I was driving 2 days without insurance !!! Plus I am new driver !!!!! what if the police catches me! what would I say to him !! you think he will believe a foreigner !!! he will say sure thing Fuc you You stupid lier, and I will lose my driver licence, and that happened after couple of months, I was insured for 3/4 months later they will cancel it and charge me, you can not do anything about it. they will smile in your face and say sorry we can't do anything about it !!! Why cancel it I paid for a hole year ! Sorry I don't know why there is noting on the system ! Reallyyyyyy!!!! just like that ! You scammerrrrrs.

Terrible customer service, and the black box is ridiculous. You get penalised for driving at night, trips per day, how many miles you do - even if this is WAY under the amount you insured your car for. You are essentially guaranteed a poor rating via the black box.

Absolutely shocking. ! No information that policy is plug and drive before buying policy. Insurer is posting plug in box. Once you like normal policy the cost go up 100%.
If you cancel policy they add cancellation fee of £25.00. Absolutely shocking ! I have been driving for 20 years , no convictions , no claims and either I agree to have this spying box or pay 100% more. It's blackmail and harassment ! Absolutely shocking !

Awful experience! The box they use to collect data connects to the main plug-in, in opposition to other companies that use a box that connects directly to the board. They cancelled my policy claiming that I have unplugged the device for 277 miles, which is basically what I have driven in total. Then, they called back to amend. It turns out that I unplug the device for 10 min to get some charge so my toddlers will finish a film they were watching to avoid meltdowns in the motorway!!!! Apparently, that was too much. What annoys me is that the customer service will not offer any other possibilities but to cancel the insurance, not understanding the situation, especially after spending half an hour insisting that I have unplugged the device for 277 miles, which was not true. Apologies and so on, the policy will be cancelled anyway. Horrible customer support, huge hassle created.

So this is my first negative review of anything online but I feel that Bell Insurance is more than deserving of the honour. Where to start? I was wary when I purchased it because of the reviews about having to use a black box. It was annoying but I drive fine. My issue came from when I attached the box and it realised I worked evenings. I did some digging and the plug and drive box penalises you for driving in certain areas and at certain times. You're essentially on a curfew. I work nights and, while my driving score was 92% where and when I drive was at 15%. Not everyone functions during the day, sorry.

As for the company, the worst company I've been with. I want to clarify that the staff on the phones were incredibly helpful. My animosity isn't with the staff, it's with the company and its structure. These poor people just have to deal with how rigid it is. They threaten you with defaults almost immediately if you're even a fraction late for payment. I struggled during covid. It's been a rough year for everyone and the worst thing to see when you're at your lowest is a company threatening you with legal action. Through rubbish web interfaces where you can't pay online and pointless admin fees the company is just badly structured with this "we take your money or you go" mentality.
When this year finally came to a close I cancelled my insurance with them and they refunded a recent payment I'd made. I thought it was the end. Two weeks later I'm slapped with a default on my credit rating now because "I didn't pay the final installment." This was afrer they shut my claim and refunded me. I'm in a place where I need my credit rating to be good because I'm saving to move out. This company screwed me over royally for that.

As I mentioned, the staff aren't to blame. This terrible and rigid company is.
I was in a car accident in 2015 and thought Churchill were bad. I'd rather crash this car again than ever have to choose Bell as an option. This entire year, from the start, has been problem after problem. Avoid them like the plague.

Fabulous service, great price, highly recommend.
Searched and compared prices for my second daughters insurance aged 17 - best price around, easy transition and clear pricing when changing from a leaner to when she passed her test. Also had experience of a claim for accident in year 1 again straightforward, used for subsequent years as price still good despite accident. Decided to sell car and go to university - again clear instructions and to our surprise they actually did what they said they would do - cancelled insurance and paid back overpaid premium. Staff always friendly, call queues okay - will use again for third daughter next year.

I've been with Bell a year now and just renewed. At 35 had to have a black box but they were by far the cheapest to insure so I took the risk. Had 95-99% good driving but useless scores on where and when I drive (not much I can do) however I was pleasantly surprised to receive a really cheap renewal (£100 cheaper than last year). Again they beat other competitors on price by far. So far I've had nothing but super service from their call centre and a discounted premium as a result of careful driving with a black box, so I can't criticise these guys. From my personal experience would highly recommend.

DO NOT USE THIS INSURANCE IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR PERSONAL DATA SOLD ON TO OTHER INSURERS OR ONTO A CENTRAL DATABASE. It is mandatory they track your driving using a device in your car (if you do not use it your policy is nullified) the data from the devise is (a) inaccurate/ incomplete; (b) further provides no basis for the 'bad score' every week; (c) there is no recourse for the 'bad score" and (d) most importantly BELL is making money off their customers by SELLING THIS DATA to other insurers during your policy term. AVOID LIKE COVID!!!

Total Shambles of a company

I really don't know where to start. I suppose the summarised version is the best approach. I took out a policy , they sent the black box which I installed. The car hasn't been used as it is my daughters and she is away at University. I then receive and email asking me to return the box, I call them to be advised my policy has been changed to a standard policy at a far higher price as the box has not been installed. No matter how many times I tell them it has they just wont accept it. I advised the car was in the garage and wasn't being used good that be the problem , no reply. I was asked when I installed the box , I said the day after I received it , " yes but what date" I said i have no idea it is not a life changing event so I dont know. Numerous calls and still they will have none of it. I have raised a complaint and cancelled and gone elsewhere, they waived the cancellation fee but are trying to charge me pro rata at a far higher rate than the original policy cost. I have had no notification of the non discount cost they keep waffling on about but have never advised me of. They will not accept that the box may be faulty or that the car being not driven and in the garage could effect it. Totally one sided, don't listen to reason. 70% of reviews are classed as bad , make your own mind up but be warned. I would also add that out of the 5 people in customer service i have spoken to 3 have said they are not trained on the black box policies, 1 was probably the rudest person I have ever dealt with and the final 1 was a very pleasant lady who agreed that what was happening was very poor but she couldnt change resolve the issues

BELL Policy number: P69100118

I've been driving for 20 years, yet Bell (aka Admiral) came up cheapest on a quote for a BMW X3. I was a compliant customer and plugged in the telematics device within a day of recieving it (you get 5 days to do it). Everything was fine for about 5 weeks (I didn't bother let the low driving score feedback emails bug me like it has for other reviewers).

Then at the 5 week mark I got a genuine email, with no prior warning, from Bell stating: "Due to the unplugging of your unit, we have made the decision that we can no longer look to continue to insure your vehicle. IMPORTANT - this is your FORMAL 7 DAYS NOTICE OF CANCELLATION"

After understanding the periods of 'unplugging' reported by the box, I was able to justify it must have been due to using Eco mode on the motorway, where the socket may have had power cut to it in Eco. Otherwise, why would I unplug the box in the middle of London and then re-plug it back in in Southampton when I know it's a GPS enabled device? Bonkers.

Despite countless calls (over a month period), the feedback I got from the telematics investigations team is that there were no errors/faults reported from the box, and that the data clearly showed the device was unplugged - and not just lost power. Apparently the device can tell the difference between being unplugged and losing power - despite me never unplugging it! Bonkers.

The only saving grace of this company (hence 2 stars instead of 1) was Liam from Data Validations team who went over and beyond his role to try get me the support I needed and engage with the Telematics team, because he felt I was being genuine from our lengthy conversations. Unfortunately the decision was not in his hands but he recommended I raise a complaint which I did.

The fella from the complaints team still upheld the cancellation based on the data (taking no human element into consideration). But he did give me the advice that if I chose to cancel the policy myself, before Bell cancelled, then he would waive the termination fee and I wouldn't have to declare it as a voided policy in future quotes. Sensible.

Regardless, new quotes for other companies have jumped £150 since I joined up with Bell (and Bell doesn't appear in the list of quotes now - suspicious much?). And I'll be avoiding telematics companies going forward as I ain't broke nor a 19 year old new driver.

If there was an option for negative numbers - I would have chosen. Really disappointing experience with this company. There is a reason why these insurers come out the cheapest. I purchased my insurance up front - no direct debits. They just cancelled my policy because I did not upload my log book for validations purposes. I haven’t yet received the updated one from the DVLA - there is a back log. When I explained to Bell that I am still awaiting on my log book - they would only respond via email and threaten cancellation. I only purchased the car in July. I uploaded all other documents but they would not listen. Do not go near this company - the black box is a joke too. No other insurer will entertain me now until I receive my log book. Even when I do receive, I’ll still have to declare this cancellation which means my premium is going to be double.
Steer clear of this awful company - don’t know how they do this to decent customers. They show the horrible side of the human race.

I was with bell for two years I had a black box initially for six months and then it was sent back and I drove without one. I added my mum temporarily to my policy and I added my partners car eventually for about six months. I never had to wait very long at all on the phone.

I have had to leave them now because I am moving abroad but I called to cancel and was holding for about 2 minutes then Roy helped me to cancel in another 2 minutes and it was all done he was very polite and helpful.

Would certainly recommend this insurer and will use again when I’m back in the UK.

Avoid this company at all costs ! I sent them the documents they asked for then they said they didn’t receive the correct bill ? I sent them more then enough information ! They then cancelled my account with out telling me a week later, and then they sent me a bill for £105 because they cancelled my policy it’s my fault absolute disgrace How they treat people how you lot sleep at night is beyond me ! Shove ya black box where the sun don’t shine also !

TERRIBLE TERRIBLE INSURANCE
NEVER EVER GO FOR IT !!!
The expirience I had with this broker is unreal. Trying to rule you, scoring just number of trips you have. I never ever have been involved in any accidents, never made a claim, never had any points on my licence. But all of a sudden they ask me my personal information for "validation purposes"!!! When I refused they cancelled the policy, but still trying to take payment. Ridiculous!!! Don't ever go for it, it will make your life a nightmare !