written by on 11/05/2022
I don’t write reviews as I never think it’s worth the hassle but as I’m so disappointed and annoyed at way this company is allowed to operate I feel it’s only right to warn others, the service will be terrible once you are in a contract and you’ll find it near impossible to speak to a human being within a hour about anything except departments for more money to them I tried for a month almost to get through to them and there’s now way at all times of the day from 8am the phones have a hour waiting time I personally have always found you can’t trust companies that don’t even let you reply to any or send any emails and this is another one of them, I'm copying and pasting this to as many review sites as possible this morning, not much else you can do
written by Banjoblue on 07/05/2022
Absolutely awful customer service. Just cannot get through to make a policy change. 35th in the queue. No email contact or online chat. Truly dreadful. Read the other negative reviews too. They all get the same bland response and if you look at the positive reviews they look like they are being padded out. I’m fully expecting to get the same BS answer as everybody else got. Just not good enough. Good reviews seem to come from new customers while existing customers needing support are left hanging. I didn’t buy the cheapest insurance as I went with a “quality” firm. Big mistake. The hours I wasted trying to get through made my policy massively expensive
written by jfro5867 on 21/04/2022
Have been a customer of Bennetts for many years now, I just want to update them about me changing my bike. Ringing the (only number) which clicks onto automated voice with press options, so I wait, and wait, then it announces I am 21 in the queue with an estimated wait time of 51 minutes! So I hang up. Just tried again maybe an hour and a half later, same rigmarole except this time estimated wait is now 61 minutes. Ridiculous. Hang up again. I can’t do anything online, can’t even web chat? So what am I supposed to do? This is very poor. Waiting on the phone is going to cost a packet which isn’t fair for their incompetence. There was some mealy mouthed message about being busy or whatever, well employ more call takers then and stop wasting money on gimmicks like prizes and other stupid things no one wants. I may just take my NCB and get insured elsewhere I am so fed up.
written by Littlewb245 on 21/04/2022
Shockingly bad customer service. I changed my registration to a private plate in January. Informed Bennetts but was told the change couldn't be made straight away because of a "system problem" (yes, that old chestnut) but that they would send the details to their IT department to make the change. I didn't hear anything so logged onto my online account in March to find that my policy still had the old registration number. Tried to phone Bennetts but gave up after being left on hold for 45 minutes. Contacted them using Webchat instead. I explained the situation and was told that they had a note of the change but it still hadn't been processed and the person dealing with it was not in that day so they would contact that person and get them to email me within a couple of days to let me know what was going on. I explained that I was also concerned because my policy was due to expire on 1st May so wanted to ensure the correct registration was on my renewal details. I was told this would not be a problem. You guessed it - a week later and no response from Bennetts and my renewal papers have come through with the wrong registration number on (and a 25% increase in the premium). Tried to contact them again on the phone but gave up again after another 45 minutes on hold. Contacted them on Webchat again and they again said there was a "System Problem" and that I would have to phone them to set up a completely new policy! Absolute shambles of a company. I have now made a formal complaint and renewed my insurance with Carole Nash. Having made a formal complaint I was told a senior manager would contact me by the end of the next day - surprise surprise....nothing!
written by Mook16v on 18/02/2022
For such a well-known established company such as Bennett's I'm completely sickened by the way I was treated. Good company until you must make a claim! I was knocked off my bike & had to make a claim as I thought this what you are paying insurance for, how wrong I was to make this mistake. Seem quite straight forward until they pass you over to their claim handlers who is a completely different company, nothing to do with Bennett's, which is where the problems started. The claim handlers are an extremely dodgy company called 4th Dimension Innovation ltd, who should be avoided like the plague. Essentially these guys will try their best to incur as much additional costs as this is their only way of making money. To cut a very long and tedious story short if you don't want to use 4th Dimension Innovation Ltd.’s repair centre you can chose the repair centre you wanted to use, however there is a huge catch. You will be refused service if you don't take a courtesy motorcycle which I found shocking. The representative from 4th Dimension Innovations' exact words to me was "If you won't take a courtesy motorcycle from us, we don't earn any money, and can't offer you a service" Essentially all Bennett's do is take your money then wash your hands of you if you ever need to make a claim. I contacted Bennett's to try & resolve this as I thought it was extremely unfair however Bennett's will only tell you to get in touch with 4th Dimension Innovation Ltd as Bennett's don't have any control over 4th Dimension Innovation Ltd. In the end since I needed my bike back on the road, I had to grudgingly paid £3,000 out of my own pocket for the repairs and currently have an on-going case with the financial ombudsman against Bennett’s however Bennett's have managed to weasel their way out of any responsibility and have come to a dead end. I'm truly shocked that such a sham can operate in this day and age, even more so by a "reputable" company such as Bennett's. Whenever I phone for an insurance quote now, the first question I ask is which company handles the claims, if the answer is 4th Dimension Innovation Ltd I simply put the phone down. Believe me when I say the top 3 big friendly bike insurers use 4th Dimension Innovation Ltd. I hope who ever reads this is doing so to avoid being out of pocket like me, however I suspect it they will be on here like me as they've been tricked by Bennett's, an utter disgrace of a company!
Written on: 24/05/2022
We are having exactly the same issues as you. My husband was knocked off his bike by a Sainsburys' delivery van. They have admitted liability and everything should be straightforward, except that it isn't. Like you 4th Dimension took the handling of the claim. The claims number on the Bennetts policy document went straight through to 4th Dimension. We are 6 weeks since the accident and repairs are still to be authorised. The bike is only 7 months old and we fear we might never get it back. We can't find anyone to sort this mess out, have spent literally hours on hold trying to make sense of what is going on and to get things sorted. It's apalling.
written by Sean489 on 22/06/2020
Just made a claim after someone hit my parked bike written off I insured the bike at 2.5k payed my premium now there telling me im only getting £1600 or the £2500 WORST COMPANY IVE DEALT WITH Will be avoiding this company at all costs from now Seems like a great company untill your in the situation you have to claim then its downhill from there
written by kawasaki800 on 23/04/2020
I changed my bike in march 2020 fee £120 92p. (clean licence etc) no claims bonus. When I made the change I had 2 modifications . 1 solo mustang seat. 2 change silencers. was told it would need to go to underwriters or some one along those lines and I would be contacted within 24 hours. It never happened 4 days later still no reply so I had to contact them again as I was without insurance. Rang and asked about cancelling and I would get £50 refund even though I was insured for only 5 weeks and it was not my fault they did not reply? £70. I will send to ombudsman.
written by on 01/04/2020
Two bike policy - £442 for the last year. Renewal this year £820 !!!!!!!! How do they come up with these figures, they haven't changed since I was with them some years ago. I will forward the details to the Ombudsman. Avoid.
written by sarahedwrads on 15/09/2019
What a joke of a company, wouldnt advise insuring with these unless you are desperate if you want problem after problem, staff with attitude problems , team leaders who are clueless on the services offered , told your bike doesnt exist even though its mot and has log book ! stay well clear of these they are clueless .
written by JimboSlice on 24/04/2019
Renewed my policy with Bennetts this year for £118 and decided to change my bike a month later. Phoned bennetts to change and was quoted £568 to change! Bemoto wanted £211 for a new policy. Never again will I consider bennetts as they are the worst I've ever had to deal with. Just to point out that I have full no claims, a clean driving licence and had changed bikes from a 2014 BMW K1300S to a 2018 S1000XR.
written by steiner1 on 08/04/2019
Too many parties involved Bennetts, Aviva, minster law, 4th dimension and more with no communication, no control and a failure to process the claim under a comprehensive policy where the driver of a BMW knocked me off the road, writing off my motorcycle, severely injuring me, 2 witnesses plus dash cam and charged with fail to report an accident, fail to stop after an accident and dangerous driving. I now have to employ a solicitor to recover my losses and damages. DO NOT EXPECT YOUR BROKER, UNDERWRITER, their SOLICITORS or ANYONE ELSE to recover your losses and damages.
written by Leanne765 on 04/09/2018
I like the ease with which my insurance was sorted out and the European cover as standard. The online system was straightforward and responded to immediately. Whilst over at the Manx GP I took up Bennett's offer of freebies and got 2 tickets to Jurby for tge Sunday Festival, 2 free Manx programmes and 2 Grandstand tickets...smashing. I have also in the past won a track day at Oulton Park! So I get a great deal from my Bennett's insurance
Written on: 05/09/2018
Hi
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It's great to hear that not only were we able to make the insurance application a smooth transaction but your also enjoying the rewards of being a Bennetts customer. :)
Are you ok if we arrange to telephone you in relation to your review?
Thanks,
Caroline
written by invisiblemanfaslane on 04/08/2018
First time in years i have ever had a cheaper renewal than the previous year . Great insurance with great conditions at a good price . Recommend ..!
written by Derbybiker on 01/08/2018
Disappointed first of all to see my premium rise significantly after a car accident - despite 10+ years no claims bonus on my bike insurance! When I tried to contact you to discuss I couldn’t get through to a person despite 5 attempts and a total of 35mins on hold! Clearly inadequate call handlers. Sorry to say ‘goodbye’ after all these years, but please forget all the gimmicks and competitions, just give bikers good insurance cover and good service - we pay for it! There are lot of excellent competitors in the race out there!
written by stevemcleod on 12/07/2018
Bennets bike insurance is the best for your money I would recommend Bennets to anyone all my biker mates have their bikes insurancerd with Bennets there a very good company to deal with. Mr a Mcloed Alnwick Northumberland
written by RemingtonBuckley on 12/07/2018
I swapped to Bennetts last year to get a better cover for a lower price which I got then this years renewal was £40 cheaper than last year with the same cover Brilliant. I'm covered for riding other bikes and my gear is covered as well along with RAC cover and legal protection and riding abroad as well and now I'm registered to win prizes and get great offers so all's great
written by DarrylS on 04/07/2018
Insurance has become more about the cost of cover these days and whilst I like Bennett's cover (i.e. what is and is not covered), their guys on the phone have always been pretty decent and the additional benefits (e-mails, offers / savings) are of interest even if I don't take Bennett's up on them, the price increase from last year to this year has been fairly steep at around +20%, now given I a an older rider, with a fairly sensible bike and no claims since last year it does concern me. However, any insurance company is only as good as your experience with them when you need to claim and I hope I don't need to go down this route!
written by Elise72 on 24/06/2018
After looking for some time I found Bennett's to give best deal, benefits & lowest excess. Not insuring a bike for sometime this was a very easy process. Thank you Bennett's.
written by johnybiker on 14/06/2018
needed to alter cc details for payment.Very quick service/no problems with it pleasent efficient handler
written by arboulter1 on 14/06/2018
Third time of dealing with Bennetts, on each occasion I was confronted by really friendly and knowledgeable staff. The whole process, including switching bikes midstream, was totally painless, and the fun part was; the cost. They saved me money over most of the so-called specialist bike insurers. Over my 48 years of riding, I have had some really shady companies and had to pay through the nose on a few "normal" bikes. The very least you can do is give them a call, you never know, you may be surprised.
Do you have a question about this product or company? Simply type it in the box below and one of our community will give you an answer
Once we've checked over your question we will put it live on the site and our strong community of experts will hopefully give you some great answers that you find useful.
We will email you when the question is on the site
As rated by our community of reviewers
Banjoblue's Response to jfro5867's Review
Written on: 07/05/2022
My experience too