For respect fo elsewhere
by Mme Cormier on Jun 17, 2014
2.5 out of 5 stars
I was with Belair as my first insurer, it took the better part of a month and multiple calls to customer service to perform a simple address change, which despite entering into their online system (which only works so many times before it forces an update over the phone), still managed to get mis-entered multiple times when they re-issued the policy. Dealing with what seems to be a call center for insurance for a direct writer prompted me to move to a broker on renewal and not look back.
Somebody intentionally dinged my driver's side door while I was parked. Filed a claim on Nov. 4th, 2021. Today Feb. 24th, after countless texts, calls and emails, their claims adjuster has still not authorized repair to my car. It's a car door! Worst customer service I have ever experienced. Their rates are competitive because there is no service on the back end. Do yourself a favour and avoid Belairdirect. Cancelling my policies asap!
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A driver rear-ended my car in September last year resulting in fairly minor damage. The claims process with Belair seemed smooth and friendly at first. The only issues were the website and mobile app often returning an error message or no info on my claim, but I was able to get help over the phone.
It's now January and I'm still waiting for my car to be fixed. I had the last update in November when the body shop called me to confirm I want to move forward and have them order the parts. Since then I've been waiting for them to call me back, and nothing. I called them myself today and found out they'd got an update from Belair in December claiming I'd decided to take the car somewhere else, and so they cancelled the whole order. I never did that though so now I'm waiting on Belair, who I can't get through to by phone, to explain to me what's happened. Meanwhile luckily at least the body shop says they'll restart the process to order the parts to help me out. I am extremely frustrated at this point.
THEY CHARGE A HUGE CANCELLATION FEE and they won't tell you about it when you sign up. I asked them how cancellation works and they completely omitted the conversation about the cancellation fee. You shouldn't choose Belairdirect if you plan on insuring your car for less than a year.
Unhappy with the news today. Got an email this morning about an "updated policy". Because my app on the phone to monitor my driving habits was not used in over 30 days, my account was cancelled, and all the discount associated with it. 6 months of good driving data, disappeared.
Had a discount of $~45 per month after I've been using this Automerit App, and now the monthly has increased by $90.
Talking to them over the phone, they say that the premium is something about making up the difference since I have pre-payments going on for the term. I thought this discount would be permanent, but no luck. Now I have to be monitored for another 6 months.
My family has been with BelairDirect, also under Intact Insurance for many years. I was involved in a hit and run accident in 2018 at 0645 am and filed a collision report and report it to insurance. Because there were no witnesses or dash cams, the company was unable to determine which driver was at fault even if the person who caused the crash failed to stop after an accident. With the license plate number and the description of the car in hand, I was still unable to prove that I was not at fault. The police investigation was poorly done where a call was made to the driver's company (the vehicle was part of a company fleet insurance policy) and the driver had denied the hit, claimed that I had hit him. Intact was only able to offer me a 50/50 claim, my car wasn't worth fixing as it is an older model, it would not have benefitted me to claim anything to fix the vehicle at that point. The rep who handled my claim was unwilling to help me investigate further and come to terms with the other party's insurance policy. Simply told me there is no way around it. The claims representative failed to document the many phone calls exchanged between the times I had called in to inquire, and also left me voicemails to say that I had not been able to be reached within 2 months when I have called to their company during working hours to no response. Then the case was closed because "they were unable to contact me". Fast forward 1 year later, I had switched insurance companies and am with a new policy. The new company was able to offer me a competitive rate since the claim on my file was at 0% fault. I was just notified by my new company that BelairDirect had gone back, a year later and made changes to my claim, making it my fault for what had previously happened. Now the new company needs to increase my rate to +$130 a month because of this. I had called back to Belair to inquire about this new "change" and they claimed nothing was changed. Beware of this company, they are not looking to help you with your claim. The reps are misleading and want you to take the route that will benefit the company. On top of that, after I had sent my vehicle to Assured Collision for a quote on the repair, the rep had gone MIA and pretended that she has not received the report.
I received two letters dated the same day from Belairdirect. One letter informed me that "given the age of the vehicle, we would like".. "you send us photos of your vehicle, taken from all sides, within 30 days." The other letter informed me that "after careful review of the policy", which I have been holding for more than 20 years, "and based on new information"..." your collision and comprehensive deductibles have been increased to $1000". That means more than double. The agent on the phone was not able to clarify what "new information" it was referring to. Is it common to have the deductible raised abruptly once the car is 20 years old? There was no inquiry about any technical or mechanical data or maintenance etc. It seems to me that this company is making decisions arbitrarily trying to appear as objective and reasonable as possible. As numerous posts mentioned already, this is not a reliable alternative to the only (mandatory) ICBC. Drivers in BC have little freedom of choice.
I was insured with Belairdirect for 13 years with multiple vehicles and home insurance. The last few years with (4) vehicles so they were pulling some good coin from me every month; My son slid into the ditch Jan 28, 2013 from an ice storm and had a small fender-bender in a mall parking lot in 2015. So they cancelled my insurance - well THANK YOU !
Their "rules" are (2) "at fault" claims and you're OUT ! regardless of the circumstances and I kinda get that. BUT from a dollar-value I was worth it and still am with (4) vehicles & Home Ins. So I cancelled my home insurance with them Sept 28 2016 and have new auto insurance. THAT'S CHEAPER ! so THANK YOU BELAIRDIRECT for cancelling my insurance you are saving me money...who knew :). If my son had (2) "chargeable" at-fault accidents I would get that a little more.
I was involved in an accident where I was evidently not at fault. Sent them photos to prove it as well. Not only they condemned me to being partially at fault and destroyed my clean driving records, but after 10 years of being their royal costumer, they totally disregarded their "no premium change after first at fault accident" and increased my premium by 2.5 times.
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They sale supplementary product with bold face lie and false information, not informing you of your own obligation, had a complaint going with them for over 2 weeks never heard back from them, the person in charge of my file was never available and never returned calls. I went to settle the claim side and warned them if they charged me of the extra bogus protection I would cancel my home insurance with them and go elsewhere, and surprise surprise they did charge me for it so I cancelled my home insurance went with Desjardins better protection at a better price, and a more courteous service.
Speaking of which Belairdirect as ZERO respect for the LGBT community, total disrespect, misgendering and dissmisiveness by their staff, really not impressed, not doing business with them in the future that's for sure.