Advantages: good co.
Disadvantages: overpriced

...are now very overpriced. when these came to the market about 10 years ago they were a loss leader - now i feel that the quotes are much too high. competition in the market is very fierce and there are are much better deals about through the other direct companies. the best thing to do is go through the yellow pages at renewal time and ring all the direct companies this culd save you £100's . i used to be with them and have saved £180 by going to a company calles performance direct based in london - in the yellow pages if you want to try them... Read review

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Advantages: Value for money / ease of use
Disadvantages: none

...Using financial reports, and surfing "best buy" sites Direct Line consistantly came in the top 5 products, in terms of obtaining a defined amount of cover for the best value. In actually applying for quotes Direct Line were indeed the best value Additionally the ease of use of their web page compares favourably to other sites, in that the quote is delivered on-line (unlike sites of conventional insurers), the quote is held allowing you to check other options and return to direct line I would reccommend direct line to anyone seeking single life cover... Read review

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Advantages: NONE!
Disadvantages: Annoying adverts, aired too much, bad company

...Have you had an accident or fall in the last 3 years? If so call Claims Direct and help household insurance, car insurance, etc. all go through the roof and let a dirty, law-bending company line their pockets with gold. I have had no experience with Claims Direct but having seen loads of their terrible and annoying adverts I know that I would NEVER use Claims Direct, the Accident Group or any other of those so-called legal companies. Claims Direct have had various adverts. One even made them look like a charity!! The advert showed how Claims Direct “helped” a young child who was seriously injured and said how Claims Direct and “helped Joseph and his Mum get back on their feet.” Bloody hell, what complete crap. I saw on Watchdog how Claims Direct have ripped thousands of people off and they provide their no-win no-fee policy by only... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent service
Disadvantages: None that I can think of

...I must say that Cgu Direct are excellent!! I had to have my certificate pretty quick as my road tax was due at the end of August and only had a few week's left. I contacted Cgu Direct who gave me an excellent car insurance quote and sent me the certificate straight away. I had numerous quotes off the internet ranging from $268 from Cgu Direct to £1039 from Northern Direct for a Corsa Trip! I don't know where some companies get their prices from! Cgu Direct also offered the option of full Rac personal cover if required.... Read review

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Advantages: Great to find quick directions to anywhere in the USA
Disadvantages: Sometimes misleading directions

...**Mapquest is primarily for planning trips in the USA and Canada** Quite often I like to take trips with the family out into the wilds of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Rather than just getting in a car and driving I often research place where I am going and then plan a road trip. I find Mapquest very useful. Not only can it give me city to city directions, but should I have the exact address of the location I am visiting then I can obtain (for free) a road map of the exact directions. Mapquest is one of the better ‘road’ direction finders on the web, maybe not quite as versatile as the professional software that you can buy, but normally Mapquest is normally very accurate and gives excellent directions. It also gives you a printable road map, although I do not find these as useful as the written directions. I do find... Read review

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Advantages: cheaper than the rest
Disadvantages: could be bought by rivals

...Ive just returned from tenerife and booked this holiday with direct-holidays.They are a direct sell company who cut out the middle man(travel agent).When i decided to book my holiday,the hotel i had chosen happened to be in 7 differant holiday firms brochures.Direct-holidays were £100 per person cheaper than the best of the rest.Iwas on an airtours flight where in their brochure(airtours) they were charging £49 flight supplement,where as in direct-holiday,s brochure the supplement was -£20,yes minus £20.In resort each hotel has its own direct-holidays tour rep,where as the other big firms reps were covering 2-3 hotels.I have already booked next years holiday with direct and so should you.... Read review

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Advantages: Service
Disadvantages: None

...I have banked with first direct for 4 years now before that I banked with Midland with is the parent company, I never had cause for complaint with Midland the only thing was that I was so busy I couldn't make it to the branch, so I decided it might be better for me to go to First Direct. Since Transfering to First Direct I must say that I have never been with a better bank, one situation I always remember is, when one month my car insurance company took two months money out in one go, as at the time I was pay £120 a month for the insurance, having £240 missing from my account meant that I went overdrawn and had no money for the weekend. I found this out on the friday and phoned the insurance company straight away who stated that it would take at least 3 days for the money to be credited. In desperate need for money, I phoned first... Read review

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Advantages: none
Disadvantages: unfair practices & prices

...Whilst Direct Line used to be easily the cheapest car insurance they are now really not. Its so boring how insurers start cheap and then assume we're all too stupid to change our insurance policy operator. Direct Line are now expensiv and far more so than Tesco who use exactly the same underlying insurance company. Moreover, Direct line do automatic direct debit renewals. This means that if you don't contact them to terminate an insurance policy then renew it automatically and are allowed to automatically apply a direct debit instruction even if its has been cancelled. Another example of criminalocracy government supporting theft in associated their big businesses. I called up to cancel my car insurane and breakdown cover only to be told that it could only be cancelled during the last onth of the policy. I forgot during a house move. I... Read review

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Advantages: Straightforward, competent, reliable service
Disadvantages: They don't do online supermarket shopping?

...I am a member of several banks (as a result of my work), including Nationwide, Halifax, HSBC and First Direct. I have been with First Direct for only a couple of years, but it has already exceeded my expectations and provided a reliable, competent service. So much so that I have switched my Visa account, and ISA account over to them also. First Direct telephone banking staff are polite, helpful, intelligent people who always perform their tasks swiftly and efficiently without making you feel like it's a painful chore and I have yet to encounter a problem. My first fear was that by not having 'branches' to visit, I would be hindered, but this is not true at all. Their Internet Banking facility is also one of the top services I have encountered. It is easy to use, clear and concise - much like the rest of their business. I have used... Read review

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Advantages: Can help injured People
Disadvantages: Its cheap and awful

...I really hate the stupid, cheap and nasty claims direct adverts. The same stupid advert is shown every time the adverts are shown. I wonder why claims direct have invested so little in their advertising campaign. Its most probably because they are unsuccessful. I reckon that Declan swan advert cost about £2000. The actors are damn right awful. My 5-year-old sister sounds more Persuasive than those stupid wannabe actors in there cheap peacock suits. I feel sorry for Declan and Ms Swan who were unfortunate enough to be in this advert. I hope they got paid a large some of the advert budget which I have predicted to be £2000. The poor actors from the reject school of Drama most probably got a pint for their work. If claims direct want to take advantage of peoples injuries then they should invest in some quality adverts. They could employ... Read review

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