We've just bought a Hyundai i30 - should I trust the Hyundai First accident management service?

After your recommendations, my wife bought a Hyundai 1.4 Comfort just a year ago. It goes well. It's not as economical as the 1.2, of course, but we have had no problems. I have just received a letter suggesting that after any accident or vehicle theft, I should contact 'Call Hyundai First' in order that they can “manage” the claim and ensure that the car is repaired by a 'Hyundai Approved accident repair centre and fitted with Hyundai genuine parts'. I share your concerns over 'claim managers' but am I being too cautious in this case? The firm administering the service is Retention UK Ltd. The phone number given is 0844 836 7381 and the website www.callhyundaifirst.co.uk

Asked on 8 November 2010 by GW, Cranborne, Dorset

Answered by Honest John
I would worry. Whoever is offering this “service” is not doing it for nothing and anything they make out of it will be paid for by future increases in insurance premiums. Did you know that when you receive a new Barclaycard you are invited to phone a number to confirm safe receipt, then subjected to an FSA regulated 30 minute sales pitch at your expense on an 0800 number by an outside agency inviting you to pay more than £80 for identity theft protection only £12 of which actually goes towards the identity theft protection and the rest to the sales organisation? Any operation with a reputation needs to be very careful who it allows to subvert its records and make sales pitches at its customers.
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