BMW Motorrad Insurance...update

[oldnfat]

Well folks...after my incident with the deer 2 weeks ago I said I would give an update on progress with BMW Motorrad Insurance.

Well so far so shite....BMW Insurance is actually Allianz and the experience is appalling...I am again holding to speak to them as I write.....got bored after the first 30 mins:

- Started with the claim call following the accident...took 20 mins to get through....was a claims management company....gave them all my details after which they put me through to Allianz where I had to give the same details all over again.

They said they would send out a claims pack for my kit etc which didn't arrive.
They sent the pick up truck to the wrong address and didn't give him my home number saying they didn't have it after giving it to them twice.

They sent me a letter advising that there solicitors have given my case careful thought but will not be proceeding with an action against the 3rd party as it is unlikely of a successful outcome....not surprising really as the 3rd party was a friggin DEER.....who are notorius for being under insured.

Rang Allianz to find out where my claims pack was....no record of a request BUT would accept details by email.

Email sent asking for an ackowledgement...no response.

2 weeks in, still no contact from Allianz about my bike, what is happening to it or when I am likely to find out....

Now been holding for 45 mins.....what a niaive fool for thinking paying a little more for a BMW product would ensure a quality service....avoid like the plague.

......still holding after 55 mins ....got through and they can't find me on the system using thier own reference number

Wait for the next thrilling instalment....tune in next week folks when they value the bike...should be good for a laugh.

Cheers

 

[Tommac]

It is not just BMW insurance.

I had a 60mph collision with a red dear stag near Achnasheen in the Scottish Highlands one night. Car was a total right off, as was the deer.

Next day I hire a car and the insurance company then tell me that they will not pay for the hire because... "As my car was a total loss" then my insurance policy ceased from that point and although I would get the derisory value they gave the car, they would not pay for the hire car that I needed to finish my holiday and get home to Derbyshire.

You really lose the will to live with these people.


I would start collecting careful notes of all conversations etc in case you end up at the Financial Ombudsman.

Good luck

Tom

 

[EggChaser]

Hmm when I had my 4 legged impact as was with BMW Insurance - and it went smoothly, that said pretty sure it wasn't backed by Allianz at the time.

Sorry to hear you are having issues.

 

[oldnfat]

Thanks, I think Allianz have taken over from another insurer....it will be on price in terms of what they are prepared to pay BMW....should have thought about this before buying....BMW are just another mouth to feed, squeezing Allianz profits still further hence the poor investment in service as they keep their costs down.....my fault for not thinking about this beforehand

 

[Andy B]

pretty sure it wasn't backed by Allianz

It was NIG until recently. Trouble is, Devitt do all the processing as broker/agent to BMW. When I had a simple claim a few years back I got so fed up with Devitt I went straight to NIG. Much to my surprise they handled the claim themselves rather than forcing me to go back through Devitt. In the end I got so feed up with both of them I went directly to the other party's insurer and did my own deal!

 

[Wapping]

Thanks, I think Allianz have taken over from another insurer....

Allianz took over the underwriting (i.e.. became the insurer) of the BMW Motorrad Insurance Policy, from NIG a year or two ago when NIG pulled out of insuring motorcycles.

NIG were the underwriter for several years, having taken over from Cornhill, when Cornhill pulled out.

Cornhill is a wholy owned subsidiary of Allianz. So, in a sense history is repeating itself.

NIG is a subsidiary of a bank, in public ownership. The bank, under pressure from the Chancellor and UK plc in general to generate some cash, is trying to sell off / divest its insurance and other non-core banking activities.

The broker to the whole circus is Devitt, who used to be a subsidiary of the same bank as NIG but are now independent having been sold off as a part of the divestment programme mentioned above.

 

[Ex TSi Fly]

Well folks...after my incident with the deer 2 weeks ago I said I would give an update on progress with BMW Motorrad Insurance...

Bugger! just taken out BMW insurance for a seamless, painless experience should the worse happen.
Just one thought, contact BMW Managing director UK and explain what an appalling uck up these people are and how much damage they are doing to the BMW brand?
Hope you get some satisfaction in this matter soon.

 

[oldnfat]

Bugger! just taken out BMW insurance for a seamless, painless experience should the worse happen.
Just one thought, contact BMW Managing director UK and explain what an appalling uck up these people are and how much damage they are doing to the BMW brand?
Hope you get some satisfaction in this matter soon.

Thanks....and yes that is exactly my intention...I have to say that Bahnstormer Thames Valley who have my bike at the moment have been brilliant. The insurer is certainly letting the BMW brand down a and BMW WILL be getting my feedback.


....and Wapping....is your hobby tracking the machinations of e UK insurance market....a great summary but leads to the potential accusation that you need to get out more!

 

[roamer]

bmw motorrad insurance

I recently changed my gsa , and my insurance had 1 month to run so i checked out the bmw insurance scheme
i was initially dissapointed that it was devitt as i have never had a good quote from them, but expecting a better deal as a bmw customer
we went through the usual stuff and then i was advised allianz was there preferred underwriter i politeley ended the call,
I had a claim with them 2 years ago a £ 45,000 claim for a motorhome
your scenario with allianz was the same as mine, they were ruthless and uncaring just stringing it out making me feel more desperate,
they sent a claims assessor, then couldnt find the report for weeks
i rang them persistently e mailed stuff which wasnt recieved alledgedley,
the good news is they finally did pay up ,but wriggled out of a new for old replacement as the vehicle was quite new,
so just hang in there and keep pestering them ,Best of luck,,,, roamer

 

[oldnfat]

Bugger! just taken out BMW insurance for a seamless, painless experience should the worse happen.
Just one thought, contact BMW Managing director UK and explain what an appalling uck up these people are and how much damage they are doing to the BMW brand?
Hope you get some satisfaction in this matter soon.

Thanks....and yes that is exactly my intention...I have to say that Bahnstormer Thames Valley who have my bike at the moment have been brilliant. The insurer is certainly letting the BMW brand down a and BMW WILL be getting my feedback.


....and Wapping....is your hobby tracking the machinations of e UK insurance market....a great summary but leads to the potential accusation that you need to get out more!

 

[Fanum]

....and Wapping....is your hobby tracking the machinations of e UK insurance market....a great summary but leads to the potential accusation that you need to get out more!

And perhaps you need to wind your neck in before you start being rude to someone who was only trying to help.

 

[oldnfat]

And perhaps you need to wind your neck in before you start being rude to someone who was only trying to help.

Quite right Fanum....wasn't aware neck was extended....sometimes the attempt at humour doesn't translate into email.....Wapping, no offence intneded.

Cheers

 

[mark2jag]

Thanks....and yes that is exactly my intention...I have to say that Bahnstormer Thames Valley who have my bike at the moment have been brilliant. The insurer is certainly letting the BMW brand down a and BMW WILL be getting my feedback.


....and Wapping....is your hobby tracking the machinations of e UK insurance market....a great summary but leads to the potential accusation that you need to get out more!

Isnt it funny how 2 dealers within the same group can be so different.

An errant van driver wrote off one of Bahnstormer Altons almost brand new 1200 GS'es while I happened to be riding it. The thing thats pissing me off is that Bahnstormer have ALREADY been paid out for their written off bike, but as a customer I'm still getting the usual "sorry we have been in touch with our insurers and they are on the case" . I have proved beyond all reasonable doubt that I was NOT responsible for the accident, the other driver has even admitted liability, and I'm STILL waiting for Bahnstormers to refund the excess they took off me (£250 plus a claim for a new lid as mine was completely trashed in the accident) and to add insult to injury I went back to them for a test ride on another bike I was thinking of getting from them,(Notice the careful use of the word WAS!!!!!) and now they want a cash deposit of the entire excess before they will even let me set a leg over one of their bikes. It's as if they are blaming ME PERSONALLY for the accident. Did i MAKE the van driver do a u turn on a dual carriageway in front of me!!! NO i fucking didnt. I've bought bikes from Bahnstormers before but it is my general impression that they dont really give a fuck whether I buy something from them or not.. If that's the case then i suspect this thread will go unanswered. I know its a strange thing to say but I'd like to be proved wrong. Nuff said, im off, work is caling.

HTH , Mark

 

[Nutty]

Isnt it funny how 2 dealers within the same group can be so different.

Try Vines again mate, or could try NOG.

 

[Wapping]

and I'm STILL waiting for Bahnstormers to refund the excess they took off me (£250 plus a claim for a new lid as mine was completely trashed in the accident)

Have you spoken to the third party's insurer; the bod who caused you to crash?

From what you have told us, they (the third party) is liable for the injury / financial loss you have suffered. You should be able to recover:

(1) The £250 excess you paid to Bahnstormer as a part of the contract you entered into to borrow Bahnstormer's bike in the first place.

Or Bahnstormer will have recovered the £250 already and will owe it to you.

One or the other. If you know for certain that Bahnstormer received the money, then it should be quite easy to sort out. Shouting here is not going to do anything.

(2) The third party (not Bahnstormer, as it is nothing to do with them) should pay for your damaged helmet, ripped clothing, bruised ego, broken limbs, soiled undercrackers etc. etc. Again, shouting here is not going to do much.

 

[oldnfat]

I guess the delya here is that Bahnstormers insurer has to claim the excess amount back from the van driver's insurance co hence the delay. Probalby not Bahnstormers causing the delay....but still irritating being out of pocket when not your fault

....sounds like I am defending them however I can only speak as I find. So far they are inspring confidence that if the bike is fixed (unlikely) then it will be done so properly and with a 5 year guarantee on the parts and labour (still can't beleive this bit but it is what the insurance co told me).

I guess the bottom line is that a van doing a Uee on a dual is a life threatening situation and glad you are able to come on to the forum to talk about it.

Cheers

 

[(RIP) Miff]

If you can find out who owned the deer, then you can claim off them.
Not all deer are wild (or furious or livid etc).

 

[oldnfat]

If you can find out who owned the deer, then you can claim off them.
Not all deer are wild (or furious or livid etc).

Good point....the deer did have a cllar on with a name on it....I think it was No i...!!!!

 

[mark2jag]

Wapping has a point,but so do i

Wapping you may have a point. Shouting about it on here may not be the best course of action. I have to say looking at what i posted in a much calmer and more detached manner I see what you say as being correct. Doesnt make it any less frustrating though does it, especially when it seems like they are sitting on their hands and doing nowt. I'm still genuinely annoyed at the bit about the test ride though. Nuff said, I think. Apologies for diverting/hijacking the original thread. I like the deer bit thoough, NO I deer, i bloody nearly spat my Earl Grey all over the keyboard at that, and thats such a waste of good tea.............

Apologies to all, (well almost all)....

 

[Wapping]

Wapping you may have a point.

OK, now to set about getting you your money.

(a) Are you sure that Bahnstormer have been paid out by the third party's insurer for the damage to the bike you were riding?

It's no good saying, "They must have been.... " or something like that.

If Bahnstormer have been paid, then Bahnstormer should now be in exactly the same position they were before the accident and you can have your £250 back. Write a polite letter to the MD at Bahstormer, setting out as clearly as possible your version of all the events before, during and after the accident and end by requesting a return of your deposit. Keep a copy of your letter and allow them 14 days to reply.

If Bahnstormer haven't been paid, find out as best you can, why not. Then write to the MD of Bahnstormer, explaining that you are as frustrated as they are by the third party's slowness but have the added frustration of being £250 out of pocket. Ask the MD if he would be as kind as to credit you back with the two hundred and fifty, whilst Bahnstormer pursue their claim against the third party. Again allow them 14 days to respond and keep a copy of the letter.

(b) Your helmet and other damages are nothing to do with Bahnstormer. But they are of concern to the third party who you say caused the accident. Contact the third party's insurer in writing; you can find the name and address of most insurer's MD's via a bit of inventive Google searching. You may need Bahnstormer's help for this as they will by now I guess have had some correspondence with the third party's insurer. Set out in the letter the precise detail of your claim, the amounts etc.

If necessary, add the £250 to your helmet claim, explaining that you have not received the money back from Bahnstormer. Copy Bahnstormer in with your letter and again allow 14 days for a reply. Keep a copy of the letter.

Then sit back and wait for two weeks.

=====

If you hear nothing, approach a solicitor (there are lots who deal with nothing but motorcycle related accidents) for practical advice as to what to do next.

OR, approach the solicitor BEFORE you do any of the above as they may well do it all for you.... which will save you several stamps..... and they may well have some better ideas.

===

You are not the first person whose been hit on a loan bike by a third party and you will not be the last. That alone should give you some comfort.

One last tip: From previous posts you do seem to have had some run-in's with BMW / dealer(s) over your 1200. Try to separate out as best you can any other lingering feelings of frustration or unhappiness (rational or irrational as they may be) as they will only further muddy the already cloudy waters.