Posted numerous times about issues I have seen with friends being "bullied" to use a certain claims handling and motorcycle repair business that bumps up claims with 10 or 12 week repair times, excessive storage and handling charges and hire bike fees.
Also seen it with car claims
Couple of weeks ago we were stationery at a pedestrian light controlled crossing and a young lady ran into the back of our Audi A3, not a high speed bump but it punched a nice fist sized dent in the rear hatch and a large split in the bumper bar.
Now the car is 15 years old but has less than 60,000 miles on the clock, is a two owner car ( we have owned it since 2014) and is a spec that would be extremely difficult to find with such low mileage .
Got it assessed locally and specified a quote to repair rather than replace panels. (£1800 plus VAT)
The company who have access to insurance valuations say the car if it had average ie 130,000 plus miles is worth £4500 if written off but true replacement value would be £6000 if you could find one with such low miles.
Anyhow offending vehicles insurer the AA offered to take on the claim to keep costs down so we called them , they tried to give me a hire car which I declined and then followed it up with we will be writing your car off .
At this stage they had not seen an assessment, photos or had any details of my car other than the registration number.
I told them that they would not be writing off the car, they then said I must take it to an AA approved repairer.
Again I said no pointing out that it is my car and I can by law specify where repairs are carried out.
They then tried bullying saying they will decide and if I insist on using another repairer they will send their 'independent assessor" to look at the car but it may take weeks and they will still write it off.
Pissed off by this stage and again pointed out that the car is my property and it is not down to them to dictate where it is repaired and that it has already been assessed.
They continue to be arsey and I point out that I am trying to keep the repair costs to a minimum ie repair of cosmetic panel damage rather than replacement and not wanting a hire car.
They continue with we will be writing off your car so I counter it by telling them to forget it and that I will pursue the claim against them via my own insurer, that I will take a hire car from my insurer which they will be paying for and I will hold out for true market replacement , I have other cars and I am in no hurry to settle the claim.
Told them I reckon that the claim would probably cost them over £12,000 by the end of the day and to speak to a supervisor as to what they would rather pay.
As a result the car went in to my chosen repairer who happen to be an Insurance approved company and was repaired within four to a very high standard .
So just be aware of your rights and do not get bullied by insurers and claims handling firms.
As a result of this a low mileage car with light cosmetic damage has been repaired and will last hopefully many more years and the claim is at least £10,000 less than it would have otherwise been
Also seen it with car claims
Couple of weeks ago we were stationery at a pedestrian light controlled crossing and a young lady ran into the back of our Audi A3, not a high speed bump but it punched a nice fist sized dent in the rear hatch and a large split in the bumper bar.
Now the car is 15 years old but has less than 60,000 miles on the clock, is a two owner car ( we have owned it since 2014) and is a spec that would be extremely difficult to find with such low mileage .
Got it assessed locally and specified a quote to repair rather than replace panels. (£1800 plus VAT)
The company who have access to insurance valuations say the car if it had average ie 130,000 plus miles is worth £4500 if written off but true replacement value would be £6000 if you could find one with such low miles.
Anyhow offending vehicles insurer the AA offered to take on the claim to keep costs down so we called them , they tried to give me a hire car which I declined and then followed it up with we will be writing your car off .
At this stage they had not seen an assessment, photos or had any details of my car other than the registration number.
I told them that they would not be writing off the car, they then said I must take it to an AA approved repairer.
Again I said no pointing out that it is my car and I can by law specify where repairs are carried out.
They then tried bullying saying they will decide and if I insist on using another repairer they will send their 'independent assessor" to look at the car but it may take weeks and they will still write it off.
Pissed off by this stage and again pointed out that the car is my property and it is not down to them to dictate where it is repaired and that it has already been assessed.
They continue to be arsey and I point out that I am trying to keep the repair costs to a minimum ie repair of cosmetic panel damage rather than replacement and not wanting a hire car.
They continue with we will be writing off your car so I counter it by telling them to forget it and that I will pursue the claim against them via my own insurer, that I will take a hire car from my insurer which they will be paying for and I will hold out for true market replacement , I have other cars and I am in no hurry to settle the claim.
Told them I reckon that the claim would probably cost them over £12,000 by the end of the day and to speak to a supervisor as to what they would rather pay.
As a result the car went in to my chosen repairer who happen to be an Insurance approved company and was repaired within four to a very high standard .
So just be aware of your rights and do not get bullied by insurers and claims handling firms.
As a result of this a low mileage car with light cosmetic damage has been repaired and will last hopefully many more years and the claim is at least £10,000 less than it would have otherwise been
