Non fault claim - affecting my insurance premiums
Discussion
MGJohn said:
Have as many goes as you like. You appear determined to miss the point.
Why not spell it out for me then, as all I can see is"Insurers wanted to write off my car, but I got it repaired for a lower price than they could, so it wasn't written off".
That's what my last two posts have been about, but feel free to correct me.
ikarl said:
The car was going to be written off for a 5cm crack in the bumper?? Was it to be gold plated or something?
How ridiculous were their own quotes if that was going to write it off.
Given his repeater managed to do it for 50% of the value here wasn't much in it. If the car is worth £1000 then it doesn't take much to write it off. How ridiculous were their own quotes if that was going to write it off.
Yeah, you're probably right!
I understand getting good quality repairs costs a decent amount of money, and IF the book price of the car was a grand, then £500 would seem like a reasonable amount of money to get a job done to an 'excellent' standard.
Begs the question, why would the insurance assessor quote at 2 grand
I understand getting good quality repairs costs a decent amount of money, and IF the book price of the car was a grand, then £500 would seem like a reasonable amount of money to get a job done to an 'excellent' standard.
Begs the question, why would the insurance assessor quote at 2 grand
ikarl said:
Yeah, you're probably right!
Begs the question, why would the insurance assessor quote at 2 grand
Think about exactly what you've just written. With their approved repair assessor-Insurance company arrangements in place, what could their motives possibly be?Begs the question, why would the insurance assessor quote at 2 grand
The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works. That was when he stopped laughing after I showed him the two deliberately high "write off" estimates. He and his now semi retired excellent father before him have been dealing with all the major Motor Insurance Companies for close on fifty years to my knowledge.
Had the incident been my blameless good lady's fault, I would have repaired the car to an acceptable standard myself and had change out of two hundred quid. That including the bumper repaired and repainted. Soon after the job was completed, I saw an identical car with a perfect rear bumper in a local breaker yard and could have bought that from the "remove it yourself" yard for as little as thirty quid. Thus about an hour's DIYer time for me to remove and fit, plus change out of fifty quid.
Incidentally, anyone needing body or paintwork repairs in the Gloucester area I can recommend the Frampton-on-Severn based Repair outfit. They always have lots of work ongoing so you may have to wait a while to get it booked. PM if you require details.
MGJohn said:
Think about exactly what you've just written. With their approved repair assessor-Insurance company arrangements in place, what could their motives possibly be?
The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Tell us then.The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Is it because they want to limit overall costs. The timescale is quicker to write off so less credit hire perhaps?
PurpleMoonlight said:
MGJohn said:
Think about exactly what you've just written. With their approved repair assessor-Insurance company arrangements in place, what could their motives possibly be?
The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Tell us then.The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Is it because they want to limit overall costs. The timescale is quicker to write off so less credit hire perhaps?
Edited by MGJohn on Friday 3rd July 10:42
MGJohn said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
MGJohn said:
Think about exactly what you've just written. With their approved repair assessor-Insurance company arrangements in place, what could their motives possibly be?
The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Tell us then.The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Is it because they want to limit overall costs. The timescale is quicker to write off so less credit hire perhaps?
LoonR1 said:
MGJohn said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
MGJohn said:
Think about exactly what you've just written. With their approved repair assessor-Insurance company arrangements in place, what could their motives possibly be?
The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Tell us then.The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Is it because they want to limit overall costs. The timescale is quicker to write off so less credit hire perhaps?
LoonR1 said:
MGJohn said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
MGJohn said:
Think about exactly what you've just written. With their approved repair assessor-Insurance company arrangements in place, what could their motives possibly be?
The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Tell us then.The chap who repaired my wife's MG ZS to that high standard at reasonable cost explained to me how it works.
Is it because they want to limit overall costs. The timescale is quicker to write off so less credit hire perhaps?
Devil2575 appears to sum it up succinctly.
MGJohn said:
A hole in one! The increasingly higher costs of replacement hire cars whilst a car is being repaired has always been a real cost concern. Honest John in the Torygraph explained one incident where the cost was many thousands of pounds to provide a like Hire car .... Hire car replacement is also becoming a bit of a scam. After returning the hire car, punters get a bill for the damage to the hire car whilst in their care. Check for damage on arrival and when handing it back. Take pictures and get a signature to that effect when handing it back... or, you like some could be very sorry you did not.
That's great, but as your insurer won't be paying a penny out ultimately, why are they so keen to write your car off? Here is zero cost implication, in fact there is potentially an upside to repairing your car in additional Credit Hire income. Edited by MGJohn on Friday 3rd July 10:42
LoonR1 said:
That's great, but as your insurer won't be paying a penny out ultimately, why are they so keen to write your car off? Here is zero cost implication, in fact there is potentially an upside to repairing your car in additional Credit Hire income.
He is referring to the other parties insurer in this incident, but no doubt you all operate a similar process.PurpleMoonlight said:
He is referring to the other parties insurer in this incident, but no doubt you all operate a similar process.
That's not clear, but I agree that writing it off is the correct action from the TP insurer. Not least as it's a car with limited spares since Rover went bang a while ago. LoonR1 said:
That's not clear, but I agree that writing it off is the correct action from the TP insurer.
It is, and not necessarily correct for the innocent victim who would prefer a repair to their car rather than the aggravation of having to buy a replacement.It issue he is complaining about is the probable artificially high repair quotes to justify the write off.
Edited by PurpleMoonlight on Friday 3rd July 11:18
LoonR1 said:
PurpleMoonlight said:
He is referring to the other parties insurer in this incident, but no doubt you all operate a similar process.
That's not clear, but I agree that writing it off is the correct action from the TP insurer. Not least as it's a car with limited spares since Rover went bang a while ago. My local yards are crammed with cars written off for next to no real reason apart from expediency cost savings. As soon as the conveniently and hurriedly arranged write off cheque is issued or in the post, the Hire Car is taken back limiting that cost. I have bought a couple of such cars from a local salvage company written off for next to no reason apart from business expediency. Very wasteful.
The other myth is the widespread belief that the old car is not worth much so is written off. That's nit the prime reason but some loon would maybe believe tghat's the prime reason.
I'm starting to wonder why you all aren't doing my job as you seem to know more about every facet of it. Seriously why aren't you applying for the jobs I advertise paying £70k+ a year?
I'll leave to your "knowledge" as it's the weekend and I'm getting a headache from the brickwall I've been banging against all week.
I'll leave to your "knowledge" as it's the weekend and I'm getting a headache from the brickwall I've been banging against all week.
MGJohn said:
The other myth is the widespread belief that the old car is not worth much so is written off. That's nit the prime reason but some loon would maybe believe tghat's the prime reason.
What is the prime reason?WRT your car, have you seen how much they currently sell for? It's hardly supprising that the insurer wanted to write it off rather than repair it was they're not worth very much at all.
LoonR1 said:
I'm starting to wonder why you all aren't doing my job as you seem to know more about every facet of it. Seriously why aren't you applying for the jobs I advertise paying £70k+ a year?
I'll leave to your "knowledge" as it's the weekend and I'm getting a headache from the brickwall I've been banging against all week.
I am particularly enjoying the fact that he isn't actually due for renewal so it's all hypothetical.I'll leave to your "knowledge" as it's the weekend and I'm getting a headache from the brickwall I've been banging against all week.
Devil2575 said:
MGJohn said:
The other myth is the widespread belief that the old car is not worth much so is written off. That's nit the prime reason but some loon would maybe believe tghat's the prime reason.
What is the prime reason?WRT your car, have you seen how much they currently sell for? It's hardly supprising that the insurer wanted to write it off rather than repair it was they're not worth very much at all.
I have seen cars far more valuable than my wife's ZS written off for precisely the same reasons already given. As soon as it is agreed with the unfortunate owner to write off, the cheque is issued and there's the end of the matter. No more costly process. In fifty years of car ownership, I have had four cars "written off" for minor repairs. In each case I have contested that and in each case this has resulted in an otherwise perfect car living on for many more thousands of miles and years.
But, John, I've seen examples on Gumtree for under a grand. Yeah but, yeah but, would they all be one owner from new cars well maintained with a flawless maintenance and service history known to me because I maintained and serviced it myself! Lets say I found a flawless ZS with similar low mileage for under a thousand quid. I would not be the first and only owner of this unknown quantity. I could be the tenth owner and the car had an indifferent service history by several "never check nuffink" owners of which there are many about. My son's charming lady friend has asked if he could service her Golf. It has not been serviced for 30,000 miles apparently...
Meantime, in other news, my wife's old MG ZS passed its MoT today with no advisories.
Not bad for a twelve year old banger...
Another plus, having been driving my 1999 620ti in the heat of the past few days, it's ice cold AirCon a delight to me old bones, it became obvious that the AirCon in the ZS was nowhere up to scratch... cool but not cold. Mentioned this to my ever helpful MoT tester who had just had his Mitsubishi Re-Gassed for £25 and is delighted with the result. Had it done by a local outfit nearby and I drove straight round there and had it re-gassed for the twenty five quid. Lovely and cool now ... Good day today. MoT and re-gas all in under an hour. So, a fine, reliable and still very nice to drive twelve year old car which was once destined to meet a premature and unfair end lives on.
Moral: Anyone finding themselves in a similar and very unfair position due to no fault of their own would be well advised to seek advice, even on a car site like this. There are possible alternatives than to merely and meekly accept their expeditious "write off" decision which is financially advantageous to them, not you, based on the value of a car. It need not work like that as I have tried to demonstrate and have done so on more than one occasion. Several in fact.
For my sins, back in the distant middle ages, I used to work for the claims department of the then largest UK Motor Insurers. Later, worked for a broker where amongst other things, I also placed reinsurance risks with some names at LLoyds of London. So I have a tad of experience with both sides of the scenario.
There's more to this stuff than most folks are aware or... who knew?
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