Car fire and and 'act of god'
Car fire and and 'act of god'
Author
Discussion

Rich1973

Original Poster:

1,284 posts

207 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
A friend of my parents is a member of a rambling club. Two weeks ago there were a few people who had been on a walk and upon returning to their cars, one of them had caught fire and been destroyed.

My parent's friend had parked his car in front of the one which had caught fire and as a result of which, the bumper and the rear of his car was damaged.

He assumed that he would claim on the insurance of the car which went up in smoke but has been told by them that it is an act of god and that he will have to claim on his own insurance.

To me this seems ridiculous and I have suggested that he seeks guidance from the ombudsman.
I could understand it to a point if it was a lightening strike or the like but no doubt it will be something less biblical which has caused it.

What is the considered knowledge from those in the know?

Retroman

975 posts

163 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
I always thought that insurance companies never used the "act of God" line any more. It's a little archaic.

Insurance will only pay out to third parties if their client / customer has been negligent. If the car burst into flames randomly then their customer was not negligent and they won't have to pay out.

anonymous-user

84 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
As the events are described I can't see a valid claim against the owners of the "other" car.

Notwithstanding the "act of god" nonsense that I haven't heard used for years, the advice received seems fundamentally correct so they will have to claim on their own insurance.

Fish

4,064 posts

312 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
If the fire had been caused by the car catching fire because it had been parked on dry long grass and the cat set in on fire there would be a valid claim?

Ste1987

1,798 posts

136 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Fish said:
If the fire had been caused by the car catching fire because it had been parked on dry long grass and the cat set in on fire there would be a valid claim?
A cat spontaneously combusting and, consequently, setting a car on fire would be seen as "an act of God," I guess... getmecoat

HantsRat

2,410 posts

138 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
God doesn't exist. Take it to court, let them try and prove a man sitting in the clouds caused the fire.

anonymous-user

84 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
HantsRat said:
God doesn't exist. Take it to court, let them try and prove a man sitting in the clouds caused the fire.
Take what to court?

Their own insurance will pay out if they have they correct cover.


anonymous-user

84 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
kapiteinlangzaam said:
What about if the car damaged by the fire is insured 3rd party only (no fire and theft element).

Are you essentially up st creek? Seems unfair if you are frown
If you were that bothered about the car you would buy fire cover.

Where there's no blame, there's no claim.

soad

34,705 posts

206 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Catalytic Converter Causing Fire in Pile of Leaves...

AJ parks his Nissan XTerra on a pile of leaves. After a while, the leaves catch fire and take the car with them.
Then, Tony finds out and gives AJ the third degree, "That's an SUV, it has a super hot cat converter, etc."

btcc123

1,243 posts

177 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
I remember reading about a fishing boat having an engine fire and the insurance company not paying.

They said it was an act of Cod.

Nimby

5,726 posts

180 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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If the burning cat had been chased under the car it would be an Act of Dog.

soad

34,705 posts

206 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Nimby said:
If the burning cat had been chased under the car it would be an Act of Dog.
hehe

Retroman

975 posts

163 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
If they said it's "An act of God" ask them which God.

Pegscratch

1,872 posts

138 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Ah, summer holidays.

pinchmeimdreamin

10,903 posts

248 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Loonr1's head has just exploded. biggrin

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
pinchmeimdreamin said:
Loonr1's head has just exploded. biggrin
Pretty well. It's school holidays and all of a sudden we get lots of threads being started by longstanding members with very small post counts. I often wonder if there's somewhere like a dark eBay selling online accounts to kids to keep themselves entertained over the school holidays

Desolate has given exactly the right answer.

There is no Act of God exclusion on any insurance policies.

https://www.abi.org.uk/News/News-releases/2010/08/...

Myth no. 10


ging84

9,548 posts

176 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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pinchmeimdreamin said:
Loonr1's head has just exploded. biggrin
No he has just had to spend a few hours in his angry shouting room shouting angrily

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
ging84 said:
pinchmeimdreamin said:
Loonr1's head has just exploded. biggrin
No he has just had to spend a few hours in his angry shouting room shouting angrily
Or I just replied as above your post. I love the way everyone reads my posts in a shouty way and wonder if you're all close to exploding. I'm lying here with my feet up contemplating whether to load the van up for another track day at Oulton tomorrow.

TwigtheWonderkid

49,179 posts

180 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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Rich1973 said:
He assumed that he would claim on the insurance of the car which went up in smoke but has been told by them that it is an act of god and that he will have to claim on his own insurance.
If he was told it was an act of god he was speaking to an idiot, because it's a complete insurance myth. No act of god exclusions exist on any policy. Utter made up tripe.

What the should've/would've said is that "our client was not negligent so is not responsible for the damage to your car", which is quite right.

Rangeroverover

1,523 posts

141 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
I know that with houses if your house catches fire and you are not insured and your neighbour has damage caused by the fire he cannot claim against you; otherwise if you lived on a terrace you would have a potential liability for the whole street.

Alas I know this from personal experience