Car set on fire, insurance saying that its not covered?!
Discussion
My Merc S500 decided to set itself on fire over Christmas, rather helpfully ☹
Just called the insurance company AXA (its covered 3rd party fire & theft) and the chap told me that it won’t be covered due to these 2 clauses:
Loss or damage caused by rust, corrosion, wear and tear or any loss of value, including following repair.
Loss or damage caused by any mechanical, electrical, computer breakdown, failure or breakage.
I was somewhat taken aback as a fire is fire and its been on fire, surely that’s what the fire insurance is for, a fire? Anyway, I took their word for it, hung up.
I found this old thread which says that I might be covered?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
No where in my policy does it say how the fire needs to start or what needs to cause the fire to prevent a claim. Reading the other thread, it seems that whatever caused the fire won’t be covered, but the resulting damage is?
Here’s a pic….. poor thing is a gonner ☹
Any help/advice much appreciated!
Just called the insurance company AXA (its covered 3rd party fire & theft) and the chap told me that it won’t be covered due to these 2 clauses:
Loss or damage caused by rust, corrosion, wear and tear or any loss of value, including following repair.
Loss or damage caused by any mechanical, electrical, computer breakdown, failure or breakage.
I was somewhat taken aback as a fire is fire and its been on fire, surely that’s what the fire insurance is for, a fire? Anyway, I took their word for it, hung up.
I found this old thread which says that I might be covered?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
No where in my policy does it say how the fire needs to start or what needs to cause the fire to prevent a claim. Reading the other thread, it seems that whatever caused the fire won’t be covered, but the resulting damage is?
Here’s a pic….. poor thing is a gonner ☹
Any help/advice much appreciated!
First result on google says 'no' too:
https://www.google.com/search?q=third+party+fire+a...
Whilst it's of no comfort, I'd have expected it to cover this too!
https://www.google.com/search?q=third+party+fire+a...
Whilst it's of no comfort, I'd have expected it to cover this too!
Very annoying. We had a similar thing many many years ago with my late Grandfathers K10 Micra. Huge sentimental value as it was left to us and my immediate family all used it as a spare car. It caught fire due to presumably a ruptured fuel line when my sister was driving it. It was quite a nice car with only around 20k miles - Proper "deceased spec" as well, 3dr auto with metallic pea paintwork and a brown tweedy interior 
Insurance gave it the knock back due to the same reasons as you OP. What I'd like to know is quite "how do you claim for fire damage"? Given that the above caveats more or less cover all eventualities except vandalism from what I can see.
I'm in a similar quandry at the mo with key cover for my Disco 4. I'd like to claim for a lost key but the small print gives so many get out clauses I am not sure what to put in the claim in terms of how/where/why it was lost because I don't want them to reject the claim! (£600+ for a new one I think!)
Insurance gave it the knock back due to the same reasons as you OP. What I'd like to know is quite "how do you claim for fire damage"? Given that the above caveats more or less cover all eventualities except vandalism from what I can see.
I'm in a similar quandry at the mo with key cover for my Disco 4. I'd like to claim for a lost key but the small print gives so many get out clauses I am not sure what to put in the claim in terms of how/where/why it was lost because I don't want them to reject the claim! (£600+ for a new one I think!)
https://www.axa.co.uk/car-insurance/third-party-fi...
AXA tell us their TPF&T cover "does exactly what it says on the tin - you’re covered for damage to third parties, as well as damage caused by fire or theft. ".
Not doubt this clear promise played a significant role in inducing the OP to buy their insurance.
AXA tell us their TPF&T cover "does exactly what it says on the tin - you’re covered for damage to third parties, as well as damage caused by fire or theft. ".
Not doubt this clear promise played a significant role in inducing the OP to buy their insurance.
Interestingly according to:
https://www.axaconnect.co.uk/siteassets/broker-doc...
Fire damage covers the damage done, not the item which caused it.
† This policy does not cover mechanical breakdown, or computer
failure. But, if for example your engine management system fails
and causes the engine to shut down, any accident that happens as
a result would be covered (although the cost to repair the fault of
the engine management system would not be covered). The same
applies if your vehicle catches fire – the faulty item would not be
covered, but you would be covered for the other fire damage.
Quote this back to them OP.
(I'm guessing their terms have been updated since April 2021)
https://www.axaconnect.co.uk/siteassets/broker-doc...
Fire damage covers the damage done, not the item which caused it.
† This policy does not cover mechanical breakdown, or computer
failure. But, if for example your engine management system fails
and causes the engine to shut down, any accident that happens as
a result would be covered (although the cost to repair the fault of
the engine management system would not be covered). The same
applies if your vehicle catches fire – the faulty item would not be
covered, but you would be covered for the other fire damage.
Quote this back to them OP.
(I'm guessing their terms have been updated since April 2021)
dundarach said:
Interestingly according to:
https://www.axaconnect.co.uk/siteassets/broker-doc...
Fire damage covers the damage done, not the item which caused it.
† This policy does not cover mechanical breakdown, or computer
failure. But, if for example your engine management system fails
and causes the engine to shut down, any accident that happens as
a result would be covered (although the cost to repair the fault of
the engine management system would not be covered). The same
applies if your vehicle catches fire – the faulty item would not be
covered, but you would be covered for the other fire damage.
Quote this back to them OP.
(I'm guessing their terms have been updated since April 2021)
Exactly right. The idiot you've spoken to at Axa doesn't understand their own policy. Ask to speak to the claims manager. It's covered. But the part that malfunctioned and caused the damage, that's down to you. https://www.axaconnect.co.uk/siteassets/broker-doc...
Fire damage covers the damage done, not the item which caused it.
† This policy does not cover mechanical breakdown, or computer
failure. But, if for example your engine management system fails
and causes the engine to shut down, any accident that happens as
a result would be covered (although the cost to repair the fault of
the engine management system would not be covered). The same
applies if your vehicle catches fire – the faulty item would not be
covered, but you would be covered for the other fire damage.
Quote this back to them OP.
(I'm guessing their terms have been updated since April 2021)
Canon_Fodder said:
The general rule with insurance is that their first response is always 'No'
Escalate straight to their complaints process and thence owards and upwards to the ombudsman.
Strange, because in my day as a senior underwriter, nobody was allowed to turn down a claim without reference to the Claims Superintendent. Refer them to the electrical fittings clause: damage to an item itself which shorts out etc is excluded, but subsequent damage is fully covered.Escalate straight to their complaints process and thence owards and upwards to the ombudsman.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
dundarach said:
Interestingly according to:
https://www.axaconnect.co.uk/siteassets/broker-doc...
Fire damage covers the damage done, not the item which caused it.
† This policy does not cover mechanical breakdown, or computer
failure. But, if for example your engine management system fails
and causes the engine to shut down, any accident that happens as
a result would be covered (although the cost to repair the fault of
the engine management system would not be covered). The same
applies if your vehicle catches fire – the faulty item would not be
covered, but you would be covered for the other fire damage.
Quote this back to them OP.
(I'm guessing their terms have been updated since April 2021)
Exactly right. The idiot you've spoken to at Axa doesn't understand their own policy. Ask to speak to the claims manager. It's covered. But the part that malfunctioned and caused the damage, that's down to you. https://www.axaconnect.co.uk/siteassets/broker-doc...
Fire damage covers the damage done, not the item which caused it.
† This policy does not cover mechanical breakdown, or computer
failure. But, if for example your engine management system fails
and causes the engine to shut down, any accident that happens as
a result would be covered (although the cost to repair the fault of
the engine management system would not be covered). The same
applies if your vehicle catches fire – the faulty item would not be
covered, but you would be covered for the other fire damage.
Quote this back to them OP.
(I'm guessing their terms have been updated since April 2021)
Insurance paid for all the collateral damage, I paid for the alternator.
bowder said:
What fault actually caused the fire? I assume that must be clear if the Ins. Co. are taking this stance.
I can barely stick my head inside the car with the smoke stench so not bothered to look so who knows? They certainly don't after a 10 min call with some call centre.... He told me I'd incur costs if they sent an insurance assessor.
I had similar about 15yrs ago, TPFT insurance on an old Vauxhall I was using for work,
electrical fault caused a lot of damage to the loom behind the dash & smoke damage etc but it didn’t actually catch fire as I disconnected the battery fairly quickly,
insurance engineer quoted “no flame, no claim” when I enquired further I was told if there was flame damage that would have been covered but the original fault, loom & smoke damage was not,
Wish I’d let the thing burn!
electrical fault caused a lot of damage to the loom behind the dash & smoke damage etc but it didn’t actually catch fire as I disconnected the battery fairly quickly,
insurance engineer quoted “no flame, no claim” when I enquired further I was told if there was flame damage that would have been covered but the original fault, loom & smoke damage was not,
Wish I’d let the thing burn!
Mr_Dave said:
Thanks for all the replies, very much appreciated!
I'll give them another call tomorrow armed with the info and update the thread. Fingers crossed!
Also ask for a complaint to be recorded about what that person told you, because if you had taken what they said as fact you would have been significantly out of pocket. Somebody will probably review the call and apologise profusely. I suspect you might get a few £ and the claim might be dealt with more swiftly going forward.I'll give them another call tomorrow armed with the info and update the thread. Fingers crossed!
edit: My guess is that like a lot of businesses they are short of staff, an putting undertrained numpties on the phones who are spouting b
ks. Occasionally at work I (an IT/programmer person) overhear what some of our sales/CS staff come up with and have to speak to their line manager to get it cleared up. Quite what happens the rest of the time, whew...Edited by Gareth79 on Wednesday 4th January 20:47
Not exactly related but I had a knee injury when I had accident insurance.
First call was flat no and they practically hung up.
"We don't cover ligament injuries"
Bit of advice and a second call resulted in a £90k payout (eventually)
The moral, insurance companies are scum and you have to fight for everything.
First call was flat no and they practically hung up.
"We don't cover ligament injuries"
Bit of advice and a second call resulted in a £90k payout (eventually)
The moral, insurance companies are scum and you have to fight for everything.
CanAm said:
Strange, because in my day as a senior underwriter, nobody was allowed to turn down a claim without reference to the Claims Superintendent. Refer them to the electrical fittings clause: damage to an item itself which shorts out etc is excluded, but subsequent damage is fully covered.
Things have changed since your dayCanon_Fodder said:
CanAm said:
Strange, because in my day as a senior underwriter, nobody was allowed to turn down a claim without reference to the Claims Superintendent. Refer them to the electrical fittings clause: damage to an item itself which shorts out etc is excluded, but subsequent damage is fully covered.
Things have changed since your dayGassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff