GRRR Insurance Companies
Discussion
My Chim is insured through work. I need to get a bit of work done on the rear and Ewelme Coachworks who I have used before, did the quote and I sat waiting for authority to proceed.
Now I wanted it to go to Ewelme because they have had it before and their work is of a high quality which is what I want bearing in mind its a vehicle of a decent value.
This time however the insurance company are saying that they want to collect the car, drop me off a rental and then take the car to an 'Aston Martin Specialist'. I have tried explaining that AM's are made out of metal and TVR's are made out of GRP but this little fact seems to have gone over their heads.
Can I insist on a particular company doing the work or should I just let them balls it up and then get a full respray on rectification? This has wound me right up, they let me take it where I want before, why has everything changed?
Matt.
Now I wanted it to go to Ewelme because they have had it before and their work is of a high quality which is what I want bearing in mind its a vehicle of a decent value.
This time however the insurance company are saying that they want to collect the car, drop me off a rental and then take the car to an 'Aston Martin Specialist'. I have tried explaining that AM's are made out of metal and TVR's are made out of GRP but this little fact seems to have gone over their heads.
Can I insist on a particular company doing the work or should I just let them balls it up and then get a full respray on rectification? This has wound me right up, they let me take it where I want before, why has everything changed?
Matt.
I would point out in no ucertain terms the cost of a foul up.
I was in a similar situation last year when my chim overturned, serious body damage and eventually got written off.
The car went to the insurance companies chosen bog standard bodyshop for inspection first. The bodyshop didn't even know it was fibreglass until i told them as they were under the impression they were going to do the repairs.
The first inspector said it was repairable.
I let them know it would cost packets to repair and did they have any experience with fibre glass.
They turned around to the insurance company and told them they wouldn't go near it...so off it went to a TVR main dealer, got inspected by someone who knew TVR's and was written off.
Insurance companies often need a helpful prod.
I was in a similar situation last year when my chim overturned, serious body damage and eventually got written off.
The car went to the insurance companies chosen bog standard bodyshop for inspection first. The bodyshop didn't even know it was fibreglass until i told them as they were under the impression they were going to do the repairs.
The first inspector said it was repairable.
I let them know it would cost packets to repair and did they have any experience with fibre glass.
They turned around to the insurance company and told them they wouldn't go near it...so off it went to a TVR main dealer, got inspected by someone who knew TVR's and was written off.
Insurance companies often need a helpful prod.
When i had a wee chappy on his Moped imbedded in my Tamoras rear, I took it to the local approved Garage in Liphook. Although the garage came with a high recommendation, the Insurance company didn't recognise them. I insisted that it be done there as 1) they were the only garage to notice the fibre glass was cracked and 2) there was unfortunately a few Tiv's in a sorry state in the workshop so I knew they could do the job.
Stick by your guns and they should let you go to where you want it repaired.
>> Edited by dicky on Wednesday 26th March 18:44
Stick by your guns and they should let you go to where you want it repaired.
>> Edited by dicky on Wednesday 26th March 18:44
I recently had a small prang in my golf. I went down the approved repair route to get the car back asap as I was selling the chim and didn't want to increase the mileage too much. BIG MISTAKE! The repairs were shoddy, presents were unwrapped in the boot and the alarm does not now work. After sending it back the repairs were completed satisfactorily, the unwrapping of the presents was apologised for but the alarm error was not deemed to be their problem - or the insurance companies. A stiff letter of complaint followed but no reply to date (over 2weeks). 
For what it's worth, my recent experience was that the Insurance Company wanted to take my Chimaera to one of their approved bodyshops after my accident - I explained that I wanted it to go to the dealer of my choice as TVR's were specialist cars etc etc and that most 'normal' dealers wouldn't touch them anyway.
My understanding is that you are within your right to get the car taken to any dealer you want as you're paying for the insurance! The issue will be in the small print - my insurance company agreed this was the case, but said they would only pay for it to go to one of their 'approved' dealers (probably in the policy somewhere if you read all the details), and that I would have to pay for it myself to be taken anwhere else.
I suggested they phone their approved dealer to ask them if they repair TVR's, at which point they realised it would have to be shifted twice as the answer was no. In the end they agreed to take it direct to where I wanted.
Keep pushing for what you want, you'll get there in the end.
My understanding is that you are within your right to get the car taken to any dealer you want as you're paying for the insurance! The issue will be in the small print - my insurance company agreed this was the case, but said they would only pay for it to go to one of their 'approved' dealers (probably in the policy somewhere if you read all the details), and that I would have to pay for it myself to be taken anwhere else.
I suggested they phone their approved dealer to ask them if they repair TVR's, at which point they realised it would have to be shifted twice as the answer was no. In the end they agreed to take it direct to where I wanted.
Keep pushing for what you want, you'll get there in the end.
Last year I took my car off-roading and ended up with a small crack under the number plate and a few scratches on the paint work. The insurance company wanted to send the car to their approved repairer, but I pointed out to them that it required specialist attention rather than a normal repairer. I asked if they would send a Ferrari to the same repairer and they said no, so I then asked why they were trying to send another specialist car to them then. After a discussion with a supervisor they agreed that it would be better to have the car repaired at the dealer of my choice with the only exception that a replacement car would not be provided by them.
The insurance broker was Mannings and the policy was under written by Cornhill. Mannings were very good in pointing out to the underwritters that it required a specialist repairer rather than their bog standard repairer.
The insurance broker was Mannings and the policy was under written by Cornhill. Mannings were very good in pointing out to the underwritters that it required a specialist repairer rather than their bog standard repairer.
Given the problems I've had for an insurance-claimed windscreen, I wouldn't go near anyone who's not a TVR specialist.
When complaining to the head honcho in charge of windscreen claims, he said I could go to whomever I wanted and they'd refund me - something their agents said was not possible on the phone.
Normally a policy states they they will fix the car to a satisfactory and safe state (although it might not be worth what is was before), how can your average garage guarantee that for any kind of exotica?
My experience with my old Celica I took off-roading was bad enough, 10 weeks and it's never been the same since, as well as being obviously crash-repaired. With something like a TVR, push them until you get what you want, after all we pay group 20 premiums because our cars are difficult and expensive to repair.
When complaining to the head honcho in charge of windscreen claims, he said I could go to whomever I wanted and they'd refund me - something their agents said was not possible on the phone.
Normally a policy states they they will fix the car to a satisfactory and safe state (although it might not be worth what is was before), how can your average garage guarantee that for any kind of exotica?
My experience with my old Celica I took off-roading was bad enough, 10 weeks and it's never been the same since, as well as being obviously crash-repaired. With something like a TVR, push them until you get what you want, after all we pay group 20 premiums because our cars are difficult and expensive to repair.
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