Glass' guide

[jr502]

Hi all,

Does the Glasses' guide cover imports? I'm being shafted by a vehicle valuation, and I was wondering if maybe it wasn't pulling up that the car is an import, and so a different spec to the UK model. Bad enough having some dopey cow write my P+J off , let alone getting screwed over with the valuation.

[stropley]

You told 'em it was an import when you insured it right ?

[DavidHM]

More likely that the insurers are well aware that it's an import and that they are reducing the valuation for that reason.

Doesn't matter if the OP even had insurance if it's a third party claim, anyway.

What's the car, age and mileage?

[Soovy]

jr502 said:

Hi all,

Does the Glasses' guide cover imports? I'm being shafted by a vehicle valuation, and I was wondering if maybe it wasn't pulling up that the car is an import, and so a different spec to the UK model. Bad enough having some dopey cow write my P+J off , let alone getting screwed over with the valuation.

Care needed. Did you declare it as an import?!

[jr502]

Yes, declared as an import. Everything legit.

Its a Subaru Forester 1997, S/TB, 80k miles.

The worst thing is, I had to pay above average as its mint, not a mark on it. I know I wouldnt get what I paid, but looking online, to get a mint one like mine I would have to pay 2x what they are offering.

[blearyeyedboy]

jr502 said:

Yes, declared as an import. Everything legit.

Its a Subaru Forester 1997, S/TB, 80k miles.

The worst thing is, I had to pay above average as its mint, not a mark on it. I know I wouldnt get what I paid, but looking online, to get a mint one like mine I would have to pay 2x what they are offering.

Reply in an e-mail sending them a link to the advertised cars, asking which they would like to provide you money with to buy. Or if they feel that you can acquire a suitable replacement for less money that you've missed, say you'd be happy to consider looking at any similar vehicle advertised at the value they've given... if they can find one (and then wait for the silence).

Then wait, and see if they'll improve their offer.

[jr502]

blearyeyedboy said:

Reply in an e-mail sending them a link to the advertised cars, asking which they would like to provide you money with to buy. Or if they feel that you can acquire a suitable replacement for less money that you've missed, say you'd be happy to consider looking at any similar vehicle advertised at the value they've given... if they can find one (and then wait for the silence).

Then wait, and see if they'll improve their offer.

Thanks.

When I first spoke to the claims management company I was told that they wouldnt even look at examples I sent them, but when I called back later and spoke to a different person he said they might. I have sent some anyway, as even the lowest spec, high mileage ones for sale are more than their valuation.

N.B. having re-read my first post I can see why people queried whether it was insured as an import. I should have worded that better.

[crhulse]

I'm not entirely sure if what I say it 100% correct but.... If the accident which wrote your P&J off wasn't your fault you are entitled to request / insist the insurance company fix your vehicle regardless of cost.

I've worked in the trade for a few years (more than I want to disclose) and just recently our dealergroup's bodyshop fixed an old BMW as the owner had been involved in a non fault accident and insisted that the car was repaired and not written off.

I would think that if you started to go down this route the other parties insurance would suddenly become much more interested in increasing their offer.

You may find another PH'er has more information on this than me, and I await being corrected, if wrong.

[jr502]

The damage is quite extensive to the floor pan, so I dont think repairs are impossible, but probably would make it more of a cut and shut. I will see what they say. thanks

[jr502]

Going to chase them up today, yesterday I was told it takes a couple of days to read the email, which given that they hand out short ultimatums of 'accept the offer this week or lose your hire car' is a bit rich. I'm just hoping they dont just try to stall until the last minute, then give me an answer.

[Robbo101]

crhulse. Further to your earlier post. Sadly that is not correct. An Insurer (be it your own or a TP) are only obliged to put you in a simlar position as you were prior to the incident. So if your £200 car is written off, you cant insist that they pay for £6400 worth of repairs to make it road legal again, instead they wll merely give you the value of your car.

[jr502]

Robbo101 said:

crhulse. Further to your earlier post. Sadly that is not correct. An Insurer (be it your own or a TP) are only obliged to put you in a simlar position as you were prior to the incident. So if your £200 car is written off, you cant insist that they pay for £6400 worth of repairs to make it road legal again, instead they wll merely give you the value of your car.

See that's all I want, I had a very good condition, low mileage car with all the bells and whistles like electric folding mirrors etc (usual import stuff), and I'm being offered the money for a 140k miles battered up rusty example. All because of some stupid girl. I just want to be able to replace my car, like for like.

[jr502]

OK, update so far. I have been chasing them up, and all I keep getting is "our engineer will look at it now". They have been feeding me this rubbish for too long, it's blatant stalling on their side to pile on the pressure to accept their deadline within their time window they have given me, knowing if I go past this I have no hire car or money to get a new car.

[blearyeyedboy]

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/about/helped...

The "sample conversation" is a bit sickly-sweet, but useful to read. And when you're done, call these people before your hire car's gone:

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumer/com...

[jr502]

Thanks, having spent too long trying to reason with a rude, supposed engineer, I think the FOS is the only way forward. Being told 25% is easy to negotiate off of a car's value, and that 25% off of a rock bottom high mileage dog is market value has given me no choice.

[POORCARDEALER]

What are they offering?

[jr502]

1500

[blearyeyedboy]

OP, have you tried your own Glass/Parkers/whatever valuation? (And are imports worth less?)

Autotrader would suggest it's a low punt from them but not an awful one. I can find an S Turbo 4 years newer (51 plate) with 88k miles for £2475 from a dealer.

Sorry OP, not having a go... just wondering what I've missed here. Is there something specific about a trim level/equipment you've got that makes it more desirable? Sorry for my ignorance, I'm not a great expert on Foresters. What would yours need to be specced with to be worth 3 grand to replace?

[daemon]

blearyeyedboy said:

OP, have you tried your own Glass/Parkers/whatever valuation? (And are imports worth less?)

Autotrader would suggest it's a low punt from them but not an awful one. I can find an S Turbo 4 years newer (51 plate) with 88k miles for £2475 from a dealer.

Sorry OP, not having a go... just wondering what I've missed here. Is there something specific about a trim level/equipment you've got that makes it more desirable? Sorry for my ignorance, I'm not a great expert on Foresters. What would yours need to be specced with to be worth 3 grand to replace?

+1

[jr502]

blearyeyedboy said:

OP, have you tried your own Glass/Parkers/whatever valuation? (And are imports worth less?)

Autotrader would suggest it's a low punt from them but not an awful one. I can find an S Turbo 4 years newer (51 plate) with 88k miles for £2475 from a dealer.

Sorry OP, not having a go... just wondering what I've missed here. Is there something specific about a trim level/equipment you've got that makes it more desirable? Sorry for my ignorance, I'm not a great expert on Foresters. What would yours need to be specced with to be worth 3 grand to replace?

No need to be sorry, its an obvious question. The import Foresters are quite different to the UK ones, they have a different turbo and engine spec, more in line with the Jap impreza WRX, so nearer 240 BHP than the 170 of the UK one, they also have privacy glass, climate control, all electric bits. What has made things worse is that because of the exchange rates recently, importing one has become less economically viable, so it has pushed prices up, making it difficult to find a cheap replacement. The UK is the S-Turbo, the JDM is the S/TB.
I dont have a glass' guide, but I have used the valuation on usedcarexpert.co.uk, which averages advertised prices and corrects for mileage and age, which came out at 2700 for a lower spec UK model. One of the biggest problems is that there are not many around now to get prices, this guy has a couple here http://www.sdtimmocarsales.co.uk/used_cars_Oxfords... the S plate one almost identical to mine except for the colour, mileage is very nearly the same, and also looks to be in top condition. I did ask the assessors to provide examples of S/TBs in similar condition to mine at the money they are offering, and I kept getting shown either UK models with rubbish spec, or getting BS excuses and attitude.
All I want is to be able to replace mine with something similar, and looking at the market I need to spend much more than they are offering.