Esure-Can they do this?
Discussion
I have just put a claim in for damage to my car with Esure. I have a great relationship with my local repair guy and would trust him above all others to do a good job. Esure have told me that if I want to use him instead of their "approved supplier" I will have to pay an additional £200 over and above my £300 excess.
They said it is in the small print (it always is).
To me, this is bullying tactics to make sure their own repairer gets the business. We all know that the insurance owned places are all about speed and the chances of me getting a "proper" job are almost nil.
Putting the bullying aside, this will also put loads of local independents out of business. I would always use the local independent who has earned his reputation by results.
Where do I stand if as I suspect the repair done is a lash up? Who determines if the car has been returned to pre accident condition. I would bet my life that my guy will tear the approved shops work to pieces.
That aside, I don't want my pride and joy wrecked by a system that puts costs before quality.
They said it is in the small print (it always is).
To me, this is bullying tactics to make sure their own repairer gets the business. We all know that the insurance owned places are all about speed and the chances of me getting a "proper" job are almost nil.
Putting the bullying aside, this will also put loads of local independents out of business. I would always use the local independent who has earned his reputation by results.
Where do I stand if as I suspect the repair done is a lash up? Who determines if the car has been returned to pre accident condition. I would bet my life that my guy will tear the approved shops work to pieces.
That aside, I don't want my pride and joy wrecked by a system that puts costs before quality.
Puddenchucker said:
It's in their policy document:
They do also advise you read all your documents, terms and conditions, and cancel if you wish within the 14 Day period.esure said:
If you decide not to use our recommended repairer then an additional excess of £200 will be applied.
This excess will be in addition to any other excesses shown on your policy schedule.
This excess will be in addition to any other excesses shown on your policy schedule.
Pay your £200, get it repaired properly and write a nice letter to customer service explaining that you will not be renewing due to this. Chances are they'll make an offer to keep you as a customer, which you can take, or be safe in the knowledge that your chap has done a bang-up job.
Puddenchucker said:
It's in their policy document:
£10 says the print used on this part of the policy is no smaller than the print anywhere else.esure said:
If you decide not to use our recommended repairer then an additional excess of £200 will be applied.
This excess will be in addition to any other excesses shown on your policy schedule.
This excess will be in addition to any other excesses shown on your policy schedule.
People say small print when they mean normal print that they couldn't be arsed to read.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
£10 says the print used on this part of the policy is no smaller than the print anywhere else.
People say small print when they mean normal print that they couldn't be arsed to read.
Correct you are, however, I don't have the time or the wits to tip toe my way through an insurance companies wording/get out clauses. Call me old fashioned, but I remember the day when insurance companies just paid the chosen repair company (after you got a few competitive quotes). People say small print when they mean normal print that they couldn't be arsed to read.
This new tactic is plain simple racketeering. These weasels are out to put the small independents, who trade on reputation and quality of workmanship out of the game. By forcing you to use their "approved" repairer they control the market. They will make a cut from you either via the lower prices they get from their approved buddies, or by charging you £200 for using a repairer that you trust.
The "approved" repairers are 100% driven by cost. Your job will be pushed through as fast as possible with every possible corner cut to maximise the profit in the job.
To me this is plain and simple bully boy tactics by the insurers to control the market for their own profit.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
£10 says the print used on this part of the policy is no smaller than the print anywhere else.
People say small print when they mean normal print that they couldn't be arsed to read.
Correct you are, however, I don't have the time or the wits to tip toe my way through an insurance companies wording/get out clauses. Call me old fashioned, but I remember the day when insurance companies just paid the chosen repair company (after you got a few competitive quotes). People say small print when they mean normal print that they couldn't be arsed to read.
This new tactic is plain simple racketeering. These weasels are out to put the small independents, who trade on reputation and quality of workmanship out of the game. By forcing you to use their "approved" repairer they control the market. They will make a cut from you either via the lower prices they get from their approved buddies, or by charging you £200 for using a repairer that you trust.
The "approved" repairers are 100% driven by cost. Your job will be pushed through as fast as possible with every possible corner cut to maximise the profit in the job.
To me this is plain and simple bully boy tactics by the insurers to control the market for their own profit.
Edited by Old Bugga on Tuesday 4th December 20:50
Old Bugga said:
Call me old fashioned, but I remember the day when insurance companies just paid the chosen repair company (after you got a few competitive quotes).
Things seem to have changed a lot in the last few years. It can only have been 4 or 5 years ago that a neighbour crashed into my old M-reg Fiesta. I knew a good local place so got a quote, and a couple of others to compare, the insurer came and poked around a bit and a £400 repair was authorised. This was all done through the neighbours insurer.No doubt these days the car would be instantly written off and I'd be asked if I wanted to claim compensation despite being miles away from the car when it happened.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Puddenchucker said:
It's in their policy document:
£10 says the print used on this part of the policy is no smaller than the print anywhere else.esure said:
If you decide not to use our recommended repairer then an additional excess of £200 will be applied.
This excess will be in addition to any other excesses shown on your policy schedule.
This excess will be in addition to any other excesses shown on your policy schedule.
People say small print when they mean normal print that they couldn't be arsed to read.
Which? did an article recently that takes less reading than most Ts & Cs.
http://conversation.which.co.uk/technology/length-...
They also tested Bank Ts & Cs and found that key information was missed by a panel of users checking the terms of 8 leading banks in almost half of the cases, hardly surprising when it took an average 1 hour 37 minutes to read the 29,000 words - and that doesn't include additional Ts & Cs for internet banking.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance...
By contrast, the US Constitution runs to 4,543 words including the signatures and takes about half an hour to read. The Declaration of Independence only has 1,458 words, with the signatures, and takes about ten minutes.
Edited by GoneAnon on Tuesday 4th December 20:51
Old Bugga said:
The "approved" repairers are 100% driven by cost. Your job will be pushed through as fast as possible with every possible corner cut to maximise the profit in the job.
They're not all bad. A few years back I had my Sierra Cosworth repaired by Lancaster's approved repairer, after it was vandalised . I was as dubious as you but they did an absolutely perfect job.Old Bugga said:
This new tactic is plain simple racketeering. These weasels are out to put the small independents, who trade on reputation and quality of workmanship out of the game. By forcing you to use their "approved" repairer they control the market. They will make a cut from you either via the lower prices they get from their approved buddies, or by charging you £200 for using a repairer that you trust.
Couple of things/different viewpoints to consider though. Most public people won't care anywhere near so much where the repair is done, just that the insurance pays out and gets the issues fixed. By allowing them to negotiate bulk discounts with certain suppliers/groups, this can help reduce the business outgoings, which in turn may help them reduce any premium increases.
Old Bugga said:
The "approved" repairers are 100% driven by cost. Your job will be pushed through as fast as possible with every possible corner cut to maximise the profit in the job.
OR... "Approved" repairers often rely on business through insurance, if they screw up lots of jobs, then they dont just lose those customers, they stand to lose the customers if the insurance removes their approval/business. All depends on who pays to rectify any complaints/issues I guess.Are you able to take the car to their approved place and get a quote, and do the same for your preferred guy, and offer to pay the difference?
Unfortunately as above, it's in the policy booklet, not even hidden away in some obscure smallprint so you're at their mercy. Pay their approved place a visit and see how they treat you/explain the work they'd be doing. Not all approved places are out to screw everyone over!!
I'm with esure and am currently in dispute (not with them) after some tw*t hit me while i was parked up and is now claiming against me. They offered their approved repairer and this meant that i would "lose" the car for 4-5 days , wheras my local repairer who i trust quoted me 1 days work to respray my bumper. If i go with the insurance repairer, i will need a hire car, adding more to te claim. No wonder premiums are going up!
They have never mentioned that there is an additioanl charge for this , perhaps i need to ask them!
I dont want to claim on my own insurance, only from the other t*sser but have no choice now as he has sent me a solicitors letter!
They have never mentioned that there is an additioanl charge for this , perhaps i need to ask them!
I dont want to claim on my own insurance, only from the other t*sser but have no choice now as he has sent me a solicitors letter!
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