Options for forcing write off with Insurance Company

Options for forcing write off with Insurance Company

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surveyor_101

5,069 posts

178 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
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tankplanker said:
Quick update, had seperate calls with the insurance company, VW, and the body shop. The short version is that VW will not warranty the drive train for six months but will offer full warranty after this period, I will have this in writing. I guess they are concerned there might be something wrong they missed. The insurance company is prepared to offer an all encompassing warranty for that six months and that they will fix *anything* wrong with the drive train that VW will not, this I am also getting in writing.

I am a bit annoyed that the insurance company tried to fob me off with the warranty coverage for the drive train and that I had to fight to get even this halfway house. I need to speak to VW Finance to understand how this effects the GFV/handing the car back, that is my job this afternoon.

Regarding the respray, I have agreed that an independent paint specialist will be reviewing the quality of the respray. This I am going to keep a close eye on as the car is lapiz blue and thus it will be very obvious if the paint doesn't match or is of poor quality.

Car has gone off to get the body work/paint done while we wait for the parts from VW to replace the sat nav and interior trim pieces.
If you intend to off load the car onto VW Finance in September why all the heart ache?

Its on PCP and you never wanted to owN it.


One of the reasons I handed the Golf GTD back for A6. Hot hatches etc seem to attract the most unpleasant of criminals, found some guy in fishponds being very shifty by it and then I decided I didn't want to keep or get the estate as I had planned >


this poor guy died for S3!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/23/murder-...

tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
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I wanted shot of the Golf this September but the decrease in its value due to the insurance claim means that is impractical unless I add a significant amount of cash. I'm looking at reaching the 50% mark September next year, so I can just hand it back to VW at that point, but that means more than 12 months of risk around the car.

As it is looking likely that I will be stuck with the car I do not want it breaking down and having to make a warranty claim, and if I do have to make a warranty claim I want it as painless as possible. I also want the car in as good as condition as possible so VW Finance have no grounds to reject/impose penalties on the car when I hand it back, hence the focus on the respray.

surveyor_101

5,069 posts

178 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
tankplanker said:
I wanted shot of the Golf this September but the decrease in its value due to the insurance claim means that is impractical unless I add a significant amount of cash. I'm looking at reaching the 50% mark September next year, so I can just hand it back to VW at that point, but that means more than 12 months of risk around the car.

As it is looking likely that I will be stuck with the car I do not want it breaking down and having to make a warranty claim, and if I do have to make a warranty claim I want it as painless as possible. I also want the car in as good as condition as possible so VW Finance have no grounds to reject/impose penalties on the car when I hand it back, hence the focus on the respray.
Would you have another hot hatch performance model like this?

tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
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surveyor_101 said:
Would you have another hot hatch performance model like this?
Before the Golf was stolen I had decided to replace it with an Evora 410, but switched to the Exige 380 as I preferred the feedback via the steering wheel on the Exige. I really didn't want another hatchback as I like to have something different each time. I do love hot hatches so I would have probably had another in a car or two's time.

When it was first stolen I really didn't want any performance car regardless of type.

Now I've decided fk it, and will get another performance car. It will likely be the Exige but as it is so far away now something better could come along before then, likely another Exige special edition. hehe

I still think that for the money the Golf R is the best compromise hot hatch if you need it as a daily, although I would pick something else if I was tracking it regularly, probably the Megane.

surveyor_101

5,069 posts

178 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
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tankplanker said:
efore the Golf was stolen I had decided to replace it with an Evora 410, but switched to the Exige 380 as I preferred the feedback via the steering wheel on the Exige. I really didn't want another hatchback as I like to have something different each time. I do love hot hatches so I would have probably had another in a car or two's time.

When it was first stolen I really didn't want any performance car regardless of type.

Now I've decided fk it, and will get another performance car. It will likely be the Exige but as it is so far away now something better could come along before then, likely another Exige special edition. hehe

I still think that for the money the Golf R is the best compromise hot hatch if you need it as a daily, although I would pick something else if I was tracking it regularly, probably the Megane.
Fair enough does seem audi, vw and ford hot hatches are at risk for being stolen.

Did they get the keys? Or is OBD port mash and grab job?

Can't see how you can go from a golf to a megane. Every time I drive french I just shudder at the quality of the build.

tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
Fair enough does seem audi, vw and ford hot hatches are at risk for being stolen.

Did they get the keys? Or is OBD port mash and grab job?

Can't see how you can go from a golf to a megane. Every time I drive french I just shudder at the quality of the build.
They broke into the house to steal the keys during the night. They then took the car to one location, stripped it down to look for a tracker, removed my piston heads sticker and swapped the plates for some that they had cloned. Then they drove round in the Golf for a few days before being caught trying to steal another group of cars. The gang stole 8 cars the same night, kept three of them and shipped the others off somewhere. I think the Police said there was 12 of them in the gang?

The Golf has a much better fit and finish but it lacks steering feedback and would need better brakes/suspension for me to cut it on a track. One of the more track focused limited edition Meganes would be much better on a track. I can't stand a lack of steering feedback when driving on the track.

Kompressor89

84 posts

108 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
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I can't recall if you've already mentioned this, but are you having the entire car resprayed at the bodyshop?

From experience lapis blue is a hard colour to match/blend in the odd panel.

tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
quotequote all
They are respraying everything but the roof as I had similar concerns due to my paint choice and there are a number of scratches caused by the theft on most panels. I am getting the respray inspected by an expert before I accept the car back as well and I have made it very clear to the insurance company that I am not accepting anything less than perfect for this.

Insurance company finally sent over the written details of their warranty, has a nice little disclaimer that they will only cover anything on the drive train if proven to be caused by the theft. Obviously that has more holes in it than a string vest and I had complained several times before they sent over the written details that such a clause is unacceptable as it effectively covers nothing as it will be next to impossible to prove when the abuse that caused something to break in the drive train. This would leave me trusting on good will fixes from the insurance company (as VW won't cover for 6 months), not something I am prepared to do when the cost of repair is measured in thousands.

GTEYE

2,092 posts

209 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
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Terrible situation OP, I really feel for you.

As its on a PCP, why not let them repair it to what they consider the appropriate standard, have it inspected carefully on return, and don't accept it back until you're happy.

If there are any subsequent problems, bear in mind the repair has to carry a guarantee, but this should go beyond the point that you wanted to keep it, then send it back.

tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
quotequote all
Handing the car back once I hit 50% of the finance payments is my preferred option right now. VW have told me I will reach that point by July 2018, which is a few months earlier than I expected so I should only have 12 months at most to worry about the car breaking.

I'm still waiting on an official written statement from VW Finance that the loss of warranty for 6 months will not impact me returning the car at that point if the repairs are to a satisfactory standard. I have had verbal confirmation but that needs to be turned into a written statement.

tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Monday 10th July 2017
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Quick update on this, the insurance company are now looking to write off the car as it seems my constant badgering has paid off. Hopefully I should have an offer in the next day or so.

Lesson of this is be a big a pain as possible to the insurance company.

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Monday 10th July 2017
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Im surprised VW not honouring their warranty if the car is repaired at a dealer bodyshop.

tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
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Body work was being repaired at a 3rd party, but that isn't the issue. As I mentioned previously, it is the damage to the drive train that VW will not honour the warranty over, even after VW replace the clutch. This is due to the slew of warning messages and burnt out clutch.

TimmyMallett

2,811 posts

111 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
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Haven't read the entire thread so apologies if discussed already but I'd suggest raising a formal complaint (they have to register this and record it and respond in a given time frame) and in parallel lodge a complaint with the insurance ombudsman.

PorkInsider

5,877 posts

140 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
tankplanker said:
Quick update on this, the insurance company are now looking to write off the car as it seems my constant badgering has paid off. Hopefully I should have an offer in the next day or so.

Lesson of this is be a big a pain as possible to the insurance company.
Good news. Fingers crossed that it's a fair and reasonable offer.

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
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Can't think of a worse situation. Hope you get a decent offer. It should be new for old, such that you could buy a new one. 29k?

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
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Burwood said:
Can't think of a worse situation. Hope you get a decent offer. It should be new for old, such that you could buy a new one. 29k?
Do you have GAP cover?


tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
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Nope, wish I did as I'd be sitting on a huge deposit for my next car.

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
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tankplanker said:
Nope, wish I did as I'd be sitting on a huge deposit for my next car.
That sucks, would have made the whole process far easier as they'll negotiate with the insurer and then top you up the remainder!

tankplanker

Original Poster:

2,479 posts

278 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
For the total amount I get back from a write off yes, however the insurance company are only offering the write off because they are selling the car as is without an insurance marker that the car has been written off, and thus worth more. The GAP insurance company would insist on the car having a marker applied, which would have lowered the resale value of the (broken) car, thus made a marginal deal not worth pursuing for the insurance company who would have then stuck with repairing the car. This is what I was told by the complaint's department who are dealing with my claim.