Fighting a write off valuation
Discussion
E-bmw said:
Why would that make any difference?
I worked in a total loss division for quite a large company and there was no leaway at all - they'd never change their offer as they used Caps and Glasses guide which meant they abided by the FOS and would then argue the toss. No amount of adverts would ever change the valuation. If the op was with them I'd only suggest saving his energy, making an initial valuation dispute and then going to the FOS. the-norseman said:
OutInTheShed said:
Obscure model variants don't always add much value.
The issue is, I cant replace the car like for like for anywhere near what they have offered. None of them seem to have heated leather.You've insured your car in the general UK motor system, so it's just a 13 year old car in the eyes of the system.
Your heated leather doesn't change the fact that it's an old car which nobody was going to pay you lots of money for
A lot of cars can never be replaced exactly 'like for like' at anything near their 'market value'.
Something with 10k miles less on the clock might be equivalent market value to a car with a few extras.
'Market' value is a notional thing, which takes into account what you could sell it for, what someone in a free market would pay for it, it's not about the obscurity value of something irreplaceable.
The people I've known get fair payouts from insurance companies have presented very fair, well documented values to the insurer.
Find the nost similar cars you can, with few more miles and find what they've sold for. A few ebay 'completed listings' can be hard to argue with, but may not tell you what you want to hear. Look at cars in dealers and see what sells. It helps if you have time on your side, not a rush to settle.
Don't forget to claim very reasonable costs you've actually incurred, like time off work, a day or two hire car or the odd taxi journey.
ISTM that insurers usually start with a lazy low offer, but often give in, in the face of credible, well collated evidence.It costs them man-hours to argue it.
In the scheme of things, it's not a big claim, it's everyday clerical work to them.
There are lots of cars this age on Autotrader hanging around like Michael Gove.
These are euro 5? So a non- ULEZ city car? That alone challenges the market value?
I'm sure some people will ignore the fact that you're witholding a key piece of valuing information, i.e. the mileage, and tell you what you want to hear.
It's unlikely to do you any good.
the-norseman said:
OutInTheShed said:
Obscure model variants don't always add much value.
The issue is, I cant replace the car like for like for anywhere near what they have offered. None of them seem to have heated leather.All I can do is wish you luck, but at least they are sending someone to look at it!
Which is more than Admiral bothered to do after one of their policyholders hit the back of my 2005 BMW 330i last year.
They just relied on an estimate from one of their "suggested" bodyshops that had been padded up to just over £2K. Before they sent me a copy of it I found my car was a Cat N.
They offered me £2,055 and as much as I haggled I couldn't get more than £2,240 out of them, but I got to keep the car with minimal bumper damage for £497 so I gave up at that point. In any case I got back 50% of what I paid for it 4 years previously and still had a perfectly usable car. And even as a Cat N WBAC were offering £800 to £900 for it!
FWIW they also referred to Glass's Guide, but when my mate used to subscribe to Glass's and CAP neither ever had valuations for cars over 10 years old so I'm not sure how accurate that was!
Hope you can get a decent outcome.
Which is more than Admiral bothered to do after one of their policyholders hit the back of my 2005 BMW 330i last year.
They just relied on an estimate from one of their "suggested" bodyshops that had been padded up to just over £2K. Before they sent me a copy of it I found my car was a Cat N.
They offered me £2,055 and as much as I haggled I couldn't get more than £2,240 out of them, but I got to keep the car with minimal bumper damage for £497 so I gave up at that point. In any case I got back 50% of what I paid for it 4 years previously and still had a perfectly usable car. And even as a Cat N WBAC were offering £800 to £900 for it!
FWIW they also referred to Glass's Guide, but when my mate used to subscribe to Glass's and CAP neither ever had valuations for cars over 10 years old so I'm not sure how accurate that was!
Hope you can get a decent outcome.
Mr Tidy said:
Which is more than Admiral bothered to do after one of their policyholders hit the back of my 2005 BMW 330i last year.
Like I said, I fought Admiral from barely over £2.5K to £5380 in a 30 minute phone call with preparation.It can be done, but you need to be correct & accurate.
Edited by E-bmw on Wednesday 3rd April 22:40
ridds said:
Ask for the Assessors phone number and speak direct to them.
You will get a clear explanation from them and also be able put forward your views.
Has worked for me in the past.
Excellent idea will try that. You will get a clear explanation from them and also be able put forward your views.
Has worked for me in the past.
I think going in its favour is the green MOT pass every year as well.
Mr Tidy said:
All I can do is wish you luck, but at least they are sending someone to look at it!
Which is more than Admiral bothered to do after one of their policyholders hit the back of my 2005 BMW 330i last year.
They just relied on an estimate from one of their "suggested" bodyshops that had been padded up to just over £2K. Before they sent me a copy of it I found my car was a Cat N.
They offered me £2,055 and as much as I haggled I couldn't get more than £2,240 out of them, but I got to keep the car with minimal bumper damage for £497 so I gave up at that point. In any case I got back 50% of what I paid for it 4 years previously and still had a perfectly usable car. And even as a Cat N WBAC were offering £800 to £900 for it!
FWIW they also referred to Glass's Guide, but when my mate used to subscribe to Glass's and CAP neither ever had valuations for cars over 10 years old so I'm not sure how accurate that was!
Hope you can get a decent outcome.
Admirals caps and glasses go back 20 years or 200,000 miles. Which is more than Admiral bothered to do after one of their policyholders hit the back of my 2005 BMW 330i last year.
They just relied on an estimate from one of their "suggested" bodyshops that had been padded up to just over £2K. Before they sent me a copy of it I found my car was a Cat N.
They offered me £2,055 and as much as I haggled I couldn't get more than £2,240 out of them, but I got to keep the car with minimal bumper damage for £497 so I gave up at that point. In any case I got back 50% of what I paid for it 4 years previously and still had a perfectly usable car. And even as a Cat N WBAC were offering £800 to £900 for it!
FWIW they also referred to Glass's Guide, but when my mate used to subscribe to Glass's and CAP neither ever had valuations for cars over 10 years old so I'm not sure how accurate that was!
Hope you can get a decent outcome.
all repaired by myself with a £30 bumper in the same colour off ebay.A few of the parts were knackered, the two Brabus front wheels for example both were cracked, the passenger side seat belt holder had ripped out of the leather seat somehow not really sure why because nobody was sat in it. Plus to be honest I was only using the car as it was my dads and was a little sentimental over it, I wouldn't buy another one, even mapped to about 74ps they are still slow combined with a slow as hell semi-auto box.
They initally offered me 1800, think if I can get 2.5k for it I will probably settle, obviously hoping for 3k really.
They initally offered me 1800, think if I can get 2.5k for it I will probably settle, obviously hoping for 3k really.
E-bmw said:
Mr Tidy said:
Which is more than Admiral bothered to do after one of their policyholders hit the back of my 2005 BMW 330i last year.
Like I said, I fought Admiral from barely over £2.5K to £5380 in a 30 minute phone call with preparation.It can be done, but you need to be correct & accurate.
Edited by E-bmw on Wednesday 3rd April 22:40
My problem was finding similar cars advertised for comparison as manual 330is are fairly rare, and most are M-Sports whereas mine was an SE. According to Admiral that increased their value by at least 50%.
They just wouldn't budge and as I got to keep a perfectly good car and a decent amount of cash I gave up.
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