Options for forcing write off with Insurance Company
Discussion
As I've talked about elsewhere my (12 month old) Golf R was stolen from my drive on the 1st April. The Police recovered the car four days later and arrested the people in the car in the process of trying to steal other cars. As the Golf had been serviced a few days earlier by VW I have proof that the thieves drove at least 400 miles in that 4 day period, in which the car picked up the following damage:
Engine over rev warning - VW state the engine has been constantly driven on the red line and their warranty is currently void on the car because of this
Clutch fried, likely flywheel and possibly the gearbox/diffs wrecked as well
Internal water leak in the engine requiring a rebuild - I'm pushing for a replacement engine
Damage to front wing including a cut in the wing
Broken front wheel on same side as the broken wing
A number of deep scratches all over the vehicle - I am pushing for a full respray here as they are everywhere and coupled with the wing it'll stand out with a blow over/fill in
Interior trim including glovebox broken/ripped out while the thieves looked for the tracker
Obviously I have pushed the Insurance company hard already to write the car off as a nearly new car without manufacturer warranty will be worth considerably less than it should be and I'm opening myself up to potential big bills in the future. The Insurance company refuses to write the car off as the Golf will always be worth more than the cost of the repairs. I've had to push very hard to get and keep VW involved, originally the insurance company told the body shop (they are not mechanics let alone VW specialists) to drive the Golf to assess the state of the drive train.
Now the icing on the cake, last night I was called by the Police, apparently while the car was at the garage it (and 6 other cars) were broken into and Sat Navs stolen. So now there is a downstream insurance claim/work to do on the Golf, when I already have been waiting 63 days (I chase every 3 days so far) since the car has been recovered and it is going backwards not forwards in terms of repair.
What are my options here? I am just sick to the back teeth with this and want shot of the car ASAP.
Engine over rev warning - VW state the engine has been constantly driven on the red line and their warranty is currently void on the car because of this
Clutch fried, likely flywheel and possibly the gearbox/diffs wrecked as well
Internal water leak in the engine requiring a rebuild - I'm pushing for a replacement engine
Damage to front wing including a cut in the wing
Broken front wheel on same side as the broken wing
A number of deep scratches all over the vehicle - I am pushing for a full respray here as they are everywhere and coupled with the wing it'll stand out with a blow over/fill in
Interior trim including glovebox broken/ripped out while the thieves looked for the tracker
Obviously I have pushed the Insurance company hard already to write the car off as a nearly new car without manufacturer warranty will be worth considerably less than it should be and I'm opening myself up to potential big bills in the future. The Insurance company refuses to write the car off as the Golf will always be worth more than the cost of the repairs. I've had to push very hard to get and keep VW involved, originally the insurance company told the body shop (they are not mechanics let alone VW specialists) to drive the Golf to assess the state of the drive train.
Now the icing on the cake, last night I was called by the Police, apparently while the car was at the garage it (and 6 other cars) were broken into and Sat Navs stolen. So now there is a downstream insurance claim/work to do on the Golf, when I already have been waiting 63 days (I chase every 3 days so far) since the car has been recovered and it is going backwards not forwards in terms of repair.
What are my options here? I am just sick to the back teeth with this and want shot of the car ASAP.
mgv8 said:
Do you have legal cover with your insurance? Depending on cover, this can be used to fight your case with the insurance. We have done this with the AA who wanted to re-body a car that there own advice line advanced us not to touch.
I have legal cover, how do I set their legal department on themselves?Damn, I used to have general legal cover with my old bank but my new bank doesn't offer it as part of my banking account. I'll need to dig out the home insurance and see if it is covered, I don't think it is.
Just been speaking to their complaints department (again), they reiterated that they would issue a 3rd party warranty if VW wouldn't, they then said that if VW refused to cover a fault that this would then fix the fault if it was proven to be due to the claim on the insurance, he didn't seem to understand why I doubted this would be workable with the wide range of future faults I could experience across the drive train.
Just been speaking to their complaints department (again), they reiterated that they would issue a 3rd party warranty if VW wouldn't, they then said that if VW refused to cover a fault that this would then fix the fault if it was proven to be due to the claim on the insurance, he didn't seem to understand why I doubted this would be workable with the wide range of future faults I could experience across the drive train.
I want to get rid of the car ASAP but I would be morally bound (regardless of legal requirements) on a personal level to tell any private purchaser of the car's history. From my initial investigation on this I would be taking a significant loss over the car if I did that, and the likes of webuyanycar are worse for valuation on the Golf. I could be stuck with the damn thing till the end of the agreement then get rid back to VW Finance.
I was only a day or two away from having a settlement from the insurer before the car was found, which would have been perfect as I was replacing the car this September.
The insurer will only replace parts that VW tell them need replacing. However I have told them I will not accept the vehicle back without manufacturer warranty on the whole drive train, in writing stating that it has been assessed as ok. So either VW take the risk or they force the insurer to replace.
The insurer has agreed that the entire car minus the roof needs respraying. I've made it clear that a blow over/fill in isn't going to be acceptable and I will be paying for an independent assessment of the paint before I accept it back.
I was only a day or two away from having a settlement from the insurer before the car was found, which would have been perfect as I was replacing the car this September.
The insurer will only replace parts that VW tell them need replacing. However I have told them I will not accept the vehicle back without manufacturer warranty on the whole drive train, in writing stating that it has been assessed as ok. So either VW take the risk or they force the insurer to replace.
The insurer has agreed that the entire car minus the roof needs respraying. I've made it clear that a blow over/fill in isn't going to be acceptable and I will be paying for an independent assessment of the paint before I accept it back.
The glovebox hinges are broken where they join the glovebox lid, the actual hinge is still in place in the dash itself. The lid is beyond repair as the hinges are part of the lid, but I think the bit that holds the hinges is fine. Lots of interior trim pieces and wiring has been pulled out, so likely bits and pieces will need replacing. I think the rear parcel shelf and covers in the boot are missing as well?
They reckon that the suspension has been checked, I am not so sure it has had anything more than a once over. This is on my list to get independently checked before handover.
They reckon that the suspension has been checked, I am not so sure it has had anything more than a once over. This is on my list to get independently checked before handover.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
I'm reasonably comfortable that I can just dump the car on VW Finance when I hit the 50% mark, which should be mid to late next year if my Maths is right, I didn't want to do that as I would have had some equity in the car and handing it back writes that off, and I'm stuck with the car till that point when I really do not trust the car on any level now.
I hadn't bothered the hire car from the Insurance firm as it was only a basic level Golf they were offering, as I have another three cars I can use I couldn't see myself using it and it would just get in the way on the drive. I only had the hire car option on my policy in case I am on holiday and need a replacement there and then. I realise this is a mistake now and I'm pushing for a more expensive hire car replacement. Can I charge them back for using one of my other cars as I didn't take the hire car?
I'm reasonably comfortable that I can just dump the car on VW Finance when I hit the 50% mark, which should be mid to late next year if my Maths is right, I didn't want to do that as I would have had some equity in the car and handing it back writes that off, and I'm stuck with the car till that point when I really do not trust the car on any level now.
I hadn't bothered the hire car from the Insurance firm as it was only a basic level Golf they were offering, as I have another three cars I can use I couldn't see myself using it and it would just get in the way on the drive. I only had the hire car option on my policy in case I am on holiday and need a replacement there and then. I realise this is a mistake now and I'm pushing for a more expensive hire car replacement. Can I charge them back for using one of my other cars as I didn't take the hire car?
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.
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.
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.
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 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 f
k 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. 
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 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?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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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