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urgent advice please - wife just had a crash
- Thread starter Saltlick
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Saltlick
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Exactly what I said, but she didn't get the concept of they hand you cash to your vehicles value, so you give them the car. She disagrees :doh:
And yes, everything declared I think...
And yes, everything declared I think...
Maybe your wife would be happier about the write off/ buy back scenario if would work on your favour financially?
Have you any idea how much the repairs would be? Might work out in your favour to buy the 'scrap' back if they write it off. Insurers wrote off my old 90 when it was stolen and recovered because they said it needed a new door where they had used a screwdriver on it... The door was fine the paint was just chipped. The insurance paid out roughly 4k, I bought it back for £700 and the total cost of repairs was about £100.
Have you any idea how much the repairs would be? Might work out in your favour to buy the 'scrap' back if they write it off. Insurers wrote off my old 90 when it was stolen and recovered because they said it needed a new door where they had used a screwdriver on it... The door was fine the paint was just chipped. The insurance paid out roughly 4k, I bought it back for £700 and the total cost of repairs was about £100.
Saltlick
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That's exactly what I explained to her, especially as I would want to do the repairs myself, but she still couldn't see why they would own our car and we should have to buy it back. I kinda see her point, but at the same time, it is annoying that she doesn't get it.
Forget arguing with your misses, it will get you no where and just generate ill feeling. We had something similar happen to our RRC. You need to determine the value of the Discovery just before the crash. Look in magazines and on the internet at what you would have to pay for a similar replacement. This is the figure you should expect from the insurers, plus your expenses. Keep this information, you may need it if you have to go to court.
You also need to determine exactly what damage has been done. If the chassis and bulkhead have been damaged or moved I would think it is beyond repair unless you have free access to a fully equipped body shop. If it is just front wings and front panel grill etc, the likes of Easy On sell panels that bolt on with little welding, and second hand outer wings are not too difficult to find. You may have to pay some one to paint it though. This will give the cost to you of the repairs, provided you can do the work yourself as it is labour costs that write off many vehicles. If it is less than the write off figure all well and good, if not are you prepared to pay the difference?
When I had reached this stage I agreed a figure with the insurance on the basis that the vehicle would remain mine, and they would be responsible only for costs up to the agreed write off figure. I was responsible for any thing above that. This they agreed, and it avoided the vehicle being classed as a write off. In fact the repairs came in at slightly less than the agreed figure and so all were happy. The vehicle is yours until you agree otherwise. Most people are happy to let the insurers have a written off vehicle because it is no use to them, and so the insurers have come to expect it. If they find you know what you want and are reasonable they may well be ready to do a deal to get settlement. They are only trying to save them selves money and you can not blame them for trying that. And as has already been mentioned your claim is against the other driver, and you only deal with his insurer as a courtesy. His age has nothing to do with it. Please let us know how you get on, and good luck.
You also need to determine exactly what damage has been done. If the chassis and bulkhead have been damaged or moved I would think it is beyond repair unless you have free access to a fully equipped body shop. If it is just front wings and front panel grill etc, the likes of Easy On sell panels that bolt on with little welding, and second hand outer wings are not too difficult to find. You may have to pay some one to paint it though. This will give the cost to you of the repairs, provided you can do the work yourself as it is labour costs that write off many vehicles. If it is less than the write off figure all well and good, if not are you prepared to pay the difference?
When I had reached this stage I agreed a figure with the insurance on the basis that the vehicle would remain mine, and they would be responsible only for costs up to the agreed write off figure. I was responsible for any thing above that. This they agreed, and it avoided the vehicle being classed as a write off. In fact the repairs came in at slightly less than the agreed figure and so all were happy. The vehicle is yours until you agree otherwise. Most people are happy to let the insurers have a written off vehicle because it is no use to them, and so the insurers have come to expect it. If they find you know what you want and are reasonable they may well be ready to do a deal to get settlement. They are only trying to save them selves money and you can not blame them for trying that. And as has already been mentioned your claim is against the other driver, and you only deal with his insurer as a courtesy. His age has nothing to do with it. Please let us know how you get on, and good luck.
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Are we now to discuss what it means by 'no nett loss' ?
Position of "equity"
Saltlick
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Sterling advice there everyone - thank you! And thanks for the kind words Rosie
Saltlick
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Well just had the assessor round, and he first made an offer of £1700, then £1900 to repair, without writing it off. My choice of where to repair or or DIY it, but that would be a final settlement, all done and dusted.
I thought that was pretty good, though I've yet to get it up on ramps and take some measurements off the chassis and make sure it's not twisted to buggery - that could be expensive if it is I guess..
I expect they would take the discourtesy car back as soon as a payment was made though, so not quite sure what I can do about transport in the interim.. Will have a think about that!
I thought that was pretty good, though I've yet to get it up on ramps and take some measurements off the chassis and make sure it's not twisted to buggery - that could be expensive if it is I guess..
I expect they would take the discourtesy car back as soon as a payment was made though, so not quite sure what I can do about transport in the interim.. Will have a think about that!
Thor1950
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so what will you drive while making repairs? Surly a repair service can fit it quicker than you and do a better job. as you indicated front steering /suspension Damage. Seems like it may need a check on a frame machine to make sure the frame is not bent also.
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ah good. just some insurers have smallprint that you need to declare to them even if a non fault
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i think you need to go and ask a garage or two you like for a quote. then make them pay at least that.
they can't lowball you incase you want to diy.
however, in reality... if you got 1900 and the disco. you could break the disco and end up with 2 - 2500 and buy another?
Saltlick
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I've already got two discos!! and a real mini - all three currently off the road
Would they deduct VAT from the figure though?
Would they deduct VAT from the figure though?
ShaunPDisco
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I've already got two discos!! and a real mini - all three currently off the road
Would they deduct VAT from the figure though?
No vat to deduct!!
DIFFLOCK66
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Last week I got a settlement figure for my written off D2 as she's "uneconomical to repair". However, seeing as it's just both nearside doors which are dented she's still roadworthy & indeed driveable. In her dented state she achieved a current MOT.
During the entire process after the accident I did not need to have the Disco taken away for inspection - an approved repairer (from Claimfast, as authorised by my brokers, the AA) came out and took photos & arrived at the uneconomical to repair estimate. Third party admitted liability, his insurers supplied me with the cheque.
During the entire process after the accident I did not need to have the Disco taken away for inspection - an approved repairer (from Claimfast, as authorised by my brokers, the AA) came out and took photos & arrived at the uneconomical to repair estimate. Third party admitted liability, his insurers supplied me with the cheque.
Saltlick
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I've just had a bit of an exchange with a couple of people from Churchill over the phone. Up until now they've been very helpful, and I've been actually quite happy with the efforts that they've gone to to minimise my inconvenience so far. That's just ended.
I was expecting some pain when this all kicked off, after all: Insurance claims = Pain.
So after the engineer came out and offered the settlement for repairs, I called winston (on Saturday) to see how long I'd have the hired tratter for, after they paid up. The bloke I spoke to was really helpful and said that we should expect to keep the hire car for as long as ours was off the road - we just get it collected when ours was repaired. I did explain that it would probably take about a week (giving myself some room to get the job done properly). I then went on to explain that a cheque was no good to me, as it could take 5-9 working days to reach me (their time estimate, not mine) then another week to clear, and I couldn't order any parts or start work until I had the money in my hand. So we arranged for a bacs payment to be made and he would confirm this by phone today.
Oh, and I also had a letter from winston to the effect that I had the hire car for as long as I needed.
Being the mildly impatient sod that I am, and after receiving a text from winston this morning to say a cheque was on its way, I decided to call them.
I spoke to a bloke called Mohammed who was as unhelpful as they come - he told me that Mr Saturday was talking a load of balls: The cheque was on its way (which would take 3 days to cancel) and if I wanted BACs payment, that could only be made after the cheque was cancelled and that would also take up to 3 days.
He also told me that as soon as the cheque arrived, the claim was settled and the hire car would be withdrawn.
Anyway, I wasn't happy with that, so called back five minutes after and spoke to someone slightly more helpful, who stated the hire care would be with me 3-5 days after payment.
Obviously the two I spoke to this morning are unhappy with Mr Saturdays advice, so he's just called up to apologise for misleading me with incorrect information (oh FFS... really?) and has tried but failed to get those upstairs to issue a bacs payment today in the knowledge that the cheque will not be presented. So....
Mr Saturday is now making sure that the other two I spoke to this morning don't cancel the cheque, as that could now take up to 5 working days to stop, then another 3-5 for a new BACs payment, and I'll bank the cheque ASAP after it arrives - hopefully this week.
He's also acknowledged that this has all been a bit of a cock up so is raising a complaint (against himself and the other team presumably?!) with the customer crevices department which should mean (yeah right) that the discourtesy car hire will be extended for a week on top of what I'd normally get, by way of compensation. Hmm...
So in the space of a single morning, the surprisingly acceptable insurance claim experience has turned into the pain in the balls that I was expecting it to be in the first place!
:doh:
Fortunately it's payday for me on thursday, so I can at least order some parts before any more fuquppery happens
Sorry for the rant chaps!
I was expecting some pain when this all kicked off, after all: Insurance claims = Pain.
So after the engineer came out and offered the settlement for repairs, I called winston (on Saturday) to see how long I'd have the hired tratter for, after they paid up. The bloke I spoke to was really helpful and said that we should expect to keep the hire car for as long as ours was off the road - we just get it collected when ours was repaired. I did explain that it would probably take about a week (giving myself some room to get the job done properly). I then went on to explain that a cheque was no good to me, as it could take 5-9 working days to reach me (their time estimate, not mine) then another week to clear, and I couldn't order any parts or start work until I had the money in my hand. So we arranged for a bacs payment to be made and he would confirm this by phone today.
Oh, and I also had a letter from winston to the effect that I had the hire car for as long as I needed.
Being the mildly impatient sod that I am, and after receiving a text from winston this morning to say a cheque was on its way, I decided to call them.
I spoke to a bloke called Mohammed who was as unhelpful as they come - he told me that Mr Saturday was talking a load of balls: The cheque was on its way (which would take 3 days to cancel) and if I wanted BACs payment, that could only be made after the cheque was cancelled and that would also take up to 3 days.
He also told me that as soon as the cheque arrived, the claim was settled and the hire car would be withdrawn.
Anyway, I wasn't happy with that, so called back five minutes after and spoke to someone slightly more helpful, who stated the hire care would be with me 3-5 days after payment.
Obviously the two I spoke to this morning are unhappy with Mr Saturdays advice, so he's just called up to apologise for misleading me with incorrect information (oh FFS... really?) and has tried but failed to get those upstairs to issue a bacs payment today in the knowledge that the cheque will not be presented. So....
Mr Saturday is now making sure that the other two I spoke to this morning don't cancel the cheque, as that could now take up to 5 working days to stop, then another 3-5 for a new BACs payment, and I'll bank the cheque ASAP after it arrives - hopefully this week.
He's also acknowledged that this has all been a bit of a cock up so is raising a complaint (against himself and the other team presumably?!) with the customer crevices department which should mean (yeah right
) that the discourtesy car hire will be extended for a week on top of what I'd normally get, by way of compensation. Hmm...So in the space of a single morning, the surprisingly acceptable insurance claim experience has turned into the pain in the balls that I was expecting it to be in the first place!
:doh:
Fortunately it's payday for me on thursday, so I can at least order some parts before any more fuquppery happens
Sorry for the rant chaps!
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DIFFLOCK66
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Don't be sorry! Rant away if it helps!
Saltlick
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Got a letter from Churchill today (dated 21/May!! ) to say that the car is damaged beyond economical repair and is valued at 1900, and the salvage is to become the property of churchills, and they have notified the DVLA that my Landy "has been dealt with as a total loss".
What. the. ####?
That is totally different to what I've been told, and the engineer even said that we could avoid the car being written off and then I could repair it with lots less hassle.
Better still is that the hire car is to be revoked on Tuesday and I've not been able to do anything because the cheque hasn't arrived yet. I had expected to buy a shed load of bits (and I have) today as it's payday for me, but because it's almost the weekend, I can't get much of it delivered until Monday/Tuesday and then I'll be away with work on Thursday/Friday, so if I don't get the disco repaired, the missus will have no transport for her and the kids either...
That's assuming it's not actually written off.
Aaaaaaaaaaargh! Why do they have to be such obstinate, bureaucratic, awkward jobsworth twunts?
And how does this turn from driving along safely and minding our own business, to having to fight with insurance companies for the almighty ####ing privilege of "going back to the way things were" and having to deal with loads of stress?
What can I do to these ****ers to cause them as much grief as they're causing me?
) to say that the car is damaged beyond economical repair and is valued at 1900, and the salvage is to become the property of churchills, and they have notified the DVLA that my Landy "has been dealt with as a total loss". What. the. ####?
That is totally different to what I've been told, and the engineer even said that we could avoid the car being written off and then I could repair it with lots less hassle.
Better still is that the hire car is to be revoked on Tuesday and I've not been able to do anything because the cheque hasn't arrived yet. I had expected to buy a shed load of bits (and I have) today as it's payday for me, but because it's almost the weekend, I can't get much of it delivered until Monday/Tuesday and then I'll be away with work on Thursday/Friday, so if I don't get the disco repaired, the missus will have no transport for her and the kids either...
That's assuming it's not actually written off.
Aaaaaaaaaaargh! Why do they have to be such obstinate, bureaucratic, awkward jobsworth twunts?
And how does this turn from driving along safely and minding our own business, to having to fight with insurance companies for the almighty ####ing privilege of "going back to the way things were" and having to deal with loads of stress?
What can I do to these ****ers to cause them as much grief as they're causing me?
