Insurance companies

[Peter]

Last week I had a very minor scrape with my car. Nothing much, just a bit of paint damage and a tiny dent near the rear wheel arch. reported it to the insurance company. All very good so far. They state their repairers will contact me to collect the car. All sorted. Car collected last Thursday. Collection driver suggested about 48 hours to completion. Inspection engineer works on site. He phoned Friday Lunchtime to say repairs authorised but one small part required for rear bumper. The repair company have a web site to allow you to check on the stage of repair. On Tuesday when I checked it showed as panel shop awaiting paint. estimated completion today 8th Feb. Web site not available yesterday or today so I ring up to check. Still waiting parts and completion date now 15th Feb. Two weeks to carry out out a repair that any competant back street paint shop could do in less than 3 days. What planet are these people on. The person in the office says completion date has only ever been the 15th but even poor as my eyesight is, I can tell the difference between '8' and '15'

[RobStubbs]

I always get a courtesy car (I say always, only had the one prang) - in which case it doesn't really matter how long it takes, as long as it's done properly.

 

Rob.

[Peter]

There was the offer of a small courtesy car but because I had promised a friend that I would take him and his family to the airport I opted for a larger car which I had to pay for. That was fair enough but at the beginning of this week I let them take it back as I have access to other vehicles and did not need to be paying per day for the larger vehicle. It just seems rather an excessive time for the amount of work. Like you, I am not used to handing my vehicle to an insurance company.

[Chris Goddard]

Peter, if you are the THIRD party you are ENTITLED to the hire of a car to replace yours. END OF STORY!!

Hope you kept your receipts?? You will simply claim it back from the other party. If you caused the accident SHAME ON YOU

[Peter]

Peter, if you are the THIRD party you are ENTITLED to the hire of a car to replace yours. END OF STORY!!

Hope you kept your receipts?? You will simply claim it back from the other party. If you caused the accident SHAME ON YOU

 

Hi Chris, I don't think I am totally blameless. It was one of those 'three lanes into two at walking pace'. I was in the middle lane. almost made it in but a small lorry in the outside lane disputed posession of that bit of road. Sufficient to say to say all my damage was behind my rear wheel and his was front nearside step.

[kleinboet]

I wish my problems were as minor as yours.

I have a Mercedes Benz Vito WAV (wheelchair access vehicle). on the 28th November last year, I stopped at a traffic light and the lad in the car behind me didn't.

He admitted liability and informed his insurers (Provident) who passed the claim to a firm specialising in settling no fault insurance claims. I phoned them and explained that they may have trouble finding a courtesy car, but was reassured that there would be no trouble. They said the loan car would be delivered at nine am on a date in December and my vehicle would be taken in for repairs at ten thirty the same day.

They arrived to take my vehicle and I phoned to find out where the courtesy vehicle was, to be told they were "having problems" with sourcing a vehicle. I told them that I would not release my vehicle until the courtesy vehicle was here. I was getting 3-5 calls a day asking me what I needed in a vehicle, could I use me ramps in a van (when I asked how I anchor the chair, they said PUT THE BRAKES ON!!!

Towards the end of January of this year, I eventually phoned them and told them to give the claim back to the insurers as they were not man enough for the job.

The did and the insurers got me a courtesy vehicle the next day and my vehicle was taken away to have a new rear door (panel?), new bumper and new rear floor panel.

I also told them that since the vehicle was hit, the drivers side electric window, the screen washers and the drivers side of the demister were not working and the air cleaner was rattling.

I have seen the engineer's report which decribes my vehicle as "tatty and the impact was slight, the damage being caused mainly by rust", and also stated the non working of the items stated in the front of the vehicle will not be repaired as they were NOT caused by the accident impact!!

I am still waiting for my car back, as when I do the AA are standing by to examine my "tatty" vehicle as I intend to sue.

Edited February 8, 2007 by kleinboet

[Peter]

Its a pity insurance companies aren't as swift at providing the services we are paying for as they are at taking the premiums. Last April I contacted the insurers who cover our house contents as I have some items on an all risks policy and I wished to amend the items covered. The renewal was due in June. about 4 weeks ago, (approx 8 months after contacting them) I received 2 letters from them. The first letter listed the new items on the policy from April to June 2006. The second letter listed the same items but from June 2006 to June 2007 and said I would be receiving a refund of about 75pence in a few days time. I don't know how long I will have to wait for that.