Hello,

Crashed our car back in July 2007 and the insurance advised us a couple of weeks later it would be a write-off. However they were not in a position to offer payout because of an outstanding "police report". This didnt exist as the police didnt attend. The 3rd party had reported it however, so there was a police reference number in existance.

After chasing them, the police etc etc they finally admitted at the start of March that there was no police report and they would now be processing the claim.

During all the time we have been paying finance (

 

All I can say is, if it all goes wrong and they dont play ball, go to financial ombudsmen(threaten them with it first) they WILL jump

 

Moff might be able to help with the pricing at the time type details - you might want to PM him IIRC

 

Should be mnarket value at time of the incident, unless your policy says different (I would doubt it though - loss is suffered at the time, not now).

Re values, I don't know how you would get a value last year, unless you could find an old price guide - try a specific post on here, you never know who might have one lying around.

Adverts are the best source for trying to back up a market value - the day after my bike accident I was busy printing off ads from the internet.

I don't think it would be unreasonable to use a current used car price guide to assess the monthly movement and then work back the way from a current market price.

 

Thanks

Any thoughts on the paid finance during their delays? Just lost?

 

I seem to remember from my crash the police are allowed to take 3 months to produce a report, probably something to do with why my car still isnt in my possesion after being smashed from behind in January! Im meant to get it back tomorrow, but the bodyshop have gone quiet again and I dont reckon itll happen. Nearly 3 months to fix a car??????

 

The finance is no concern of the insurance company in theory, unless the GAP cover is wrapped up in it I would have thought.

I think it is just lost.


5ive-o.org has an insurance section and some of the folk on there work for insurance companies and are usually quite helpful - they may be able to advise on what the usual form is in these situations.

 

Sounds like they're trying it on here, surely the settlement should be date of accident, that way any money paid to finance would lower the payment to them and you should have the difference in hand. Ombudsman seems the way ahead.
Dealers who still use Glasses guide papaer style usually keep them a year back to enable writedowns for accounting, so someone should be able to help, even your local dealer, especially if he thinks you'll visit for a replacement.

 

I imagine that this will come down to whether the delay on payout was reasonable or not

The insurance company will say it was

You'll disagree

Therefore, unless you can negotiate a deal with them, the Ombudsman will decide

First though, you need a letter from the insurance company stating that you have exhausted their appeals procedure

The Ombudsman will not look at your case until this has happened

 

who owns the car.. you or the finance company?

if it is the finance company, I would have stopped making payments as soon as it was declared a scrapper