Write of
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Write of
Well, it didnt take me long! My car has officially sadly been written of. It took a serious wollop to the whole front end and the two chassis arms(?) that stretch to the tip of the car are both bent of to an angle.
Heres where i thought i would try get some advise from you guys.
The insurance company took six weeks to determine if it was a write of, which surely could have been done in one.
The engineer then calls me and tells me its only written of if i agree to a value of the car with him. He then tells me its worth about 11.5k (it was a lovely 02 with only 24k on the clock, i paid 13.5k) i argue this and we end up peaking at 12800. Any more than this he says he will have to instruct them to make repairs.
Now, by his own admission he said if it was his car he would not want it back, which having looked at it, i dont.
So, ultimately i have been forced to accept an offer i think is a tad low or take a car that there own engineer has declared something he wouldnt want to have back.
All this time obviously i have been forking out insurance but having no car.
I tell the insurance company this a poor show and after my excess is taken out im not coming out of this to well etc etc. They tell me all i can do is accept the offer and put any issues i have in writing as a separate complaint.
Any advise??
Heres where i thought i would try get some advise from you guys.
The insurance company took six weeks to determine if it was a write of, which surely could have been done in one.
The engineer then calls me and tells me its only written of if i agree to a value of the car with him. He then tells me its worth about 11.5k (it was a lovely 02 with only 24k on the clock, i paid 13.5k) i argue this and we end up peaking at 12800. Any more than this he says he will have to instruct them to make repairs.
Now, by his own admission he said if it was his car he would not want it back, which having looked at it, i dont.
So, ultimately i have been forced to accept an offer i think is a tad low or take a car that there own engineer has declared something he wouldnt want to have back.
All this time obviously i have been forking out insurance but having no car.
I tell the insurance company this a poor show and after my excess is taken out im not coming out of this to well etc etc. They tell me all i can do is accept the offer and put any issues i have in writing as a separate complaint.
Any advise??
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,488
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From: Perth, WA
Scour autotrader etc for decent comparable examples amke a spreadheet of age, reg, colour, mileage, private or trade, any extras, then price.
Insurers have no idea what cars are worth, it up to you to show them.
I was offered
Insurers have no idea what cars are worth, it up to you to show them.
I was offered
nice
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 970
Likes: 0
From: Bedfordshire
Sorry to hear about your situation.
Jel's advise is good. I was in a similar position 3 years ago with an accord coupe. I was initially offered a settlement well below the cost of finding a replacement at the time.
I was eventually successful in negotiating a figure that went to the value of a replacement by finding cars on Autotrader of same age, similar mileage, spec etc.
Try finding three examples that are a close match and you should find it easy to justify a figure.
Unfortunately, you will have to take your policy excess into account unless this was a non fault accident where a claim can be made against another party.
Hopefully you can get this settled and sorted before the seasonal price rises.
Jel's advise is good. I was in a similar position 3 years ago with an accord coupe. I was initially offered a settlement well below the cost of finding a replacement at the time.
I was eventually successful in negotiating a figure that went to the value of a replacement by finding cars on Autotrader of same age, similar mileage, spec etc.
Try finding three examples that are a close match and you should find it easy to justify a figure.
Unfortunately, you will have to take your policy excess into account unless this was a non fault accident where a claim can be made against another party.
Hopefully you can get this settled and sorted before the seasonal price rises.
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Registered User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
From: Perth, WA
Katie, insurers pay what a car's market value is. Guide prices are frequently unreliable and do not properly take into account seasonal changes, specialist models, alterations and brands which hold their value. They are a starting point for negoatiation.
Theoretically you should get what it costs to go out and purchase a direct replacement under similar circumstances.
Theoretically you should get what it costs to go out and purchase a direct replacement under similar circumstances.
You need to get over
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,579
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From: Essex
Don't forget insurers are always out to make money so they'll always offer you rock bottom if they think they can get away with it.
Most just accept the offer because they're too lazy to scour ads to find out how much it will cost to get an identical (or as close to) car back.
P.S. Any pics of the mangle?
Most just accept the offer because they're too lazy to scour ads to find out how much it will cost to get an identical (or as close to) car back.
P.S. Any pics of the mangle?