Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    Well, they should lose his business for a start...
    
    Graham

    6 weeks is the usual time. I have insurance that will provide a hire
    car as replacement. It is quite usual to have this. I suggest he
    examines his insurance docco and call the company to ask for his
    courtesy car.
    
    /a

    Alan.
    I am now in the fourth week of exactly the same situation. My car was
    stolen, used in a ram-raid, recovered and written off. My insurance
    (through Halford, recommended elsewhere in this conference), refused to
    permit me any form of recompense for the period without a car, even
    though the cover is fully comprehensive. 
    
    I am totally fed up with the way that they have handled my claim. After
    the car was recovered the following things emerged from the small print
    of the policy a) no hire car, b) �50 maximum personal possessions cover
    c) car is sold for salvage - along with all my remaining personal
    possessions! (because I can't get to Leeds to recover them) 
    
    After offering me moderate book price for the car (and way below its
    true value to me), the Claims Department proceeded to procrastinate on
    everything - they wrote to me on three separate occasions to obtain
    different documents ( the MOT, my policy document, the original bill of
    purchase, etc.!). Now, four weeks on from it being written off, there
    is still no sign of a cheque, 'phone calls are greeted with either
    "we can't find the file" or "it's gone for approval" or "it's in my
    urgent pile". 
    
    The hassle with the insurance company has been far more wearing than
    the car actually being nicked, and dealing with the Police. I certainly
    will not be using them again, and next time I'll check that the policy
    has hire-car cover.
    Regards,
    DaveT 

    Dave,
    
    Which insurance company was this?
    
    
    
    		
    			Stretch.

    
    Perhaps I am simplifying this a little too much,   but isn't this the
    difference in service you get between a company who charges xxx for
    insurance and xxx+10% (or higher) for insurance.
    
    I know that I would like to get the cheapest quote possible for any
    insurance,  however things are generally cheap for a reason.
    
    ....although you could argue that if you get the cheapest possible
    insurance for 10 + years and then have a total loss,  does the amount
    you saved over the years cover the cost of hiring a replacement car for
    6+ weeks,  I wonder?
    
    Seriously,  sorry to hear of the stolen car,  the scum who steal cars
    should be strung up.
    
    Richard

    re .4  Stretch - the brokers are Halford Motor Insurance, Chelmsford
    (nothing to do with Halfords!). They were recommended by Digital some
    years ago, and gave a 10% Digital discount. The actual policy itself is
    with Shead Motor Policies at Lloyds.
    
    re. .5 yes - I regret going for the cheaper insurance option now. I
    have lost much more than I gained at the outset. They are also reducing
    my no-claims bonus from 55% to 45% next time round. I reckon the car
    for salvage was worth at least �1500, so they haven't done badly.
    
    regards,
    DaveT

    Richard,
    
    Would you consider Norwich Union a reputable enough name? I went
    through virtually the same aggro that Dave is now experiencing with
    them. The cheque was forthcoming, after many "we can't find the files"
    phonecalls, due to me my going down to the offices and sitting there until
    they did "find" the file and pay the cheque. 
    
    This took less than 1/2 an hour, which is ridiculous after 6 weeks of  
    waiting for the settlement!
    
    
    			Stretch.

    
    Re: .7
    
    A very good question.
    
    It makes me wonder if there is some sort of non-written policy in many
    of these companies to prevaricate as much as possible concerning
    payment.  The longer the funds are in their bank account,  the more
    interest they earn.  Now,  ALL insurance companies would deny this of
    course,  but it does make me wonder!
    
    All it would take is a policy clause that reads something like this to
    satisfy me :-
    
    "Following a claim for theft,  costs for vehicle hire are reclaimable
    against the policy until final settlement is made or the vehicle is
    recovered"  With all the usual rubbish about everything being void if
    it is a fraudulent claim etc...
    
    Now I would pay a few % extra for that kind of assurance.
    
    Richard

    re .8 - yes - I'd buy that, and pay a bit extra for it too.
    
    One point for the original correspondent in this stream. Warn your
    brother to check that all his documentation (including purchase
    documents) are all available and in order. I had the feeling that if
    one thing had been wrong in mine, then the insurance company would have
    nullified my claim.
    
    DaveT
    

    If the car still exists and there is anything you particularly want,
    I'm sure we could arrange a Leeds office outing to effect a recovery
    mission.
    
    Andrew

    Thanks Andrew, but too late. The remains sat in WASS for a few days
    waiting for the assessor, and I think cassettes, toolkit etc. were
    either gone by then or 'disappeared' while there. Very shortly after
    the assessment, the salvage merchant came in and took the car. This is
    what irritated me most. This was all done without reference to me. The
    assessor told the insurers 'write-off' who immediately informed the
    salvage people who bought the car. I was not in the loop. Personal
    documents, clothes and things of only personal value went with it.
    Many thanks anyway.
    DaveT

    Thanks all for the advice. I will pass it on
    
    regards
    
    Alan