Is our Insurance company ripping us off and whats the point of fully comprehensive cover?

Question

Okay, to cut a long story short
Dad has his pride and joy G reg Jag stolen (market value next to nothing but as a retirement present to himself priceless)
Police recover it next day
Damage to car is: one rear quarter glass smashed, steering lock damaged beyond repair and dash board damage.
Garage has quoted nearly £2000 to repair ???
The garage, realising the good condition of the car and how much it means to my dad, called yesterday saying the insurance company have told them to send the car for salvage on Monday.
We strike a deal with the garage to deliver the car home and phone the insurance company (bearing in mind we hadn't heard anything from them in nearly to weeks)
Yes the car was to be scrapped as it is beyond economic repair and a settlement figure is in the post.
Can they just scrap a car and then send out a settlement figure ?
Anyone know the best way to deal with elephant.com or are we stuffed.
Oh, and in their small print they have a "no buy back" clause

Answer 1

I would say take it to a lawyer, they should atleast give you the value of the car as it sits, which would be something towards its repair.

insurance companies do this to save time and mony for themselves. Thats where a lawyer is priceless.

Answer 2

When I totaled cars for insurance it was if the repairs were between 50% and 75% of the market value. You said the market value is nothing then any amount of repairs would justify the totaling of the car. In ca the insurance contract is a contract of adhesion which put limits on what you can do. The cost of a lawyer will be at you expense.

Answer 3

The reason its expensive to repair is probably because of the dashboard, its difficult to repair, would probably need replacing the whole thing. Plus of course the labour costs, which can be £30 - £50 per hour.

The insurance company will not fund repairs that are estimated at more than the cars value.


All you need to do is tell them that you no longer wish to make a claim, and get your car back.

Its not being written off because its dangerous, in which case the insurer is obliged to get it off road and squish it, but just because its not economical to repair.

Just ring them and say you wish to cancel the claim, and contact the garage to get it back. If you cancel the claim you may get charged for the garage bringing it back, but its a small price to pay when U want to keep the car.

You can get parts at a scrap merchants or salvage yard by the way which wont be new, but at least you could still run the car.

Regards the no buy back clause, you can tell them u simply want to cancel the insurance claim. As its not a dangerous write off, they have no reason to refuse to do that.

Hope this helps, I worked in motor claims for 15 years. (in England)

P.S. if they get arsey, mention the words 'Insurance Ombudsman' which is the governing body for insurance comapnies. For such a small matter, they are not going to want to go through the hassle of that, plus for any complaint against them to the ombudsman, they have to pay all costs regardless of outcome, so usually they will bend to the policyholders wishes to avoid this.

Also tell them you have spoken to a solicitor who says that if they squish the car without permission from you, when it is repairable, they can be sued.

Answer 4

the only way out of this ,,is to completely drop the claim,,tell them you no longer wish to pursue it,,then they will probably tell you that they can no longer insure the car,,tell them that is fine,,with the no buy back Claus in there,,they will get the car from you if you take the settlement,,and there is no way around it,,after you fix or repair the car go to a different insurance company to get it insured,,but don't mention the fact that you ever had a claim on this car,,insure the car as though you just got it,,or just decide to start driving it,,this way it will be cheaper,,if you have to go through all the paper work involved with telling them about the past it,s gonna drive you nut,s,,been through this with a vette,,so i wish you well,,and hope this helps you.

Answer 5

They are suppose to give you the blu book value for the car. But in the event that you wanted to keep the car you can buy it back from the insurance company after the pay the claim. But they are suppose to give you the blue book value of the car.

Answer 6

if the market value is next to nothing then i think the insurance company can refuse to pay for the repairs and order it to be scrapped they only look at monetry value not sentimental value sorry

Answer 7

All inurance companies are robbing b$%^&*£s. Get a lawyer and dont let them away with it. If you keep complaining and pestering them they will eventually cave!

Answer 8

insurance companies tend to do that
you might want to consult a lawyer