Insurance problem

sprob

I crashed my car at the beginning of June, I hit an 8" verge virtually straight on the car got airborne and landed in a ditch, the car repair shop that my insurers told me to use had my car until the beginning of July - within 24-36 hours after minimum driving in it I contacted the repairers and told them that the handling was crap, they took it back and diagnosed the problem as needing a suspension clamp kit - which I had done.
Got the car back and it still was not right, they took the car back and told me it now needed 2 rear suspension bushes - which I had done, after its return I had it for about ten days - progressively it has got worse, until it was virtually undriveable, it went back to them and it now needs 2 front lower arms, I have paid for the first two repairs myself, I have informed the insurers about the extra work needed to bring my car back to its pre-accident condition - all I seem to get from them is that its wear and tear!! in other words they dont want to know.
It is now 4 weeks since it last went in - its been into the main dealers to identify the last problem - including the cost of the last repair it comes to £550 plus the excess I paid.
I can categorically state that none of these items needed replacement before the accident - it had an MOT at the end of February and a major service at the beginning of May and two brand new tyres - I went to France on the 12th May and covered 2500 miles there and back - a manager came and drove my car to the main dealers to have the last problem diagnosed - he has had the same type of car himself and he even admitted that there is no way I could have driven the car to France and back in that condition,
I don't feel that I should have to pay for any of these repairs - they were as a direct result of the accident - it seems strange that the only parts that were replaced were underbody plastics and exhaust heatshields -given the nature of the accident I dont think this is realistic - no damage to suspension/steering components??
Any ideas how to get the insurers to sort this out, not at my expense!!
Thanks (sorry its so long)

sprob

Anyone please - I dont have a bottomless pit for a wallet.

darich

posting this in the insurance section might get more responses.
And give folks more than 12 minutes to respond to your post!

sprob

Sorry I didnt leave it very long, they are doing my head in, I've only had my car back for just less than 3 weeks, since the beginning of July

Sorry to be dense can I post it on the other board without retyping it - never tried it before

anewman

Suspension and lower arms would undoubtedly be affected by going airborne and landing in a ditch. As for you paying for repairs yourself, I would have instead being insisting repairs were not completed satisfactorily and that insurance paid.

Out of interest I wonder if it would be a good idea to post the insurance companies name here and the name of the repair shop in a name and shame. Have seen it occasionally get results on forums.

sprob

Here goes then:
Insurers - Budget
Insurers Agents : Broker Direct
Repair Specialists : Just Car Clinic

The Insurers pass you on to Broker Direct - I've written them a letter of complaint and with a lot more detail than my post, Just Car Clinic have tried their best to help me, I've got a courtesy car from them at the mo - they are having no joy with Broker Direct either.
I am not with Budget anymore - I am fully aware that things wear out, 3 seperate items dont wear out at the same time - each seperate item that has been replaced or needs replacing in isolation I could accept but not together, you would notice the effects of each one in isolation - the handling of the car would be noticeably different - all three together and you are driving a dangerous car.

Their customer service is p_ss poor

markelock

get something written down from a mechanic detailing the problems, and the cause.

suggest you may have to take them to small claims, you'll only need to prove your case on the balance of probabilities (your mileage and age of car may also be relevant)

if the value exceeds a certain limit you may even be able to make the responsible directors bankrupt if they don't pay. remember also you will have to add a small sum for your time in administration, paperwork etc. £10 an hour seems reasonable.