Car insurance problem.

Wafoo

Ok here's the story,had a prang in my car at the beginning of February,my car insurance did nothing about repairs till I started sending complaining emails,the car has been in the repair shops yard for six weeks then last Thursday I get a phone call saying it was a total loss and a offer which I refused.
On Friday I went to the repair yard to empty the car only to be told that the salvage company had removed it to their depot over 100 miles away!!!
I phoned the salvage company and were told that the insurance company had given them the ok to take it away,all this without my acceptance of their offer,so phoned the insurance company (no names but a crinkly pop star works for em!) and they started back peddling,then phoned me back and said they can take it to a place of storage,hmm the salvage company isn't a place of storage,all they do is buy insurance right offs.
So basically I'd like to know where I stand,as my car is full of my personal items and i think the insurance company has sold it on without my agreement.

dacouch

The car still belongs to you. Advise the Insurers you want your personal items returned to you within seven days or you will hold them reponsible for them. (Put this in writing to them). Write this asap as the salvage companies tend to regard any items in the car as finders keepers

The Insurers would normally take it to a place of free storage as garages tend to charge between £5 and £10 a day while the vehicle is there.

Swift do not have a great reputation for their claims service, do a search of forums for swift and you will find they have their own "Fan" club.

Whats the exact model, condition and mileage of your car?

Wafoo

The car's a MG ZT excellent condition,FSH,years MOT,they've offered £3000 but cheapest i can find anything like mine is £4000,the salvage company have said they'll return all my things but I doubt it as the car was chockers with stuff and it would cost them a fortune,

dacouch

You have not put the mileage and age of the car so I can't check to see if its in the righ ball park.

You have to remember that cars may be advertised for say £4000 but that does not mean they are actually selling for that so you have to factor in a margin to take this into account.

To increse the offer you need to demonstrate they have made a mistake in their valuation, this would normally be done by submitted adverts for cars in your region of exactly the same (Give or take slightly) model, mileage and condition etc.

Good luck with Swift.

I personally recommend you change Insurers at renewal as you will no doubt have found the cheapest is not always the best with Insurers

Wafoo

Thanks for that,she's a 54 plate with 100000 miles diesel,I've sent them autotrader links with cars in my area,there's very little,
I'm personally more concerned with the fact they have taken my car away to a salvage yard without my permission

dacouch

Unfortunately this does happen on occasions with all Insurers and is caused by a breakdown in communications. Like I said the car is still technically your property.