Would this car insurance ordeal make Martin's blood boil?

pammy_2

:mad:Would this car insurance ordeal make Martin's blood boil?

I am new to this forum, although I have listened to and taken Martin's advice for many months. I have tried to proceed in this car insurance claim as he would - but now I'm stuck. Sorry for so many details but the timing is important here.

My car was hit from behind by 2 lads in a work van over 2 weeks ago. I was given a courtesy car and my car was left at the garage the insurance company (Sainsbury's) sent me to for an estimate. They told me the car was a total write-off and offerred £350. I haggled, they didn't budge, and I filed a complaint both online and in writing. Another phone call from them didn't yield any more joy for me. Finally, on Thursday (30 March) I talked with someone who had my complaint letter to hand and we verbally settled, with a different amount. He told me when I received the settlement paperwork, to cross out the £350 and write in the new amount we had agreed.

As I still needed a car, we agreed that I could have access to another courtesty car, through another entitlement arrangement, until Monday (tomorrow) and that I would return my original courtesty car to the garage on Friday morning.

When I got to the garage on Friday (31 Mar) I was told that my car had been already taken to the salvage yard, with all my stuff in it, including the tax disc and parking permit and many possessions. When I got home that day I found a letter with new settlement details and instructions to contact the garage to take my things from my car!

Needless to say I'm livid at this predicament and request advice on where to go from here. Of course, I'll make claims for this and that and probably get less than what I'm going to ask for to replace all of the possessions etc which were in the car.

Can anyone suggest what else I could/should do? This accident was not my fault and I'm out of pocket several thousands.

Many thanks for any comments and suggestions.[/FONT] :mad:

Bossyboots

Surely you are not saying that you had several thousands of pounds of goods in your vehicle!

I must admit, in these circumstances I would have been at the garage the next day (as indeed my OH was when it happened to him) to strip the car of personal possessions regardless of whether it was likely to be repaired or not. I hope others can take your experience as a tip for the future if it ever happens to them.

Did you claim on your own insurance for the car or have you dealt direct with the third party insurers?

I think the garage and the insurers may each blame each other for the loss of items in the vehicle but as it is normal for people to attend and collect their items, I think the garage may have to take responsibility. You would need to speak to your insurer about this but I think they will say it is not down to them.

I think you have a battle on your hands with this. It would not be too difficult claiming for items damaged in the accident if they were in your possession but to claim for items left in the car when it went for scrap may not be so easy.