Another Albany Assistance car crash query...

loststeve

dacouch wrote: »

What amazes me with Admiral group Insurers is how they routinely get their comprehensively insured customers to do the whole claim through Albany. They are covered for the damage by their policy but Albany pay Admiral commission for the credit repairs and it obviously saves Admiral staff costs and the cost of laying out money for the repairs. Using Albany for this process is such a mistake as they are very very well known for being inept so Admiral end up with lots of disgruntled customers

Just been reading this thread again after I got a message to say it's still active ...

The above was very interesting seeing as I'm still with Bell, but I don't really get it - if I were to have another accident (fault or no-fault) can I refuse to deal with Albany, and tell Bell to sort it out themselves?

dacouch

loststeve wrote: »

Just been reading this thread again after I got a message to say it's still active ...

The above was very interesting seeing as I'm still with Bell, but I don't really get it - if were to have another accident (fault or no-fault) can I refuse to deal with Albany, and tell Bell to sort it out themselves?

If you have comprehensive cover then you can insist that Bell or Admiral etc etc deal with you claim in house. After all you have entered into a contract (Policy) with them to repair your car etc if you have a claim that is covered by the policy.

They pass you over to Albany as they receive commission from Albany and / or it saves them the cost of the admin of sorting out your claim.

(If Albany get you into a credit hire vehicle they pay Bell circa £250 commission, if they get an injury claim or claims out of you they pay Bell circa £300 per person injured. When you compare these amounts to how much they make on you buying the car insurance which is about 9% of your premium you can see the attraction to Bell in palming you off to Albany)

Obviously if you claim from your own policy you have to pay your policy excess, but this can be recovered from the other party if they are at fault. You can either do this yourself or get Albany to do it although they will take a long long time to do it.

z80

Just been reading this thread after googling albany assistance.

I agreed for my repair and hire car to be organised by Albany. I was advised by my own insurance that this was the best way to proceed as otherwise I would have to pay my excess and would affect my no claims.

Albany arranged the hire car for me - advised specifically on the phone that there would be no cost to me. I have yet to read the small print though which I will do. I can cancel within 14 days so this may be an option.

I too was contacted by the third parties insurer offering a free hire car and repair. I thought this strange and have not contacted them yet.

However after reading this thread I am considering it.

Anyone actually used the likes of Albany Assistance and had no problems (e.g. third party insurer pay the hire car costs with no dispute)?

vaio

I thought it was the case that if the TP company offer you a car and tell you what it would cost them to provide then if you refuse and the cost of the credit hire car is more than the advised cost of the TP car then you have failed in your duty to mitigate costs and the TP company will resist paying the credit hire car in so far as it exceeds the cost of the car they offered.

Which all actually seems quite reasonable to me provided it's the credit hire firm carrying that risk and not the policy holder

mikey72

It's ironic that companies like Albany Assist are blamed for pushing insurance costs up, by providing expensive hire cars, pursuing personal injury claims, extending repair periods etc, when the reality is your own insurance company refers you to them in the first place.
The other action you can take is to insist your car is repaired at a garage of your choice, so if it's still in warranty you could insist on a main dealer doing the repairs if you want to, whether it's a third party claim or not.

dutchy1985

I've just been put through to Albany for my car as some guy decided to have a closer look last week with his car!
I've had the estimater guy come from the garage already but when I read the paperwork I received from Alabany, I wasn't too happy. Why do I have to sign a finance agreement?

If I know phone them and say that I've changed my mind and want to go with the 3rd party insurance, will I get charged for anything?

rev_henry

dutchy1985 wrote: »

I've just been put through to Albany for my car as some guy decided to have a closer look last week with his car!
I've had the estimater guy come from the garage already but when I read the paperwork I received from Alabany, I wasn't too happy. Why do I have to sign a finance agreement?

If I know phone them and say that I've changed my mind and want to go with the 3rd party insurance, will I get charged for anything?

You shouldn't get charged for anything, but the best thing to do is as you say to go straight to the 3rd party as it'll be quicker and cheaper (for them) and you don't run the risk of Albany chasing you for the money. Have they sent you a hire car yet?

dutchy1985

rev_henry wrote: »

You shouldn't get charged for anything, but the best thing to do is as you say to go straight to the 3rd party as it'll be quicker and cheaper (for them) and you don't run the risk of Albany chasing you for the money. Have they sent you a hire car yet?

no. Literally, all thats happened so far is the estimate for the repair work. I was going to call Albany this evening and say that I didn't want to sign a finance agreement and would it be a problem if I went with the third party insurance.

rev_henry

dutchy1985 wrote: »

no. Literally, all thats happened so far is the estimate for the repair work. I was going to call Albany this evening and say that I didn't want to sign a finance agreement and would it be a problem if I went with the third party insurance.

Then yes, do that. Don't ask them, just tell them you won't be requiring their services anymore as you have decided to deal with the 3rd party direct.

didgy2

Thought i would post up my experience of Albany so others can make the right decision if they are passed onto them.

17th of November 2010 the boy racer following me decided not to stop when all others in front did. Resulted in driving into the back of me on a dark and wet night. He did try and miss me but caught the left hand side of rear.
After contacting my insurance (Admiral) they gave me the choice of either them paying out within 4 weeks minus my excess which they would eventually recover from the 3rd party and refund me or be passed onto Albany Assistance who would persue the 3rd party and because it was such a straight forward no blame clain should have full payment to me within 4 weeks.

The car was only an old work car and woth approx £1300 but my excess was £400 so i would not have had enough to buy a similar car if i went through my insurance so opted for Albany.

The assessor was at my home (car took back there) within 24 hrs and had called within 36 hrs that it had been deemed a cat c total loss.
I was offered a hire car from Albany and as i had no other way to get to work took them up on it. The car was delivered within 24 hrs of me signing paperwork. This i read carefully as it was a hire agreement but i made sure it contained the insurance that would cover the cost if there was any dispute. I rang Albany twice (recording the calls) to confirm that no matter what the out come i was not liable for any cost. They confirmed this.

Up till this point i thought this had all been dealt with quickly and correctly. The date was just 23rd November.

After 2 weeks not hearing anything from Albany i rang them to be told "we are waiting on the 3rd party, we will contact them again now and ring you back" They did not ring back.

Another week goes by and the same phone conversation, they did not ring back.

Just before Christmas i rang them again hoping the check was in the post and we would have some Christmas money.
"Still waiting for the 3rd party to admit liability and get back to us, i will ring them now, what's your phone number? i will ring you right back"
They did not ring back.

January 6th, Rang again asking why no one had called me to update me on the progress like they said they would, was told "we are waiting for some details from the 3rd party, you have my word that i will ring you back within the hr" They never rang back.

I think you can see the picture forming, the date is now 18th February, i have had no payment, i am on my 15th call to Albany, i have had the hire car for 4 months and THEY HAVE NEVER CALLED BACK:mad:

The value of my car was £1300, i dread to think of the cost of the hire car!