Endsleigh Comprehensive Car Insurance - Not Very Comprehensive

rioroccoroma

I didn't check every eventuality of my car insurance when I bought it. I have a fully comprehensive car insurance policy with Endsleigh which sounded excellent when it was being sold to me.

Two days ago my husband managed to fill the fuel tank with unleaded petrol instead of diesel and then drove off. The car stopped working and when he realised what he'd done, stopped and had it recovered to the nearest dealership. The cost to repair is in the region of £4000 despite the fact he only drove about 100 metres. He was still on the station forecourt.

I called Endsleigh and they said I was covered for "wrong fuel" as the policy was fully comprehensive. But later it turned out that they made a mistake (Endsleigh uses an intermediary company to process claims and the guy there was just reading what his computer screen said), and he apologised and said that I wasn't covered for "wrong fuel".

He expressed surprise and said that "wrong fuel" was considered an accident by every comprehensive insurance policy he normally deals with as they process hundreds of claims for this every month.

Liz

Quentin

Appeal this decision. (In writing via the appeals procedure, not by talking to a call centre rep on the phone)

Unless specifically excluded in your policy it should be covered.

rioroccoroma

Master of Nothing - wind up? I assure you not. I've posted this to warn anyone considering Endsleigh car insurance to take a good look at their policy.

Quentin - You know what - I can't imagine it's not specifically excluded - I'll check but I didn't read every inch of my policy when I got it. Just the glossy bits. Not sure how I can blame them for that other than express my view their product is short of fully comprehensive. Sadly.

rioroccoroma

Had a long look at the policy and it doesn't mention misfuelling or wrong fuel as an exclusion. Thanks for your help - maybe we have case with them after all. It never occurred to me to check the policy - I just believed them when they said there was no cover.

Liz

vikingaero

The figures given to replace an engine after a misfuel are always alarmist and for new engines. I would take the car to an independent garage, pump out the fuel, replace the filters and fill up with diesel. There may be no lasting damage.

gilbert_and_sullivan

I'm surprised any insurance company would pay out for an act of negligence, i hope my company wouldn't pay out for such a thing, it's not a accident.

If the chap has only driven 100 yards then as said simply draining the system completely, clearing all the pipework, fit new filter(s), give a good treble dose of Millers DPS4 or Forte to a tank of fresh Diesel and away you go.

Quentin

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

I'm surprised any insurance company would pay out for an act of negligence, i hope my company wouldn't pay out for such a thing, it's not a accident.

Your company probably will if it isn't specifically excluded.

Insurance companies regularly pay out for acts of negligence. The use of the word "accident" covers negligence (eg drivers negligently driving into the back of other vehicles).

rioroccoroma

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

I'm surprised any insurance company would pay out for an act of negligence, i hope my company wouldn't pay out for such a thing, it's not a accident..

Reversing into another car is also an act of negligence, as are most accidents. Be careful what you wish for

gilbert_and_sullivan

Quentin and Rioroccoroma, there's world of difference between having a genuine accident on the road which by it's nature is usually the result of someone's negligence and sheer absentmindedness when filling said car up at the fuel station.

There is such a thing as taking responsibility for one's actions, i suppose things like this are why insurance costs are going through the roof.

Not having a go at the OP here, it's a mistake anyone can make but i personally think it's wrong to exepct insurance to cough up for such things.

mcjordi

unleaded petrol wont make a huge amount of damage to a diesel engine
however if you put diesel in a petrol engine - big damage to fuel pump etc

drain the tank new filters and a flush of the fuel system, fill with a tank of diesel and some fuel treatment stuff and a good ole run out is sure to cure the problem

Quentin

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Not having a go at the OP here, it's a mistake anyone can make but i personally think it's wrong to exepct insurance to cough up for such things.

You are (of course) entitled to this opinion. Happily, you aren't the ombudsman who takes a different view!

The Financial Ombudsman Service has stated that it would expect an insurer to meet a claim against misfuelling, if there was no clear exception to this in the insurance policy.

http://www.stopdieselmisfuelling.co.uk/misfuelling-from-viewpoint-your-insurer-avoid-problems-with-caparo-rightfuel-a-63.html