Aviva introduce £200 excess if you want to use your own choice of repairer.

Quentin

Aviva have introduced an extra excess into their motor policies.

On top of any compulsory and voluntary excess, they now have a separate and additional £200 excess which is levied if you don't use their approved repairer, and want to use your own choice of repairer.

Needless to say this new (separate) excess isn't very clearly pointed out, (just listed amongst the excesses you agree to), and could be easily missed if it's something you would prefer not to have to pay.

dacouch

I can see a lot of local garages incorporating the extra excess in their price

Lets hope they don't bring a similar excess in on the Home policies, we have enough Asprea complaints as it is

cjgoodsell

It doesnt surprise me that they have done this... However on some brokers online policies aviva have made sure there is a £650 Compulsory excess as a minimum so they can have cheaper premiums... Wouldnt be long before other insurers may do this and then hope the consumer falls into the trap of loading a big voluntary excess on without realising the huge compulory excess!!

Ian_W

What effect will that have if that have if the car is under 3yrs old? Will their approved repairers undertake to fit genuine manufacturers parts so as not risk invalidating the warranty?

GtiTory

this happened with my insurance company, they wanted £250 if i wanted to go to my local garage, plus my excess on top which is 900.
instead they took it to a very well known garage in my area, who did a TERRIBLE job. reduced me to tears, i sent the car back 4 times, and in my opinion the bumper still looks shoddy.
they have charged the dudes insurance company 2k for the repair too. when i got quoted about 950 from my local bodyshop. it just doesnt seem like insurance companies use common sense

Quentin

Whilst hoping it never happens again, should you get involved again in another (clear) non fault incident you can get round this issue by using a claim handler to deal with the incident. They wouldn't claim off your own insurer, but deal with the third party, and you could get your car fixed at the garage of your choice without any excess to consider at all.

h.cowell

If Aviva's car repairers are as bad as their builders, then it's probably worth £200 just to avoid them. But no, it doesn't seem like a fair idea to me. If they used reliable, quality tradespeople in the first place they wouldn't get so many complaints and might not have to offer this option at all.

[Deleted User]

Hello all

Firstly, an answer for Ian W:
If a car is still under warranty our approved repairers would not invalidate the warranty at all, they would use correct parts etc. We also have many specialist garages in our approved repairer networks, to cover a range of car marques if that is your choice.

Using an Aviva approved repairer has a range of benefits, starting with the fact that all works are guaranteed for 3 years, speedy completion of works and excellent service.

I hope this helps to put some of your minds at ease? If you have any other questions or comments please feel free to contact me.

Becca

Inactive

h.cowell wrote: »

If Aviva's car repairers are as bad as their builders, then it's probably worth £200 just to avoid them. But no, it doesn't seem like a fair idea to me. If they used reliable, quality tradespeople in the first place they wouldn't get so many complaints and might not have to offer this option at all.

Having read your nightmare scenario with Aviva, I decided against using them as my home insurers, many thanks.

I will also now not even consider them for car insurance.

Quentin

beccus wrote: »

Using an Aviva approved repairer has a range of benefits, starting with the fact that all works are guaranteed for 3 years, speedy completion of works and excellent service.

I hope this helps to put some of your minds at ease? If you have any other questions or comments please feel free to contact me.

Aviva cannot use these forums to advertise like this, or tout for MSE members to contact them without permission, or post links to their website in their sig.

If they feel there is an abuse issue they want to reply to as a company rep, they should get permission (like all other company reps do):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=781221

(Many of us would see many more benefits in using our own choice of garage, where the garage's loyalty lies with the customer rather than Aviva's garages who must toe the Aviva line!)

And why no comment on this quietly introduced extra excess?

missile

I am really pleased I ditched Aviva :j