HELP! Car Theft - Zurich Insurance refuse to pay out, stating the keys don't match

raskazz

MDKUK wrote: »

I'll certainly give that a try. Do you think Zurich would consider this 'theft' rather than the 'misleading information' which would seem to be the reason that they won't pay out right now.

If you haven't already done so, I would get straight on the phone to Zurich and explain that the most likely cause of the loss is through an inside job connected with the airport parking. In which case, assuming there are no other issues, it should be treated as a theft.

huckster

Raskass

The meet and greet airport services I have used are prebooked. You basically give them the car key, they park it and you pick it back up, on your return. The cars are taken off to some storage compound and they put a tag on the key which is put straight into a secure storage room, with the date/time of return etc noted. It would be quite difficult to mess around with the cars and keys if this was done by a professional outfit, some run on airport sites.

Many years ago, someone I knew had a hotel near Heathrow provide this service. While they were away for two weeks, the car was used by some staff at the hotel for trips out. They got caught out when they damaged the car and also they used a phone that was in the car.

In regard to the OP's problem if the smartkeys are the same as provided by the lease company and they have not been messed around with, I would be getting some specialist forensic help as advised in a previous post. Before this I would speak to a Mercedes dealership to look into and also speak to the Police.

MDKUK

It just all seems so wrong that after being a loyal Zurich customer for 10 years and having never made a previous claim, I now have to perform my own investigation. Surely if there is no financial gain their doubts are unfounded.

MDKUK

I will contact Zurich on Monday regarding the airport meet and greet. It just never crossed my mind that this could happen.

huckster

With the smartkey, my understanding is that these contain a device which switches off the immobiliser when you put the key in the ignition. I think Zurich are suggesting some irregularity with the key. Airport meet and greet or someone could have switched key for a look alike. If it was the spare you would not have noticed. Then weeks later the car is stolen using the proper key.

.I do believe that for some makes of car, there are thieves that have devices that can get around most security. And then there is the low loader possibility.

Next step I think is to check into the keys with a Mercedes dealership. A dealership may be able to look at the keys. Then talk to the Police and Zurich.