Can insurance company demand we FILL UP courtesy car by 7.30pm!

Amethyst_ice

Hello,

This seems so stupid to me but just curious.

My boyfriend had his car rammed into 4 weeks ago. The car was written off (just because the boot was dented in) and they offered us a laughable amount that sadly we had to accept. We got a courtesy car that was meant to be a like for like- our car was a 1.2 1993 vaxhall corsa..we got a 1.4 vauxhall astra pretty much brand new.

Our car costs £30 to fill up, the courtesy one costs about £45 and uses more fuel.

The cheque has not arrived still after lots of lying about dates etc

we finally managed to egt a new car (thats near bankrupt us this month) last saturday. We have been asking the insurance company when the hire car is to be collected and they have always told us when the cheque clears.

Today they rang my boyfriend and told him the cheque was posted 3 days ago. My boyfriend said he needed it because he just bought a car and what i can gather the man was very abusive accusing my boyfriend of trying to scam them, that he had to tell them staright away when he bought a car (he doesnt recall this at all) and that he was stopping the insurance today.

My boyfried said he wouldnt be home until 8pm (he commutes) and the man said he needed to have it refuelled by 7.30pm tonight and thats when the insurance would stop. It is being picked up monday.

My bf is getting in a worry because he cant get home by then..i have told him i dont see how they could know what time he gets bck and to report the man to higher management.

Am i correct?

We are going to check the T & C's again about telling them we had a new car. But even so, surely this is not right.

Thanks

System

If the insurance stops at 7:30 and it's not being picked up until Monday I would ring the Police at 7:45 and report it as uninsured. let the insurance company pick it up from the pound and pay the fine etc.

Amethyst_ice

hahah i like that but wouldnt it be our responsibility until we sign it over?

System

Not sure, if there is nobody in that car then I would have thought that the owner is liable.

Amethyst_ice

hmmm but there may be different rules for courtesy cars etc. Like our responsibility until signed back over etc

It seems this phone guy had a huff and took it out on my bf, we arnt using the car- its too expensive! We ahve spent more money filling it up than we would have our car- do you know if theres anyway to claim on this? We genuinly ahve spent more on fuel than we would've. Grrr

Amethyst_ice

well they originally told us that until the cheque reached us then the claim was still open. We still havnt recieved the cheque so surely its still open. We dont mind giving the car back just we dont like the way the guy spoke to us and that we have been trying to get them to take it back.

Also just looked, its through AI claims which makes the car a credit hire vehicle.

The extra costs we have endured by not getting a like for like car- anyone know if we can get any costs back at all? thanks x

lisyloo

The extra costs we have endured by not getting a like for like car- anyone know if we can get any costs back at all?

Do you have legal cover on your insurance.
If you have legal cover then you need to ask them to reclaim your uninsured losses which will include your excess.
You will need to document the additional petrol.

If you don't have legal cover then you'll need to try and claim this from the other insurer yourself.
If you didn't buy the cover then it's DIY I'm afraid.

Amethyst_ice

ahh i dont think my boyfriend will have that, his insurer went bust and the cheapest one after that was an ectra £200 so doubt he paid legal cover.

We dont mind chasing if we know how to do it etc

x

Quentin

Amethyst_ice wrote: »

My bf is getting in a worry because he cant get home by then..i have told him i dont see how they could know what time he gets bck and to report the man to higher management.

Am i correct?

No!

When the hirer says the insurance ends at 7.30 pm, what they mean is that your authority to drive the car on their insurance ends at 7.30 - but the car will continue to be insured (eg. for their staff to drive), and will thus not be "uninsured" at 7.45, though your b/f would be driving it uninsured at that time, and so in big trouble were he involved in an incident or stopped by police etc.

masterlumps

if it is not insured (ETA for you to drive) after 7.30pm then you should no longer be responsible for the car after that time, regardless of when they collect it, they cannot expect you to be liable for it

how much it costs to fill the tank is irelevant,you are only replacing what you have used

Amethyst_ice

Thats what i thought, otherwise everyone would be getting abck at insurance companies!

We dont mind giving it back just think he was being a bit harsh..my boyfriend is still at work 40 miles away (driving our car) liek he told them..so if they want it filled up..as we were intending on doing we have no choice but to drive it uninsured..that is if the guy has actually ended the insurance when my bf said he wouldnt be home.

should we still go to a higher manager to complain about his tone and service? x