Car vandalised - Am I really having to pay for excess?

toniq

I have fully comp with no claims protected through Lloyds, never claimed before for anything on Car insurance so not fully sure about all of this.


I went out to my 05 reg Astra yesterday at 6pm to pick hubby up and saw immediately my windscreen was cracked all the way down the middle, there were also footprints on the bonnet and several dents, scratches and a gouge.

After calming down and getting hubby to make his own way home I walked to the police station 20 doors down (left car at home as can't drive it due to windscreen), I waited an hour then was seen and explained what damage had happened to my car etc, the police lady was going to check if anyone would come out to it and ring me later.

She called at 8pm and gave me crime ref number and said no-one would be coming out.


I went home called insurance, who are underwritten by co-operative, so was passed to them, who in turn passed me to autoglass and today would call me regarding bonnet damage.


Later Sussex police called and asked for the 2 bits of metal which were found by my car but nothing to do with my car to be brought in to Crawley police station to Soco. I was very annoyed and angry that they couldn't come 20 doors down to actually inspect the scene and do what the Police should do but expected me to pick up the presumed evidence and take it to them.
The lady couldn't answer me on that one.

Autoglass needed the excess as it was more than just a little chip, so i payed them £75, and they are mending the windscreen Friday.

However today co-operative rung and stated as the police aren't investigating so there is no-one they can claim off, i have to pay the excess which is £250, I'm incredulous, the police made their decision not to do anything and because of their lack of policing I'm going to be over £325 out of pocket?

The insurance company have said i can get quotes etc and handle it that way, but with me being pregnant i don't want the stress of it all, am i really over a barrel on this? How would i have a clue what is reasonable on a quote or not?

Many thanks for reading and any help you might be able to give.

pinkshoes

I'm afraid your other option is to just leave the damage and not have it repaired...

I had the same happen to me a few years back, and it's one of those things you just have to accept. There is very little the police can actually do to investigate, as it's highly unlikely that there are any fingerprints, so it would be a lot of time and effort for very little chance of a result

You could try doing your own investigative work and see if anyone saw what happened, but proving who did it would be near impossible.

I even saw the little b*ggers walking away from my car (although not the incident), but because I couldn't say WHICH one of them did the damage (group of 4), there was nothing the police could do. My biggest regret is not lying and just choosing one of them and saying that I DID see which one that did it!

toniq

My car was in mint condition and very well looked after, the body really did look as good as new.

I did ask all surrounding neighbors and no-one saw anything, we live on the edge of a town centre so you often get drunks etc walking down the road.
I'm just shocked i'm paying for someones boozy antics.

I know i'll end up paying for it to be done once i have calmed down, just so peed off with it all.

fivetide

Technically you are making a claim and as there isn't anyone to claim off (i.e. who did it) then you will need to pay your excess.

Standard practise, i think only direct line advertise that they won't make you pay an excess for vandalism. It isn't the fault of the Police really. Worth chapping some doors yourself to see if anyone saw/heard anything.

Check the roof too, sounds like they might have walked over the car....

5t.

Trebor16

The excess will have to be paid unfortunately but perhaps you could argue with the insurer that as the windscreen claim is part of the same claim that you shouldn't have to pay the £75 for that in addition to the £250 excess?

toniq

Thanks for help and advice, Sadly you told me what I wished wasn't the case, Insurance stated clearly the windscreen is totally separate on the policy so has it's own excess.

vaio

I’d certainly argue that a vandalism claim that involves glass shouldn’t be subject to two excesses

scheming_gypsy

if it's just the bonnet i'd buy a second hand one and fit it myself (four bolts, two at each end on my car). It should cost you less than £50 if you can get one the same colour.

It won't help with what happened but it'll save you spending over £300

Lum

^^^ I'd probably do the same, but not sure I'd fancy trying to fit a bonnet whilst pregnant! It's a PITA at the best of times.

toniq wrote: »

Thanks for help and advice, Sadly you told me what I wished wasn't the case, Insurance stated clearly the windscreen is totally separate on the policy so has it's own excess.

Sorry, but they are talking rubbish here, you are claiming for vandalism damage, not vandalism and a windscreen.

I've been in a very similar situation, in my case it was windscreen and boot lid damage caused by a brick being dropped onto my car from a bridge, and it was all done as one vandalism claim.

I guess the problem you have is that Autoglass were called out separate from the bodywork repair, but if that is what their claims handler recommended then that's their fault not yours.

I'd take this further just on principle. If you don't get any joy on the phone then a complaint letter followed by the ombudsman. Depends if you can deal with the hassle though

scheming_gypsy

Lum wrote: »

^^^ I'd probably do the same, but not sure I'd fancy trying to fit a bonnet whilst pregnant! It's a PITA at the best of times.

job for the hubby then and she can do the holding.. i know what you mean though; it is a nightmare to do at times and you really need three people. One to hold and one doing each side at the same time to stop it flopping about.

vaio

That’s how it works in my household, I do the work, OH stands around holding things, passing tools and making tea & admiring noises as required.

Doing things when pregnant might seem bad but it gets much worse if you have an inquisitive & eager to please toddler “helping” you. Take the time it would normally take and multiply by 3 or 5.