Insurance company paying less than original offer..

catfandoo

Hi everyone, newbie here with a problem!:embarasse

I'm having a bit of a problem with my car insurance company...via a broker I'm insured with Zenith ( must be the world's worst insurance company! )
To cut a VERY long story short...several months ago I was involved in a car accident which has since resulted in my car being declared a write off by Zenith ( although this decision is highly questionable IMO)
Spoke to the engineer on the phone, he agreed a price, had to haggle with him a bit but we ended up agreeing on a price £6700, then also got this in writing. He asked if my car had FSH, which I answered yes, as it had been serviced whenever it said on the dash display, my service book was also fully stamped.

Now after several long months , they have got back to me and informed me they have reduced my payment to £6000 as my service history was ''incomplete'' they claim because there was a gap of over 2 years between a couple of services my car is worth £700 less than previously offered!
I strongly dispute this as my car was 6 years old, I had owned it from new and done a very low milage, the car was always serviced when the dash display said , not according to years.
Zenith claim they have spoke to the vehicle maker and they have confirmed the vehicle should be serviced every 18000 miles or 2 years which ever comes sooner...and are refusing to change their decision to deduct £700 from my payment. I still strongly dispute this as IMO the service history is still complete and even if it had absolutely no service history this is a massive amount to try and deduct from the vehicle value.

Still in dispute with them....just wondering if anyone else had any experiance of this? am I wasting my time? or should I stand my ground?

thanks in advance

raskazz

First thing you need to check with the manufacturer as to the veracity of this statement by the insurer:

"the vehicle should be serviced every 18000 miles or 2 years which ever comes sooner"

If this is false then the insurer really has no justification for reducing the offer on the basis that there was a gap of over 2 year between some services.

Incidentally, you do not mention how long the gap actually was, I'm sure others more expert on claims would be able to assist more if we knew that piece of information.

catfandoo

Hi, thanks for your reply, it was just under 3 years between services, it was always done according to milage.
Yes, I have spoken to the garage I purchased it from originaly, they confirmed it was every 2 years or 18000 miles which ever was sooner.....but they also said the £700 reduction in value was way over the top.

VictorM_2

Well they are right in deducting as your car does not have a FSH - parts degrade due to age as well as usage.

There is always leeway in negotiations, it would be up to you to provide evidence their quote is not sufficient.

vaio

Read http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-valuation.html

it covers pretty much all you need to know re fair valuations

catfandoo

Many thanks for the replies.
I was still wondering if anyoneone else had any experiance of this..are the insurance company likely to change their mind or am I wasing my time even trying?
I was told this is the final decision and I would have to put in a written appeal, which I have since done.
Could I take it further?

vaio

I refer you to my previous answer

Quentin

catfandoo wrote: »

Could I take it further?

Yes.

If your appeal is rejected, then issue a formal "complaint" about the way you feel they have dealt with you via their complaints procedure, (it will be set out in your policy).

Then take it from their reply, and escalate if necessary down the procedure all the way.

catfandoo

Thanks, I have put in appeal and a complaint, no doubt be a few more weeks before I hear anything back from them.
I'll fight for as long as it takes anyway!:)

catfandoo

Well.....they have taken their time, but today I received a 3 page reply from Zenith.....and I am pleased to say they have changed their minds and are going to give me the £700 they deducted plus another £50 in compensation for my ''distress and inconvenience'' !! :j result!! Wooohoo!:T

mikey72

catfandoo wrote: »

Well.....they have taken their time, but today I received a 3 page reply from Zenith.....and I am pleased to say they have changed their minds and are going to give me the £700 they deducted plus another £50 in compensation for my ''distress and inconvenience'' !! :j result!! Wooohoo!:T

Good result. It pays to fight your corner.