Tesco Car Insurance problem

MartinCavie

At the beginning of May I was stopped by Hertfordshire Police for not having car insurance. I told the officer that this was a mistake as I had only just renewed it with Tesco.

He rang Tesco only to be told that my insurance had been cancelled due to non payment. My car was impounded and I had to make my own way home. I got all my details sorted and went and collected my car the next day.

On doing some more investigation it appeared that Tesco had taken the february payment out of my bank and then cancelled the insurance before the march payment was due. Yet they still took the march payment.

I rang them and after speaking to lots of different people I finally received a letter from them stating that I was insured. Herts police cancelled the ticket and are taking no further action.

As I was on my way to a business meeting and subsequently lost 2 days money and also my Father had to come and get me and then take me back the next day I am trying to claim compensation for all this. My claim is just over £2000. Tesco started by offering me £50, and after a week of discussion this got to £350. I am still out of pocket as this cost me £150 just to get my car released, without all the other expenses etc.

They seemed to have buried their head in the sand now and will not talk to me. It seems like I have very little option other than to take them through the small claims court.

Unless anyone else has any advice.

Quentin

A scc claim for £2000 will cost around £300 in court fees alone if it ends up with a hearing. You only get this added on to your claim (to be paid by the defendant) if you win. If you lose, you also have the defendant's expenses etc to pay, so get some legal advice on this before you start your action.

forgotmyname

I thought you had to claim the impound fees back from the police/pound?

So I dont think they will pay for that.

£2000 for 2 days? Can i have your job?

I think the courts will see that as rather excessive.

Bufger

You're claiming £2000 for losses because of this but I cant see where the breakdown for this is. You will need to explain each part of this for it to be a viable case in court.

2 days wages = £300 for a reasonable job (40k?)
Getting the car back = £150
Petrol for your Dad = £40 max? unless he lives in Cumbria and you're in Cornwall.
Phonecalls = £15max

Correct me if you're in some 100k+ per annum job.

rs65

Everyone has a duty to mitigate any loss they suffer. You could've hired a car for two days for say £100. A taxi would be cheaper than £2k.

£350 seems quite generous to me.