Help advice re car

danemi1

I have a 53 plate Nissan primera..it only has 50k on the clock..genuine mileage. I have just paid £200 last month for a years insurance. If we go anywhere at all as a family we go in hubby's car. Mine is only used to and from work and school and to the supermarket. For ages now I have wanted to swap it for a small car...dream car being a VW beetle.

Last week my son opened the rear door as I was reversing... Wondered what the heck had happened a really loud bang. My beautiful tree at the side of the drive rather took an exception to having my car door being wedged in its heart and soul. I had to pull forward to free it.

The back door wouldn't shut and the front door wouldn't open. The post between front and rear door.. it turns out had twisted. managed to get it to Local garage as I was going to pay myself and not claim. I got a lift to work and bless the guys at the garage they had pulled it around so that they could make the door close properly.

Once I realised about the pillar he garage chap felt quite sure that it would be a write off. I have protected no claims and a £300 excess.

I have today spoken to the garage where the insurance company wanted the veh taking to..cost of fixing it is £1297, can't think that the car is worth more. The admin chap from garage phoned me today to say there are fixing it. When I got home from work today I phoned them to query this. The insurance person said they put it through a computer system and as most folk don't want it writing off they opt for fixing. H said its my car too and I do have a say. He all get someone to ring me tomorrow. Not sure what to do..would love to get smaller car and now tis has happened I am. Worried about putting my children in the car with the pillar twisted..know it would be fixed but rather dubious. Am not in a position to put much money to it..maybe 1k but that is about it

Any ideas or advice anyone?????

Christopher7

Hi Danemi1

I am not overly sure what you are asking, but i assume you want your vehicle written off?

Unfortunately this is largely up to the insurance company, if it is cheaper for them to repair the vehicle, they will. If its cheaper to write it off and pay you the value of the car, they will.

The pillar you refer to is called the B post and its vital for the structural integrity of your car. If the insurer does end up repairing your vehicle, make sure it is done by a Nissan approved repairer, as they will have been trained by Nissan in replacing the b post and that way you can be confident your vehicle has been repaired to its pre accident condition.

It may also increase the cost of the repair as the Nissan approved repairer won't be cutting corners and they won't have a commercial agreement with your insurer. This may increase the repairs above the repair threshold and the insurer may decide to write it off.

danemi1

thank you so much for the reply
I have spoken with them half hour ago - if I insist on taking it to nissan approved the excess will be £450 not £300. He doesnt know for sure if their repairer is nssan approved but says they work with all types of cars and are approved by lots of companies

He also said he will look at how much it would be to get written off and is ringing me back soon

InsideInsurance

It sounds like you went to the garage of your choice (given you werent going to claim) and now are saying you dont trust that garage to do a good job? Why did you chose that garage if you dont trust them?

If a vehicle isnt structurally safe to repair insurers wont repair it though in some cases these days it is purely the garage that make the decision through delegated authority schemes.

Christopher7

Insurers are imposing additional excesses if you don't wish to have your car repaired by their approved bodyshops but the OFT are looking at whether this is legal as it can be construed as anti competitive. It is your car and you should be able to choose where it is repaired.

I don't like advising this but there are many garages out there who will add the additional £150 on the repair bill, so they can afford to reimburse you.

Have a look at this video about poorly repaired b posts.

http://www.centralaccident.com/

InsideInsurance

Christopher7 wrote: »

It is your car and you should be able to choose where it is repaired.

Read the original post again. The OP did chose the garage themselves, it just happened that the garage was also an approved repairer for their insurer.

Christopher7

Hi Inside Insurance

It didn't read that way to me.

I have today spoken to the garage where the insurance company wanted the veh taking to..cost of fixing it is £1297,

vax2002

Your son is OK thats main, that could have gone so terribly wrong !

forgotmyname

Even though you have protected no claims the premium is likely to increase as your now more of a risk.

They say you are now more likely to make further claims.

chanz4

It will be the insurances choice, I wouldn't push for a write off too much as they may smell a rat

danemi1

Sorry have been away from pooter.

Initially. Was going to pay for the damage myself so took it to local garage to have a look at it for me...once they said aout the b pillar. I realised it had to be an insurance job so rang them...they got a company to come and collect it...I had no choice I where it went. I have asked them if their garage is a Nissan approved one and it is not....they have given me a price now for writing it off and they are going to ring me tomorrow to sort it