Speachless - Car accident in France and British company casuing the problems!!!

little_2

Hope this is the right place to post this. I am still trying to get my head around all that is going on. Holidaying in france last week left car quite happily in supermarket carpark and came out to find a lorry had hit the car. The start of everones nightmares, but actually this bit went quite smoothly. The lorry driver had come into the supermarket and they had put an anoucement out over the tannoy concerning what had happened. Shopping with two young children and a different language we didn't hear it but luckily a bi lingual english retiree did. So when we got out to the car and saw what had happened he was sorting all the paper work out. The french driver admitted whole heartedly that it was his fault and signed to say this on the accident report form. The lorry company even meant us the next day to make sure the form was filled in right with their correct insurance etc. Rang my insurance company who said no problem when you get back a hire car will be available to you whilst yours is repaired. Got home Saturday to a letter from the insurance company's car hire side to say give us a ring and we will help sort everything out. Rang them no problem but can't do anything till Monday as everywhere shut. Rang the insurance underwriters (think thats the term) and they again said no problem all should be straight forward.)

Thats where it all changed. This morning the crash repair people rang to say they would be collecting the vechile soon (still waiting!!) and the hire company would give us a car. Rang hire people again to say reallly need a car (one car family) took all the details again to be told no. NO - because accident in France they wouldn't be able to claim their cost back. Back to insurauers who said thats their right.

Now I'm confused. I have fully comprehensive insurance allowing me to drive abroad, I have been hit by a driver who admits responsibilty and has given all details needed. Yet I am having to pay my excess and have no car. This can't be right can it.

Sorry for the long story but just can't get my head around this.

movilogo

AFAIK, for most comprehensive insurances, unless stated otherwise, it automatically becomes 3rd party only outside UK. Please read your documents again to see if it mentions fully comprehensive in EUs as well.

mr_accountant

Have you got the legal insurance as part of the cover, if so i would give them call first see what they have to say. I know my insurer Zurich gives full euro insurance for 30 days total in Europe, and then if you stay longer then 30 days it becomes the minimal cover in Europe. What they mean by minimum i don’t know-maybe similar to 3rd party cover.

Also i would recommend you go to www.honestjohn.co.uk and paste your query there, plenty of specialists there.

www.honestjohn.co.uk -> backroom-> discussion

little_2

Hi

Yes, fully comprehensive insurance cover for 90 days inside the EU. I deliberatly chose them as we go abroad to France alot. The insurance was inclusive of this and european breakdown cover. So still just as confused.

waster_2

The problem, as I understand it,is not your insurance cover, which is sorting out the repairs. Am I correct?

However, you are miffed as you cannot get a hire car. Is that correct? If so then I'm afraid it's a common problem. Most UK insurance policies do not include for car hire unless you opt for it and, as usual, pay an extra on your premium. However, many insurers when they consider their insured to have been involved in a “no fault” situation have arrangements with a third party who will provide you with a “hire car”. They then take the risk that they will be able to recover their costs from the other party involved in the accident. Clearly, they do not consider the cost and effort (and probably the success) in persuing a French motorist (lorry driver) worth their while. So, unfortunately you lose out.

However, please do check your insurance carefully just to make sure you are not covered for the use of a hire car via your own insurance policy.

little_2

Hi

Yes you are correct. The problem I have is not with the insurance provider, who to be honest could not have been better, they have advise me on all aspects and don't have a problem with the french aspect. I am miffed to say the least with the insurance broker (is that the right term). As they TOLD ME ,I didn't expect or ask, but was told one hundred percent I would have a replacement car once I got back. This conversation was repeated 3 times, each time saying yes will give you a replacement car etc etc. Not until right at the last minute when someone said oh, just a minute the accident was in france then we can't help you. The accident had always been in france, they all knew this so why did they start off this replacement car fiasco.

waster_2

Unfortunately its the old story of organisations not really being capable of grasping the situation. You will probably find that in this case your insurance broker is the one that has the arrangement with the car hire company. They more than likely get a “commission” for each punter they shunt to the car hire company. So, the brokers reps are pre programmed to just tell everyone where it appears there is a no fault accident that they will get a hire car.

Suggest you speak to either one of the directors or partners at your broker and express your irritation at the lack of knowledge and professionalism of their staff. May not get you anywhere but may make you feel a bit better by letting off steam!!!!

Otherwise, hope everything else goes OK and you get your car repaired and returned ASAP.

little_2

Hi

Yes I know, - badly trained staff and gready commission hunters, but at least it already feels a bit better letting of steam!!! I was so worked up on holiday with lets just get the car home and it'll all be fine then, and then to be greeted with this is just so anoying but thats life I suppose. Thanks for all the advise though. Just want the repair company to hurry up and take the car away now rather than sitting sadly on my driveway.

vaio

If you can afford to hire a car the French insurance company will pay for it (assuming French law is the same as uk about incidental costs)

There are “ambulance chaser” type firms who make a living arranging & renting cars to people when it’s a dead cert that an insurance company will be paying.

little_2

UPDATE!!!

Don't know whether to laugh or cry!! Sitting watching TV yesterday and my insurance broker has a new ad. Primarily it states that if your car is involved in an accident you will get a replacement car for 14days. And goes on about the european breakdown cover as standard in the same breath!!! I'm obviously just one of those exceptions where my accident happened abroad. It is so irritating. I even had a phone call a couple of days ago from the legal people asking if I was happy with my replacement car. When I relayed the story to her she checked with her boss and said yes that was right. I begining to think I know their job better than them.:mad: