Dealer Crashed my car into a wall head on

Hodi

I have a 54plate car 75k miles, I took it to the dealer for diagnostic on Tuesday 26th March. On the 27th of March I was informed it will cost £1200 to fix the gear box and will be ready on 2nd of April. 4 hours later on the same day they informed me while the driver was trying to move my car it jump started and crashed into a wall.

They offered me two options;

Straight swap with a like for like automatic care OR theyfix the car and I have a curtsey car while I wait.

28th of March I go in to see the straight swap car and it was not what I expected it is a bigger engine with higher insurance,a saloon and a small women like me I can’t see the bonnet and it is not even the same make it is a part exchange car.

I rejected this option and also viewed the damage on the wall and my car, the whole front will need to be replaced and I don’t feel safe driving it after the fix because concerned what damage it has internally.

I saw a 2008 smaller engine 1.4 37K miles for £ 4999 on the forecourt. I asked if I could have that, they said yes as long as you can pay the difference as the value of my car is on £1500. At this point I broke down I could not cope with all the pressure, the service manager said he will speak to the North West Director and will let me know if he agrees to give me the car onTuesday 2nd of April.

In the interim I keep driving the courtesy car, they also said I don’t need to speak to my insurance I am a single women and concerned where do I stand and what are my rights.

Please help
:eek:

john_white

How much is your car worth? realisticaly I mean. Check out autotrader to get an idea.

Hodi

Hi John,

Thanks I have checked my car is worth 2K.

Hodi

McKneff

You are not forced to deal with them or accept a replacement at all.

Ask for their insurance company details.

Get there insurance company involved and get them to make you a cash offer, and take your business elswere. If they wont play ball, tell them you will get a claims management company in. That will shut them up.

You also should notify your own insurance company of the incident. They are wrong in telling you that you don't need to. Its in your contract with your insurance company that you do. If you don't, you will be breeching that contract.

Don't let them bully you into anything, you haven't done anything wrong.
I wish I was somewhere close so I could come with you lol. They are completely taking advantage of you.

Cheeky sods.

Chopper_Read

Hodi wrote: »

Hi John,

Thanks I have checked my car is worth 2K.

Hodi

What car is it and where did you get your price from?

Bear in mind the initial defect it was in the garage for.

DevilsAdvocate1

It sounds to me that they don't want you to speak to your insurance as they can push you into doing what they want if you haven't got support backing you up. I would be on the phone to my insurance so that they could negotiate for me. Do you have access to a legal helpline as part of your insurance. If so, why don't you ring them and run it by them?

custardy

Hodi wrote: »

I have a 54plate car 75k miles, I took it to the dealer for diagnostic on Tuesday 26th March. On the 27th of March I was informed it will cost £1200 to fix the gear box and will be ready on 2nd of April. 4 hours later on the same day they informed me while the driver was trying to move my car it jump started and crashed into a wall.

They offered me two options;

Straight swap with a like for like automatic care OR theyfix the car and I have a curtsey car while I wait.

28th of March I go in to see the straight swap car and it was not what I expected it is a bigger engine with higher insurance,a saloon and a small women like me I can’t see the bonnet and it is not even the same make it is a part exchange car.

I rejected this option and also viewed the damage on the wall and my car, the whole front will need to be replaced and I don’t feel safe driving it after the fix because concerned what damage it has internally.

I saw a 2008 smaller engine 1.4 37K miles for £ 4999 on the forecourt. I asked if I could have that, they said yes as long as you can pay the difference as the value of my car is on £1500. At this point I broke down I could not cope with all the pressure, the service manager said he will speak to the North West Director and will let me know if he agrees to give me the car onTuesday 2nd of April.

In the interim I keep driving the courtesy car, they also said I don’t need to speak to my insurance I am a single women and concerned where do I stand and what are my rights.

Please help
:eek:

where exactly is the stress?
you dont like the swap car
so get it fixed while using a free courtesy car
however be aware you still have a £1200 bill for the fault.

Hodi

Thank you all for the advise,

This is really helpful, I suspect they don't want insurance involved because who moved my car might not have been insured to do it.

Why offer a straight swap when they could get insurance involved.
I have not asked what they would offer for my car, but as it is now been involved in an accident the value is £0.

I am expecting a call from them next week if on if I can have the 2008 car I also offered to pay £500 as contribution but under no circumstances will I buy a car because they crashed mine.

Depending on this I have legal support from my insurance including Hire Car cover so I will just have to go for it and contact them.

Hodi

Hodi

Hi Custardy,

I am happy to pay the £1200 but now it has been in an accident I will never feel safe in it the damage is not just superficial. I worry that I will always be in and out of that dealer with further issues.

Hodi

Chopper_Read

Hodi wrote: »

Thank you all for the advise,

This is really helpful, I suspect they don't want insurance involved because who moved my car might not have been insured to do it.

Why offer a straight swap when they could get insurance involved.
I have not asked what they would offer for my car, but as it is now been involved in an accident the value is £0.

I am expecting a call from them next week if on if I can have the 2008 car I also offered to pay £500 as contribution but under no circumstances will I buy a car because they crashed mine.

Depending on this I have legal support from my insurance including Hire Car cover so I will just have to go for it and contact them.

Hodi

Again what's your car?

£1200 defect and accident damage. Probably a straight write off and the end of any hire car other than at your own expense.

custardy

Hodi wrote: »

Thank you all for the advise,

This is really helpful, I suspect they don't want insurance involved because who moved my car might not have been insured to do it.

Why offer a straight swap when they could get insurance involved.
I have not asked what they would offer for my car, but as it is now been involved in an accident the value is £0.

I am expecting a call from them next week if on if I can have the 2008 car I also offered to pay £500 as contribution but under no circumstances will I buy a car because they crashed mine.

Depending on this I have legal support from my insurance including Hire Car cover so I will just have to go for it and contact them.

Hodi

they dont want to get insurance involved because its cheaper
I would expect all staff to be covered by the dealers policy in the course of business

lets deal in facts
you say your car is/was worth £2K
it needs repairs of £1.2K. so does your valuation allow for this?
so we have a £5k car you want
£4.5K with your £500
a difference of £1.5K in valuations

I' laying it out this way because this is how the dealer will work it out
its all about the numbers
so for them its how much the £5K car owes them vs what it costs to fix your car