Please help vauxhall van fire due to a fault

Naomi92

Hi please someone help me.

My partners 11month old vauxhall van set on fire "electrical fault" on the 30th December.

We don't want to go through the insurance as the van is still in warranty but vauxhall have told the insurance company they can't prove it was an electrical fault and don't want to continue this further.

The full front of the van has melted which is why they can say that, the insurance company didn't send a fire report to vauxhall because there report says the bit at fault couldn't be found.


AND Vauxhall arnt even sending anybody to look at it.


The fire report off the fire engine says the fire started under the Bonnet

Can somebody please help or offer any advice my partners business isn't doing too well ATM due to him not having the van and I'm nine months pregnant this stress is horrible.

The van is in warranty. The insurance will probably pay out but not what the van is worth! And there has been thousands spent on extras for the van! Ie inside has been racked, company logos on the van, and reverse sensors

Netwizard

This is what you pay insurance for, especially on something of this value!

Were the van modifications declared to the insurance company? If they were, I can't see why they wouldn't sort a new van out for you all kitted out like your old one. If they weren't declared to the insurance company, then that is a lesson learnt

Doesn't sound like you will get anywhere with VX and if the business isn't doing too well and you don't want the stress, it can all be resolved with one phone call to the insurance company VX is right in a way, if the van is melted, how can they tell what caused the fire? and what use would it be them sending someone out to look at it, if all they are looking at is the charred remains of a van?

Valuation for the insurance company shouldn't be difficult if it is only 11 months old. If there is any dispute over price, find similar priced vans as proof to the insurance company of what they are worth.

I just hope the extras were declared!

gilbert_and_sullivan

Racking can be removed and sold on or refitted to your next van.

Logos and reversing sensors are neither here nor there.

Claim on your insurance and let them take Vauxhall on if they want to, does your insurance cover you for a replacement vehicle in the event of write off within first year, or i the case of NFU, first two years?

Naomi92

Hey yeh all the modifications where declared the insurance company has all the receipts for the modifications.

We first rang vauxhall as all his tools wer locked in the back of the van due to all the electrics melting the key wouldn't work an they sent the AA which took the back doors off.

The insurance company then left the van sat outside the house for over a week, they eventually came to collect it few weeks down the line they understood what we was saying when we say we don't want the money just the replacement van through the vauxhall warranty.

If we accept the insurance, the price will be reduced because of the back doors, it was bought brand new, think we will only get about 9 grand when it was bought for 17. Xxx

With it being in warranty do vauxhall legally not have to do something xx

Netwizard

What model of Van is it out of interest?

Naomi92

Grr what's the point in a warranty xx

Naomi92

It's a black long wheel based vivaro sportive xx

Naomi92

The only part of the van that's ruined is the engine. All the engine melted the rest of the van is intact. So it pretty clear it's something from the engine that's set on fire, but the van hadn't been used for 12 hours that day. Xx

Netwizard

hmm, Just reading the terms and conditions of Vauxhalls lifetime warranty and saw: "Wiring harnesses, hoses and connectors are excluded". Not sure how relevant this is really but I guess the main issue is that no one can prove how the fault started, so VX are probably expecting you to go through insurance now.

Maybe speak to trading standards? I'm not sure what other advice to offer really apart from just go through the insurance. It will be a lot less hassle. If you have all the receipts and proof of purchase for £17,xxx then I can't imagine the insurance company offering you just £9k!

/edit - there is plenty of sportives on autotrader at £15-£16k + VAT so you at least have proof of what price similar vehicles are going for.

Naomi92

Iv just gave this advice to my partner I don't think he wants to go through the insurance as it's not his fault. Yeh we have all the receipts too.

Thankyou for this advice I will let you know how we get on, gunna get an independant review for fire too. xxx

Netwizard

But lots of things aren't our fault but that is what insurance is there for, to put you back in the position you were in before the loss with minimal disruption and stress, but its his call. Good luck and keep the thread updated