UPDATE......Use third parties insurance company or my solicitor?

JPS29

Thanks vaio but they have me by the balls on this one as its a previous write off, (which I was aware of) I bought the car as I knew the previous owner personally and they had had it for a long time and the previous write off was only cosmetical really and a wishbone/wheel.
When I told the rep I should be ablt to go and by like for like she said that there was no way they could buy me a previous write off so adjusted values by 20 percent.
I'm past arguing with them, its gonna cost them more than the few hundred quid theyre shafting me on now in solicitors and physio fees so they will lose out more than me in the long run.
Easy to see why people jump on accident management companies straight away rather than let the third party settle.
I'll be ringing the PI handler from their team tomorrow out of courtesy to let him know Ill be instructing my own solicitor.

dacouch

Incidently if you had used your own Insurers and had purchased the car three weeks before the accident, the Ombudsman's guidelines are the Insurer should settle at the price you paid as the car was recently purchased.

See Viao's link for information on this.

When dealing direct with the third party insurers they are under no obligation to follow the Ombudsmans guidance

vaio

to clarify......are you saying you'd had the car a week and now are being offered £300 less than you paid for it?

JPS29

Yes. Private sale. Only a cheap car anyway a 53 plate megane. High miles but only 1 former keeper. Tax and test service history previous cat c £1200.
Only bought it because we knew the seller, mrs wanted a black car, and it fitted the bill. Closest rival in black was 1800. So thought the price was fair considering high miles and previous cat c.
I've accepted their offer now anyway as they told me they would just send the cheque and take the courtesy car 7 days after the cheque date and if I wanted to dispute it I would have to get different adverts to back my price up. They have found one with a private seller 9 miles away which wasn't there when I looked for 200 more than I paid for mine but only 70k miles and no cat c.
I just would have thought with me playing ball with them they would have reciprocated....

dacouch

Were you aware it was Cat C when you purchased it?

JPS29

Yes it was cat c 4 years ago Vic checked by vosa. Mots and serviced every year

JPS29

Thanks for the info dacouch. Does the same apply re dealing with them direct re the PI side of the claim in that they don't have to follow guidelines?

dacouch

Have you recovered from the injuries yet?

JPS29

Not a chance. Only happened last week. Went to GP as shoulder was crippling me and bruised anyway from the belt. Feels like it was pulled out of place. Doc sent me for X-ray. Said he could see the difference between one side and the other and wanted to rule out broken bones them he was sure not disc located but thinks I may have done at least muscle and or tendon damage requiring physio. He said it could end up a frozen shoulder which is what we don't want as may need cortisone and poss surgery. I also have whiplash symptoms of sore neck headaches. That's why I was thinking it best to instruct a solicitor now as I missed work last week will miss next weeks work and would prob be better to get the ball rolling with them than leave the insurance company dealing with it in house and then I have no recourse if/when they make a derisory offer

dacouch

I would not be dealing direct with them on the injury.

Do you have legal cover on your car insurance or are you a member of a union?