Rear-end shunt.. not our fault..now what?

doningtonphil

What about your travel insurance. A few years ago my brother booked a trip to France on Le shuttle and paid an extra fiver for travel insurance on a whim. Anyway, 2 days before departure his car broke down (old Ford orion) but the travel insurance paid for a brand new avensis hire car for the duration of the trip

Quentin

steampunkmimi wrote: »

Inch High et al. So it's perfectly reasonable behaviour to assume that *everyone* who drives an older car around does so because the car doesn't matter a jot? We kept an older car because it was reliable, and we couldn't afford to buy a replacement.

Is it also reasonable to assume that everyone has savings, or can afford loan repayments? Sometimes, budgets are already stretched to their limits. More people than ever are using food banks, yet still people here are assuming so much at the drop of a hat.

Then there was the silly post describing my comments as "hysterical". There is no hysteria here. Just a fairly high level of stress induced by the results of the actions of some tool who was driving without due care and attention. We've also discovered this weekend that friends of ours are experiencing something similar. Their vehicle is an obvious write-off, they're supposed to attend an important family event in a couple of weeks, yet they still haven't been given a figure for their vehicle.

We won't know what our budget for a replacement is until perhaps next weekend. We're in limbo, and cannot even start shopping for a replacement in earnest until at least then.

A short drive this weekend (assessor advised that the car was perfectly driveable) revealed further problems, so this is going to be rather more than a relatively simple bumper repair.

As for contacting the insurance, all we did was notify them, and ask what we were supposed to do. This is our first incident in 20 years, and we genuinely did not know what to do, other than notify our insurance that we'd suffered a rear-end shunt.

Why won't you know what your budget for a replacement is "until perhaps next weekend"?

You can get a good idea now , and ought to be researching now anyway. Otherwise how will you know whether or not the settlement offer is fair?

Assuming you don't know what it will cost to replace your car, then look for similar aged models for sale.

Bear in mind that you don't normally pay the asking price, and that your insurer will deduct any premium outstanding (if you pay in instalments) and your excess and you will have a good idea of the settlement you will get.

(You'll normally need to reclaim your excess along with any other uninsured losses from the third party)

As previously posted you should be on the lookout for your replacement now!

stebiz

Webuyanycar will give you an 'idea' of the value of your car but as said 14 years old I can't see you getting more than a few hundred pounds.............on most cars.

You do seem to be going a bit OTT though. A car is a car. Bought and sold loads of them over the years. Go to a dealer today and you walk out with one today.

DUTR

steampunkmimi wrote: »

Inch High et al. So it's perfectly reasonable behaviour to assume that *everyone* who drives an older car around does so because the car doesn't matter a jot? We kept an older car because it was reliable, and we couldn't afford to buy a replacement.

Is it also reasonable to assume that everyone has savings, or can afford loan repayments? Sometimes, budgets are already stretched to their limits. More people than ever are using food banks, yet still people here are assuming so much at the drop of a hat.

Then there was the silly post describing my comments as "hysterical". There is no hysteria here. Just a fairly high level of stress induced by the results of the actions of some tool who was driving without due care and attention. We've also discovered this weekend that friends of ours are experiencing something similar. Their vehicle is an obvious write-off, they're supposed to attend an important family event in a couple of weeks, yet they still haven't been given a figure for their vehicle.

We won't know what our budget for a replacement is until perhaps next weekend. We're in limbo, and cannot even start shopping for a replacement in earnest until at least then.

A short drive this weekend (assessor advised that the car was perfectly driveable) revealed further problems, so this is going to be rather more than a relatively simple bumper repair.

As for contacting the insurance, all we did was notify them, and ask what we were supposed to do. This is our first incident in 20 years, and we genuinely did not know what to do, other than notify our insurance that we'd suffered a rear-end shunt.

Not sure why you are so defensive, the mere fact you are going on some sort of holiday suggests there is some disposable income somewhere.
I suppose you could just as you choose stay closed minded to any ideas and just be inconvenienced and possibly a jeapordised holiday (which we all deserve a holiday) and wait for the insurance cheque then move on from that point.

arcon5

Millions are driving older cars because they cannot afford anything else. Why the assumption that if a car is old, it's not important?

Okay -- that's a fair comment. I'll jog on with my tail between my legs. I do though stand by my view that finding a new used car shouldn't be too difficult in the time frame stated

Iceweasel

Removed as the OP didn't like it.

Ozzuk

What car was it? And do you honestly think you should have a paid-for hire car until you find the perfect car? What if that takes 6 months? Where is the incentive for you to buy a 14 year old car if you can claim you are looking and drive around in a nice shiny new car?

I'm just posting that to show try and show you its not reasonable. I can fully understand how frustrating it is to be inconvenienced through no fault of your own but its happened so you just need to get on with it.

Unless you own a classic, a 14 yr old car is likely around the 500-800 mark. Unless you had a pre-check done you've no idea the car would have passed the MOT, I've had cars I thought were 'mint' fail. So, do an items search on ebay for cars ending soon near you get the free car paper and look for cheap motors, or indeed look on autotrader/pistonheads for the same car model you have now. It can be done in a few days, and if it's so critical to you then you'll have to make time for it.

Good luck, sucks its happened but at least liability is clear and it will be sorted quickly.

topdaddy_2

Op if your car is that important you'll get it sorted instead of moaning how long it will take. It could takes weeks if you want, or less if you want. Up to you.

Stoke

I had a hire car for 2 weeks after I was shunted.

I don't think your travel plans matter unless you're injured and unable to travel.

AdrianC

steampunkmimi wrote: »

Inch High et al. So it's perfectly reasonable behaviour to assume that *everyone* who drives an older car around does so because the car doesn't matter a jot? We kept an older car because it was reliable, and we couldn't afford to buy a replacement.

Is it also reasonable to assume that everyone has savings, or can afford loan repayments? Sometimes, budgets are already stretched to their limits. More people than ever are using food banks, yet still people here are assuming so much at the drop of a hat.

I think you might find this is a site where people are actually more likely to realise that, y'know.
It's also a site where people are more inclined to be sympathetic towards those who actively think about how to maximise their resources.

We've also discovered this weekend that friends of ours are experiencing something similar. Their vehicle is an obvious write-off, they're supposed to attend an important family event in a couple of weeks, yet they still haven't been given a figure for their vehicle.

By which, I suspect the more accurate wording would be "they still haven't _agreed_ a figure". Can you see the difference?

We won't know what our budget for a replacement is until perhaps next weekend. We're in limbo, and cannot even start shopping for a replacement in earnest until at least then.

Of course you can. You must have a reasonable guideline as to the value of the car. If not, give details - make, model, spec - and we can give you a ballpark - but I'd be very surprised if your insurer haven't already.

A short drive this weekend (assessor advised that the car was perfectly driveable) revealed further problems, so this is going to be rather more than a relatively simple bumper repair

OK, so it's definitely dead. The only question is how much and how soon you receive. You have the hire car until a settlement is agreed, and then you should receive the payout fairly sharply. But, remember, because you're claiming from your insurer, your wiggle room is restricted by the fact that you're party to a contract with them, and so are bound by that. Read what that says. Either way, hoping to have the hire car on somebody else's coin for the holiday is not reasonable.

doningtonphil wrote: »

What about your travel insurance. A few years ago my brother booked a trip to France on Le shuttle and paid an extra fiver for travel insurance on a whim. Anyway, 2 days before departure his car broke down (old Ford orion) but the travel insurance paid for a brand new avensis hire car for the duration of the trip

Indeed. Investigate your travel insurance. You may need to cancel and receive your money back.

DUTR wrote: »

Not sure why you are so defensive, the mere fact you are going on some sort of holiday suggests there is some disposable income somewhere.

A little cynical, perhaps, but trying to invoke the "food bank" sympathy vote because of inconvenience to your holiday plans does sound a little incompatible, let's say.