Non-fault accident - Courtesy car and other problems.

Kefte

Hi,

10-days ago ago a drunk driver lost control down our street and hit into 4-cars, including our own (leaving it undrivable). They were immediately arrested by the police and admitted liability.

Tesco Insurance (my insurance company) were informed immediately and "started" proceedings. After the crash I rang up everyday begging for a courtesy car from Tesco Insurance - they promised Albany Assistance would be in touch (nobody rang me and if they did they didn't leave an answer phone message). This went on twice a day until yesterday when I got a letter from Albany and I rang them. They told me it is now too late to have a courtesy car! I've rang up Tesco, they told me I could hire my own (but Legal Team said I might not get the hire costs back). It took Tesco a week to get an assessor out too - after they didn't instruct one to come out until 5-days after the crash.

I think I might get a settlement figure soon - I sent the documentation off yesterday too. But this could all be another 2-weeks and then there's buying a new car. How do I go looking for a car without a car?

We are a one car family, I take my partner to and from work some days of the week and he drives others. We have a disabled son (Doose Syndrome) with mobility problems (some days he cannot walk), learning delays and autism. So we cannot rely on public transport. A car is our need and I'm beyond coping without one. Taxi fares are dipping into what little money we have too (£30+ a day).


I thought my policy covered a courtesy car (Tesco) but only if repairable, and plus I was claiming off the other person's insurance so surely a courtesy car should be automatic (well that's what I thought)?

Lastly, my partner is using Taxi fares and I've requested to claim these back and for my time on the phone (as I should be working - I'm self-employed for a mobile app company). But they've not sent me anything yet (and I requested this a week ago too).

Help. What do I do? I was thinking about complaining to the Financial Ombudsman?

Nodding_Donkey

Claiming taxi fares and for a hire car would come under 'uninsured losses' Did you have Legal Expenses or ULR cover attached to your policy?

Kefte

I spoke to the Legal Team and they said they would send me "a pack" to claim back these expenses. But I still haven't got it yet, and I am sick of ringing them and saying they'll do something and they don't. And then ringing back and having a 30-minute conversation with someone and then losing more money because I'm not working. And then it still not happening. Since the accident I must have spent several hours on the phone! :mad:

It was like this with the assessor. It has been like this with the courtesy car. And now with reclaiming my out of pocket expenses! And each time I'm losing out because of their incompetence.

I have a 'Uninsured Loss' part in the policy, it states I can claim for "out of pocket expenses". Which I assume means fares. They're just not making this easy for me.

neilmcl

Did the drunk driver have insurance? Too late now but you would have had a better response either claiming from the tp insurer directly or contacting a claims management company yourself.

Kefte

Yes, the drink driver had insurance - but I don't have those details and Tesco won't give them to me. I have asked Tesco to speak to them for me, in regards to a courtesy car, and Tesco rang me back to tell me they should contact me. They still haven't contacted me - this was 3-days ago.

I am ringing Tesco this morning to ask them to inform the other insurance company that I am waiting to be contacted.

I hate how everything is "too late" when it took them a week to assess my car. My neighbour (who's car was also hit and badly damaged) rang-up their insurance the day after the accident, whilst I rang up 24-hours before them, and their assessor came out within 2-hours, a courtesy car within 3-hours and had the car towed away an hour later. They were paid out at the start of this week too. I think I might be changing insurance companies for my next policy!

OnanTheBarbarian

Go here and pay £4 to get the insurance company details of the third party, then call them up and explain your situation

http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx

Tell your own lot what you have done so there is no duplication of effort or additional costs incurred unnecessarily.

The reason Albany will be messing about and not providing hire is that you have managed a few days without a car, so this potentially gives the other insurer an argument to say if you lasted a week without a car, justify why you then hired one after that time.

Just make sure you explain to the third party insurers your own personal situation and what steps have been taken regarding any inspection of your own car etc.

Oh and make sure you keep receipts for any expenditure so you can prove it.

daveyjp

It is concerning that when you asked about hiring a car you were told you may not get your hire costs back. If Albany Assist had provided a car this would have been a hire car and from Tescos stance on you hiring a car it is reasonable to assume that you would have been liable for their extortionate hire fees.

Tesco probably told you this because if you hire a car they won't get the kickback from Albany.

I would hire a car to get you through the process of buying a car then put in your claim for the costs incurred as a result of the incident.

Kefte

OnanTheBarbarian wrote: »

Go here and pay £4 to get the insurance company details of the third party, then call them up and explain your situation

http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx

Tell your own lot what you have done so there is no duplication of effort or additional costs incurred unnecessarily.

The reason Albany will be messing about and not providing hire is that you have managed a few days without a car, so this potentially gives the other insurer an argument to say if you lasted a week without a car, justify why you then hired one after that time.

Just make sure you explain to the third party insurers your own personal situation and what steps have been taken regarding any inspection of your own car etc.

Oh and make sure you keep receipts for any expenditure so you can prove it.

Although I didn't use this service, I did use it as leverage to make Tesco give me the details. And they did.

Other insurance company were fantastic, courtesy car sorted - actually they offered £100 or a courtesy car. Plus we've made a deal on the taxi fares for compensation. It's being delivered in the morning. :j

And I've made a verbal complaint (and currently writing a letter) to Tesco Insurance. I also asked them on Saturday for the other party's insurance, so I asked them twice! The other insurance company says they have not been contacted by Tesco to contact me - so who do I believe? So livid with having to cope without when I didn't have to! :mad:

OnanTheBarbarian

Glad you got sorted

londonTiger

LOL, another poster wrote how a drunk friend drove their car and crashed into 4 parked cars. Are you two related by any chance?

neilmcl

Kefte wrote: »

Although I didn't use this service, I did use it as leverage to make Tesco give me the details. And they did.

Other insurance company were fantastic, courtesy car sorted - actually they offered £100 or a courtesy car. Plus we've made a deal on the taxi fares for compensation. It's being delivered in the morning. :j

And I've made a verbal complaint (and currently writing a letter) to Tesco Insurance. I also asked them on Saturday for the other party's insurance, so I asked them twice! The other insurance company says they have not been contacted by Tesco to contact me - so who do I believe? So livid with having to cope without when I didn't have to! :mad:

Always pays to claim direct from the TP insurer if you can. Good job :T