Bell has told me I'm not covered on my insurance

Helenaj

I have full comp car insurance. Just over a week ago on the way home from work, I was parked at traffic lights. when I went to pull away my car started over-revving and black smoke pouring from the vehicle at the back and white smoke pouring out from under the bonnet. I managed to pull to one side, exited the vehicle and took my keys out, but the engine would not switch off. To cut a long story short, my engine exploded and I had to call the fire brigade. I contacted Bell and explained what I thought was an engine fire, they took the details and sent an assessor out last Tuesday who said it wasn't a fire but that the turbo had failed and literally sucked all of the oil out of my engine, causing the pistons to explode. My car is a right off because there is no bottom in the engine!
I have been in touch with my insurer today who state that since I didn't stall the engine the turbo damaged my engine and since it is mechanical I'm not covered. Now I can understand them not covering me for the cost of the turbo, but since my car has been wrecked by it failing, can't I at least claim for the damage caused? As for not stalling it, there was a health and safety issue in that I thought the car was going to explode, so I exited it pretty quick. The last thing on my mind was "oh I must stall my engine...". Any help or advice as to where I stand legally would be gratefully received. Is it worth speaking to the Ombudsman? I'm so upset.
Thanks
Helena

David_InsDef

Hi Helena,

You would need to raise a formal complaint with Bell Insurance and if they decision doesn't get overturned then take it to the Ombudsman once Bell have issued a final response to your complaint. They have up to 8 weeks to issue a final response.

Best regards

David

David_InsDef

PS I take it they know the car had a turbo fitted (or was it fitted by the manufacturer as standard)?

Helenaj

David_InsDef wrote: »

PS I take it they know the car had a turbo fitted (or was it fitted by the manufacturer as standard)?

Hi

It's fitted as standard. I'll try the complaint route but was wondering if they were pushing their luck in the hope that I would not challenge them.

Thanks for your swift replies.

Regards

Helena

InsideInsurance

You are covered for Fire, Theft and Accidental Damage. You are not covered for mechanical breakdown/ failure.

It doesnt sound as if there was a fire but even if there was the cause of the fire is excluded and only the resultant damage is covered. So the engine damage would be excluded and the fire damage to the bonnet, wings etc would be but if the engine itself writes off the vehicle then again there is no further liability on the insurer

rudekid48

How old is the car? Mechanical failure is not normally covered by your car insurance. How long have you had the car and was it a private purchase or bought from a dealer?

OnanTheBarbarian

So the car has not caught fire and been wrecked/ burnt out?

If it is a case that the turbo oil seals have gone, sucking engine oil through the turbo into the engine inlet, so that the engine essentially runs by itself on it's own oil until it shats itself, then it is just a mechanical failure and your motor insurance won't cover it.

if the car caught fire and burned out, the fire damage to the car would be covered.

Kind of like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6FwWzf3cMI

rs65

Were there flames?

Helenaj

rs65 wrote: »

Were there flames?

None that I could see, just reams of smoke. When the fire brigade turned up they were holding a hose over the engine and it didn't cool it for over 10 minutes and you still couldn't put your hands on it. I reported it as a fire because at that point I knew no different.

In response to an earlier email the car is diesel, it's 12 years old and I have had it from almost new. It's been maintained prioperly and has flown every MOT. I'm gutted.

Bantex_2

Standard car insurance does not cover mechanical failure or repair.

InsideInsurance

Helenaj wrote: »

None that I could see, just reams of smoke. When the fire brigade turned up they were holding a hose over the engine and it didn't cool it for over 10 minutes and you still couldn't put your hands on it. I reported it as a fire because at that point I knew no different.

Fire is normally fairly strictly defined as requiring flames, and flames outside of the combustion chamber, and not just simply heat.

By all means register a complaint and escalate but from what you are saying its a mechanical failure and so something that'd be covered by a warranty not motor insurance