Replacement childs car seat - cost of damaged one or replacement

nikki&asha

Hi,


Hope some one can help me.


Some one kindly decided to reverse straight into my drivers door and the door is being replaced. Thankfully my son was not with me but his car seat (Britax duo plus with top tether) was. My car has 3 doors and the seat was behind me and full of my shattered window glass last time I saw it!


I told my insurance I will be replacing it, no question and they said it was covered (they will be getting it all back from TP anyway). My policy states up to £250 for car seats - I got mine for £135 after much research and price matching. It was a perfect match for my car/son and the safest I could buy at the time.


Insurance company (Octagon) said send in receipts and I emailed them the receipt for the Britax - which is around 18 months old. (Still waiting to hear - could be 14 days.)


My son is 16.78 kg and the weight limit for his was 18kg so he can go in the next size up but could have waited longer if they hadn't crashed into me. I have researched the safest option in the next size and found the right one but it is on sale and only £40.

Have I sent off the right receipt (damaged seat £135) or will they only pay for the new £40 one?


I know its more important he has a safe seat but will probably be a bit miffed if they only pay the £40.


Does anyone have any experience/knowledge to settle my mind?


Many thanks, Nikki

Pajoma

Take the £40 and you've saved money by having the accident.

Had you not had the accident, you would have had to pay £40 for a new seat out of uour own pocket in a few months whereas now you don't have to.

You are now in a better position than before.


Edit: what I meant was, if the insurer decide to directly replace the old one, you'll have to change it in a few months at your own expense

nikki&asha

Thanks Pajoma


I suppose I'll have to wait and see what they pay as its not confirmed yet.


I know it seems silly but I was going to use the Britax for my Nephew as it had a good few years left in it and would save me a lot of hassle moving seats/worry over ill-fitting seats. I would have had no problem spending £40 extra for the new safest seat for my son on top.


Like you say, I'll not be worse off - it just feels that way.

molerat

They may send you an insurance replacement voucher for somewhere like Halfords to the value of the old seat which can be a bonus as it is just like a gift voucher.

Pajoma

I know what you mean.

Do you intend to have anymore kids? If so it might be worth pushing for a like for like replacement as you can save it for your next child.

The insurer might just send you a cheque for £135! If so, happy days

xHannahx

My insurance assessor noted the model of car seat in his report and the need to replace. My insurer then asked me to gather for them evidence of the price of that seat at a local retailer and paid current market price and not the price I had paid for it. They accepted a photo I took on my phone of the price sticker in Halfords.
They should be paying for the damaged seat, not the replacement, otherwise what is to stop you replacing it with a top of the range seat.

nikki&asha

No more children planned - have a girl and a boy with a 9 year gap - I'm done (who knew they grow into Teenagers!).


I'm hoping for a cheque tbh - if they send a voucher I'm stuffed as have already ordered replacement seat so its ready to go as soon as have car back. (I have a borrowed one for hire car.)


I may even just get another one the same anyway as have lots of friends with children that age group so useful for car sharing. I'm probably over cautious with car seats and don't like the idea of any child not being in the most safe seat possible whether they are mine or not.


I will update when I find out.


Thanks for the help - its always useful to talk it out.

nikki&asha

xHannahx wrote: »

My insurance assessor noted the model of car seat in his report and the need to replace. My insurer then asked me to gather for them evidence of the price of that seat at a local retailer and paid current market price and not the price I had paid for it. They accepted a photo I took on my phone of the price sticker in Halfords.
They should be paying for the damaged seat, not the replacement, otherwise what is to stop you replacing it with a top of the range seat.

That's very true xHannahx - I think I would struggle to get a the same seat/tether for £135 again anyway - it was a bargain . I will be more than happy with the £135 though as I have chose a replacement based on safety tests/compatibility not price.


I feel a bit better now as that is a very reasonable stance - I hope my insurers are the same.


thank you, Nikki