Car Insurence claim question

marvin

Hello all My son has recently needed to make a claim on his insurence due to a break in of his car.

Now nothing was broken when they broke in the police claim that the rear window was wound down using magnets.

Now the police reckon that there was also damage done to the car including front facias and wiring but the insurance co disagree and are refusing to do any work on it claiming no break in occurred.

It was parked at his place of work, the security cameras had been smashed so no camera evidence.

The insurence co is refusing to take the police report as proof of a break in any one with any helpful advice?

movilogo

Which insurer by the way?

They are simply acting unprofessionally. If the police confirmed break in why they are refusing to accept that?

Just tell them that you'll go to court if they don't pay up. You can try with Ombudsman but they can simply suggest something to companies where as court can give order.

Does your son have to pay any excess? consider also whether it is worth claiming as it may affect his NCD.

raskazz

If a case is passed to the FOS then the insurer is actually bound by the FOS's decision, if the complainant agrees with the decision.

olly300

It may be worth you causing a lot of bother to the insurance company by following their complaints procedure to the letter and use recorded delivery to send any written correspondence. Keeping both a copy of the letter and the receipt. *

In your letter ask the insurers whether a break-in verified by the police as a break-in is a break in for insurance purposes. State that you want a written response to your letter and state that you will take them to the insurance ombudsman if you don't recieve a satisfactory response.

Do not engage in anyother correspondence apart from written correspondence with them, insist they answer your letter fully and then take them to the financial ombudsman if you are not happy with the result or they don't answer your letter in writing within 3 months.

The financial ombudsman rulings are made on common sense and in cases like this http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/31/ins-case-31.htm (scroll down to the garage forecourt) where the insurance company has tried to wiggle out of the contract they have been forced to honour it.

Even if you decide to take the insurer to court, the court will want to see that you took all steps to resolve the issue and written records are the easiest way of doing so.

*I had an issue with a insurance company and like many other companies they decided to claim that my letter was lost. However when I pointed out it was sent by recorded delivery they were suddenly able to find it again.

marvin

Sorry for delay in response did not know the answers to some questions
The insurers were (are) Kwik Fit (not sure what that is a rebrand of) the repair firm involved was Richmond Motors.

Richmond Motors wanted to take 2 weeks to look at car (had not looked at it a week after taking it away) then decided that no break in had occurred.

Insurance have not received any details from police and seem to not care any way.

Son has solved the problem by 1. selling the car (for half what he paid for it 4 months ago) and buying a new one!

Kwik Fit have agreed to transfer the insurence to new car.