Sheila's Wheels problem - help please!

joeya123

Hi there,

I received a claim against me back in September last year of which I disputed with Sheila's Wheels.

Basically I was driving past an entrance to a car garage when a car rolled backwards slightly and caught the back wing of my car - no damage done, no details swapped. Until a couple of months later when I received a claim against me for an accident involving the above.

I disputed straight away, but was told immediately that Sheila's Wheels were going to accept fault - this was before the other insurer had sent through a bill for any damage, any pictures of the car or indeed any further details other than 'you hit the other parties car'.

At the time I asked them for a stop to be put on this as I was 100% not at fault, showed them evidence of my car etc and told them they should not accept fault.

In January I got a call from Sheila's Wheels saying that the other party had withdrawn their claim and it would be removed from the record.

Last month I received my renewal quote, with my no claims bonus removed - I queried this and was told that there was a claim against me and that they had settled for a 50-50 (claim amount was £300, so £150). This has doubled my car insurance - I'm 27 with no other penalties.

I've sent a complaint to Sheila's a Wheels on the 19th May and haven't heard anything back, I also spoke to them on the phone and disputed it and they just said sorry we didn't tell you.

Am I wrong to think that they've absolutely done me over here? I'm so frustrated with their service and the fact my no claims bonus has disappeared, could do with some advice and an idea of where to take this further as the insurer are of absolutely no help.

Any comments would be appreciated! Thanks.

maddogb

Sounds rough mate, as I am finding at the moment some insurer's are trying every trick in the book to do us out of money and using awful tactics against the consumers.
In future I will insist on any comms from insurers being in writing or not being accepted as well, they seem to have a habit of failing to send requested recordings of phone calls
Think SWs are owned by the awful lot I am fighting with Esure?

Quentin

You have done the correct thing by complaining.


Once you get a reply to your complaint (or it is ignored for 8 weeks) you are able to escalate the issue to the FOS if you are unhappy with the reply


Alternatively if you get nowhere with the complaint you could consider reimbursing them their £150 outlay and get your lost NCD reinstated

maddogb

The Fos can be a time-consuming waste if time with adjudicators taking decisions on blatent "untruths" see my post about suing them.
Not sure if paying them will make any difference it was the 3rd party who claimed not the op so legally a no win however for 150 they might consider it.

Quentin

maddogb wrote: »

The Fos can be a time-consuming waste if time...

Disagree.


Lots of evidence that FOS favours the consumer rather than the Insurer (But if it goes all the way to FOS, then it is a long time to get to the end)


The OP has no alternative over a complaint and escalation (all at no cost to him) other than to take legal action which will be expensive unless he wins!

Retrogamer

I'd ask them to explain how you were partially negligent for the incident also alongside the advise from above.

joeya123

Quentin wrote: »

You have done the correct thing by complaining.


Once you get a reply to your complaint (or it is ignored for 8 weeks) you are able to escalate the issue to the FOS if you are unhappy with the reply


Alternatively if you get nowhere with the complaint you could consider reimbursing them their £150 outlay and get your lost NCD reinstated

Am I able to offer a reimbursement to them and reinstate the no claims?

Also, am I able to view the other parties claim anywhere? The incident actually happened at the entrance of a Nissan garage where the other party was going in to 'have some work done'...

Thanks for all your responses so far.

maddogb

Quentin wrote: »

Disagree.


Lots of evidence that FOS favours the consumer rather than the Insurer (But if it goes all the way to FOS, then it is a long time to get to the end)


The OP has no alternative over a complaint and escalation (all at no cost to him) other than to take legal action which will be expensive unless he wins!

Now if I had said "will" be a waste of time I can see a potential for disagreement, I didn't say that and my own experience was indeed a complete waste of over 3 months with a adjudicator who quite frankly was not up to the job and the fact that the FOS ombudsman assigned to the job for review couldn't see that does not bode well for the organisation.
I think they may make it look like they favour the consumer but I found them to do the absolute minimum required to stay within the law and hence a waste of time.
seriously mate you want to see bias in favour of the company, see the post in this thread with a summary by the adjudicator.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5430005

Quentin

joeya123 wrote: »

Am I able to offer a reimbursement to them and reinstate the no claims?

Also, am I able to view the other parties claim anywhere? The incident actually happened at the entrance of a Nissan garage where the other party was going in to 'have some work done'...

Thanks for all your responses so far.

Ask them (most companies wil let you do this), they can only say no! (You sure the claim is only for £150??)


And ask them for details of the claim too. (There's nowhere you can "view" it)

joeya123

Quentin wrote: »

Ask them (most companies wil let you do this), they can only say no! (You sure the claim is only for £150??)


And ask them for details of the claim too. (There's nowhere you can "view" it)

Yes the initial claim was for approx. £300, unsure if they add anything on top of that amount for processing etc.

I have no paperwork or notification from Sheila's Wheels as so far they've been next to useless in providing any information whatsoever.

My renewal is due next week so I think I'll propose the payment of £150 and take the complaint further when they get in touch.

Quentin

Be prepared for the possibility the final bill is more - they can claim 50% of all their losses not just the repair bill such as hire car whilst car in for repairs/loss of earnings etc