Car Insurance - Without Drive Assist!

Crowmanuk

Theres an online form you can fill in for watchdog mate, I filled it in too
Just google for "watchdog Uk" then click the "got a story" link
Once you've exhausted the DriveAssist complaints procedure you'll need to get in touch with the Financial Ombudsman, give them a call and they'll send you a form to fill out to put a complaint in.
Keep us informed of whats happening then mate,
Best of luck with it all.

asbokid

The case of "Clark v Ardington" makes for interesting reading on "credit hire" companies, and their legal status today..

I am surprised that outfits like Drive Assist are still in lawful business....

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/judgmentsfiles/j371/county_clark.htm

PTU

Hi Folks

I am yet another person that has had a recent experience with drive assist, infact still ongoing.

Like BlueDave above, someone has driven into my car when parked, and accepted liability. So the process started with the insurance companies. I had a call from Drive Assist stating they would provide me with a vehicle whilst my car was in for repair, so I happily accepted. They asked for my card details and after going over the waiver which cost xx per day and never having had an accident before, I thought it unlikely that I would have an accident so said I'd take their insurance with the £500 excess option. So the day arrives... I take my car which is still drivable to the garage to get it repaired some 20 miles away and find 2 guys there with a Mercedes 08 model. The man went around the car and noted scuffs and scratches on his PDA, then took me in the car and explained the terms of hire etc and I signed the PDA. I mentioned to the man that there were sneeze marks on the indicators and steering wheel and the exterior of the car was dirty (but possibly due to driving on the motorway). Anyway, I happily drove the car off (22nd April 09) and thought nothing more of it and thoroughtly cleaned it when I got home (inside and outside). I have since then been away for the weekend and the car has been in the my garage. So on Monday 27th April, I get a call from my garage stating the car is ready to be collected. I called drive assist and they stated it was OK to leave the car at the garage and they will pick it up, but I was insured on it until midnight of the 28th April. So I went and dropped the car off (on the 27th April) left the keys with my garage and then happily drive my car home, thinking the process was simple and easy.

And yes... guess what happened next.?... On the 28th April, I received an email through stating the condition of the car. 1) Interior and exterior of the car dirty and secondly a damaged alloy. Given that I haven't driven the car apart from picking it up from the garage and taking it home and then taking it back to the garage I was not aware of any damage to the alloys apart from the scuffs and scratches that the man pointed out.

Since yesterday I have looked on google and found this site, where I have seen other people have also been having problems. I feel very stressed about it and wish in retrospect that I had seen this web site before the "helpful" person from drive assist had contacted me. I am a trusting person, but have a feeling that I am going to be "had" for the £500 excess that I have signed on that PDA for "damage" (not a scratch - so I have been informed by the woman that called me from disputes) to an alloy on a Mercedez that I didn't do. I have called Drive Assist customer services, and complained, they state the case is now in dispute. My husband is telling me not to drop this. I am worried now. I am waiting for a letter to come from then in the post, the lady on the phone said Thursday or Friday. This is a painful process and I feel like a complete mug. Shall I contact the FSA? I have already emailed Watchdog on this (I did this yesterday in my rage).

Any thoughts? Advise?

P

p.s. I definately won't ever take out another courtesy car option even if offered.

PTU

p.s.s. sorry about spelling and grammer, I didn't run a check on it and was typing quickly.

Crowmanuk

Hi there, like you I made the mistake of trusting them, and your situation is remarkably similar, after you've gone through the dispute process they will more than likely send you a letter saying they have investigated and you are to blame and that in the next 14 days they'll take the money from your account, phone them up and tell them you still dispute it, you should then go to the compliance team who'll tell you that the payment will be on hold until they've investigated, at this point I didnt receive a letter saying that I was still to blame and they just tried to take the money from my account, luckily there was nothing in there or I'd be a lot of cash down with no way of getting the money back. Make sure they dont get the money! After this the credit team will get in touch asking why they havent been able to take the payment and it was at this point I got the Financial Ombudsman involved, havent heard anything back from DA or the FO.
I'm guessing you assumed that the car was through your insurance, I dont have car hire on mine so I assumed it was through the 3rd party's insurance and even phoned them up to complain about drive assist. I was a bit gobsmacked to find out they didnt deal with them and the first thing they knew about it was when DA sent them a bill for the hire of the car.
Keep us informed about how its going eh?

dacouch

PTU have a look at the moneysupermarket thread on Drive Assist, there are links to it in my previous posts. There are lots more people on there with similar problems (Its amazing how virtually everyone who has a problem with them has roughly the same problems). You may find some of the posts helpful as there are people on there who have won.

With regard to your excess this is normally paid when there is an accident towards the cost of the accident. They will no doubt say the scuff to the alloy was an accident, if the damage comes to less than £500 then in theory they should bill you for the lower amount.

A good trick with DA is to ask for a copy of what you have "Signed" unless they have changed their processes it will show the same one signature you signed on the pda in three different parts of the agreement.

If you need any advice post there reponses on here and we will try and help.

dacouch

Crowmanuk if you think you have problems think about poor stevie19uk allegedly aka Steve Binch looks like he has dropped out of the Sunday Times Rich List. Last year he was in at equal 1197 at £65m.

Karma

toptip

Wouldn't say that's a good thing. If he's down a couple of million after the last 12 month's he'll be wanting it back.
And after reading all these posts there's no way I ever want to contribute to it by using Drive Assists services.
Good luck to all those chasing their money back!

asbokid

It would be great if the BBC Watchdog special on Drive Assist could find its way on to youtube or google.video, just so that others can see what Drive Assist is actually all about.

Anyone still kept the TV recording?

Atermis

most insurers have an intervention scheme to try and stop people using drive assist et all due to the costs involved.