Warranty payout problems

Garaga

18 months ago I took out a 3 year gold cover mechanical breakdown insurance policy with the AA (recommended by Car Giant of whom I purchased the vehicle) I recently had mechanical issues with the car (clutch/ transfer box)so I contacted the warranty co who told me to bring it to an approved garage. The mechanics diagonosed a damaged transfer box and damaged clutch costing £3500 approx The warranty co are refusing to pay a penny stating it's all down to "wear and tear" which the experienced mechanic says is total rubbish. I would be very grateful if anybody has any advise as to what to do next as I feel I'm being ripped off big time

Iceweasel

And the vehicle concerned is a ....

Make?
Model?
Year?
Mileage?

walwyn1978

Would be very surprised if any aftermarket warranty covered the clutch, tbf.

Also, what does your warranty say about the transfer box/clutch specifically?

Garaga

BMW X3
61 plate
76000 miles

Garaga

Just reading through the policy (word for word)
COVER
all mechanical and electrical components of the vehicle are covered,where the were supplied as part of the manufacturer's original specification
COVER INCLUDES:
Transfer box-all internal components
Clutch (excluding wear and tear)
I agree what you say about the clutch but I still feel I have a case for the transfer box

AdrianC

Garaga wrote: »

Just reading through the policy (word for word)
COVER
all mechanical and electrical components of the vehicle are covered,where the were supplied as part of the manufacturer's original specification
COVER INCLUDES:
Transfer box-all internal components
Clutch (excluding wear and tear)
I agree what you say about the clutch but I still feel I have a case for the transfer box

And what does the policy say about wear and tear in the general exclusions?

A two-second google shows that there are well-known problems with the X3 transfer box, both through the chain stretching (wear) and problems with the electronic actuation. Which are you experiencing? Neither requires the entire transfer box to be changed.

At 76k, replacement of the clutch through wear is neither unusual or unexpected, and wear is also by far and away the most likely cause of clutch failure.

Garaga

It looks like I ill have to pay up and move on!

jimjames

Garaga wrote: »

It looks like I ill have to pay up and move on!

I'd certainly get other quotes before you do. If the company thinks it's a warranty job then it might be much worse than you going to a garage with the fault to fix.

Ectophile

Garaga wrote: »

It looks like I ill have to pay up and move on!

You're giving up very quickly. The insurance companies must love you.

It costs nothing to make a formal complaint to the warranty company, and threaten them with the Financial Services Ombudsman if they don't change their minds over the transfer box.

Garaga

Don't know where to start,would I need legal help in doing this?

Ectophile

Garaga wrote: »

Don't know where to start,would I need legal help in doing this?

No. You start by reading the paperwork and/or the company's web site to find out their complaints process. Contact them by whatever means they recommend and tell them you wish to make a formal complaint (and why you want to make it).

If they tell you that they cannot resolve your complaint, or if they don't do anything in 8 weeks (yes, it is that long), then you go to the FSO http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumer/complaints.htm