PLEASE HELP! What can I do? Budget insurance are a bunch of cowboys!

atchaa

I am in a royal pickle.

I had an accident around 2 months ago now, in which my skoda fabia was hit badly by what i consider to be a speeding driver. The fault of the accident is apparently still being "investigated", but here's whats happened.

I am insured with Budget ( AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE )

They took over a month to decide whether or not my car could be repaired, and in the meantime (after much rangling) gave me a hire car.

Two weeks ago they called and said they are not going to pay for the courtesy car any longer, and that the skoda had been written off. I assumed they would thus pay me the write off sum.

They refused to do so. They said the fault of the claim is still being "investigated" (over two months on - a crash in which no one was hurt at all). Thus, they will not pay me the write off sum, nor give me a courtesy car. SURELY, the fault of the accident only determines my NCD, and other details, but has no bearing on whether they pay out on a claim? Moreover, to alo take away the courtesy car is surely breaching their contract?

I have complained several times, but they are saying I have to go to the ombudsmen, which will obviously take ages.

I was, and still am, stunned. They have essentially said "were not paying you any money for your car that was fully insured, and has been legitemately written off. So now I have no car, and no money.

I am at financial breaking point as a result of this, as I am hiring a car (at great expense) myself in order to get to work.

WHAT CAN I DO!?

How quickly can the ombudsmen act? and will i be entitled to compensation for this?

I am absolutely furious...

dunstonh

SURELY, the fault of the accident only determines my NCD, and other details, but has no bearing on whether they pay out on a claim?

Are you fully comp or TPF&T?

Moreover, to alo take away the courtesy car is surely breaching their contract?

No, that is normal when your car is written off.

How quickly can the ombudsmen act?

2-6 months.

and will i be entitled to compensation for this?

No. They can either agree with the insurance company or tell them to speed it up.

mattymoo

When they say the claim is being investigated you are assuming they are talking about who is at fault for the accident. You are correct in believing this should not affect your payout if you have comprehensive insurance.

I do wonder if they mean their policy liability to pay the claim is under investigation. For example, are they alleging non disclosure on your part of say convictions, previous accidents, vehicle modifications ? Was the vehicle being driven by a named driver?

It seems odd that they are stonewalling and suggesting you go to the ombudsman. I would suspect they have some dirt on you that removes their liability to pay out.

If you can tell us exactly what their reason was for not paying out, might be able to help a bit more.