GA/Aviva accident claim suspicions

russ_witherington

So the end of last week i was reversed into in a car park. She and her insurer have admitted fault. Reported to my insurer GA/Aviva later that day and the assessor came out early the next day from the local bodywork garage that GA/Aviva had arranged. Rang back an hour later to say that in his opinion it was a write off. I asked why only to be given a list of things the majority of which wern't a result of the accident. He didn't seem that bothered and said wait for GA to contact me. I rang them, they said they'd look into it but obviously not that bothered. Then 8.00am the very next working day i had a call from a salvage company in Kent who were calling to arrange collection of the car! Originally they said they were supposed to be collecting it from the bodywork company the bodywork company must have given them my number. Told them nothing had been discussed with GA yet, he didn't sound surprised. What with this and the rest of the claim i wouldn't recommend GA if they were the last company left on earth

I've always though that if it looks like a duck and quacks it's usually a duck - this smells fishy (metaphor mixing). Any thoughts/advice.

Bigphil1474

Russ, if the car is road worthy and you want it back, ask for the car and a settlement. It will probably be a write off because the cost of repairs (based on their prices) is more than the car is worth. You may be able to get it fixed at a real world price and be quids in - depends what is wrong with it.
Don't forget, it's your car until any settlement is made. I was with Aviva for a couple of years, and had no issues, but then I didn't make any claims either.

russ_witherington

thanks for that yes i've resigned myself to having to stick it out, my query was really more about the attempts by GA and the bodywork garage to write it off almost without my say so (if it was ayt the Bodywork shop like GA/Aviva wanted originally it would be in Kent with them by now!

Car_54

russ_witherington wrote: »

So the end of last week i was reversed into in a car park. She and her insurer have admitted fault. Reported to my insurer GA/Aviva later that day and the assessor came out early the next day from the local bodywork garage that GA/Aviva had arranged. Rang back an hour later to say that in his opinion it was a write off. I asked why only to be given a list of things the majority of which wern't a result of the accident. He didn't seem that bothered and said wait for GA to contact me. I rang them, they said they'd look into it but obviously not that bothered. Then 8.00am the very next working day i had a call from a salvage company in Kent who were calling to arrange collection of the car! Originally they said they were supposed to be collecting it from the bodywork company the bodywork company must have given them my number. Told them nothing had been discussed with GA yet, he didn't sound surprised. What with this and the rest of the claim i wouldn't recommend GA if they were the last company left on earth

I've always though that if it looks like a duck and quacks it's usually a duck - this smells fishy (metaphor mixing). Any thoughts/advice.

The “things” that were not a result of the accident are relevant, because they would have affected the pre- accident value of the car, and hence the write-off equation.
The book value used as a starting point assumes the car is roadworthy and in saleable condition. Any significant faults will reduce that value.

EdGasketTheSecond

I had the same thing with Liverpool Victoria; wrote my car off without, as it turns out, even looking at it. Next thing I know salvage company wants to pick it up. I'm like 'WHAT'? That would have left me without a car and the only damage was a dented wing. I kept my car and after a long struggle and some doubt as to whether it was still being insured or not, I got a payout plus a year later some more by way of compensation for poor service. They seem to have no idea, or if they do don't care, how much hassle it would be to be left without a car and how valued a reliable car is to the owner who doesn't want it written off for minor cosmetic damage.


I just knocked the wing back out and lived with it not being perfect.

russ_witherington

Things that weren't as a result of the accident should have no bearing as to the estimate the assessor was making as to the cost of repair for the insurer, after all he was a chap from the bodywork shop at the repairers not a specific car valuer. The car is roadworthy and in a good saleable condition with no significant issues or faults at all.

DoaM

But when vehicles are assessed in respect of an insurance claim the full retail value is used for cost assessments not the real-world prices. Companies always look to maximise their return when dealing with insurance claims rather than using standard pricing ... that's one reason why insurance costs are rising.