Car insurance write off but finance not in my name.

NewLifeAhead_2

Hi. What a nightmare this has been, hoping for some advice! Sorry, it's long.

On Monday the 5th of this month a young boy pulled out of a lane straight into the side of me. I reported to my insurer (co-op) and they arranged recovery to a local garage, and put me in touch with a claims company to provide me with hire.
The next day, the hire company rang to say they couldn't promise the courtesy car would be delivered that day. When Hastings rang to say their client had admitted full liability and would I like them to take over dealing with the claim, i agreed because they were offering me hire within the hour. I had uni early the next morning so it was better for me. How wrong I was.
Thursday 8th, hadn't heard a word so rang Hastings. They said they were waiting on engineer going to inspect. They asked if I would give authority to finance for them to speak to them, and I explained I couldn't do that as it was in my ex's name. They said it didn't matter right now, they'd come back to that if car is write off.
Friday I came home to a letter dated the 7th, from Copart, telling me to send the V5C and any spare keys! I rang Hastings and told them I'd be doing no such thing until my car had been assessed, they apologise and say it was a mistake. They finally instruct the engineers who ring me to confirm location of the vehicle (still in storage where co-op recovered it to). They tell me they'll be going out the following Weds, the 14th.
Engineer calls Weds eve to advise offer of either full market value or £500 less if I salvage the car. I tell Hastings I'll be getting quotes before making decision. They were happy with that and said i had until Weds 21st at the very latest to stay in hire. Armed with engineers estimate of just under 4k for repairs, I get a quote for 1800 on Tuesday the 20th.
Ring Hastings to accept salvage offer, answer a few questions and ask a few. She then asks if I've given authority to finance for them to speak. I explain again that I can't. She puts me on hold, comes back and says "sorry, we can't actually deal with this claim and we never should have. You'll have to go back to your own insurer." 2 whole weeks later and now they decide this! I ask what about hire car, they say nope sorry, go to your insurer they will sort.
So I go back to co-op who reopen the claim, but they insist they can't put me in hire because Hastings already did, so if they did, Hastings wouldn't pay them for it.
So I'm left possibly waiting another 2 weeks for this to settle again but with no courtesy car? I don't see how they can get away with it! It was entirely their fault, they even admitted it was and that they should have checked finance status in beginning, but I'm the one left losing out? Co-op insist I should demand they put me back in hire, Hastings point blank refuse.
Is there anything I can do?
Also, I've been advised I may not even be able to keep the car like I was guaranteed while Hastings was dealing. Why is that? Is there a system for what cars they allow to be bought back? This was just a cat D by the way (or N now).

AdrianC

NewLifeAhead wrote: »

Also, I've been advised I may not even be able to keep the car like I was guaranteed while Hastings was dealing. Why is that? Is there a system for what cars they allow to be bought back? This was just a cat D by the way (or N now).

It's entirely up to the insurer as to whether they offer buy-back or not in the event of a write-off.

Since it wasn't your car in the first place...

NewLifeAhead_2

I get that, just wondered what difference it really makes to them. Surely they just reduce the settlement figure by what they'd hope to get for it salvaged, like Hastings did.
The finance company certainly have no objections to me keeping the car, so hopefully co-op won't.