Car stolen - claim rejected insurer lost my keys

garth549

^^ Insurers always ask for the keys in a theft claim. (The spare key too!)

Short of loading onto a pickup, modern cars are pretty much impossible to steal without an official coded key. I'm obviously excluding the flawed keyless entry ones.

Otherwise you could give the keys to your mate to 'nick' your car, claim, and split the insurance payout plus the proceeds of passing the car on.

Obviously it depends on the circumstances. Someone could break into your home, mug you or carjack you which the insurance would pay out for.

lisyloo

Robin9 wrote: »

As per post #1 - the insurers acknowledge they have the V5 so the postage is not an issue. What the OP cannot prove is that the keys were in the envelope.

The OP has proof of the weight of a package which matches the weight expected for a package with keys in it rather than just a piece of paper.

I am not a lawyer but I'd say on the balance of probabilities that is evidence that backs up the OPs case.


Can you name the insurer please irishmarky1 so we know to avoid this company please.

irishmarky1

lisyloo wrote: »

The OP has proof of the weight of a package which matches the weight expected for a package with keys in it rather than just a piece of paper.

I am not a lawyer but I'd say on the balance of probabilities that is evidence that backs up the OPs case.


Can you name the insurer please irishmarky1 so we know to avoid this company please.

Yeah the insurer is One Call Insurance, regretting ever going with them but I did merely on price. Once bitten twice as shy!

irishmarky1

Robin9 wrote: »

As per post #1 - the insurers acknowledge they have the V5 so the postage is not an issue. What the OP cannot prove is that the keys were in the envelope.

Like others I cannot see why the insurer needs the keys.

I can to some extent prove the keys where in the envelope as the total weight of the contents of the envelope was 128g. A V5 which is one piece of paper and the weight of the packet used to post the items would not weigh that much. The average key weighs 50g.

I also have a name of who signed for the item on delivery at One Call Insurance and this was someone by the name of Georgia, they need to have a word with her if she was in fact the person who opened the item.

lisyloo

Keep a record of any expenses you are incurring as a result of not having a car e.g. bus/train fares, as I would be looking to get these back when they are proved wrong.

Manxman_in_exile

If you've got proof of the weight, I'd say that is pretty persuasive. If you'd only put something else in weighing about the same as a key (eg a metal bolt or something), they would surely have noticed that and recorded it upon opening (at least I hope they would!).


I doubt the person signing for it would be the same person who opened it - but I may be wrong.


PS - you may want to check what a similar box plus V5 sized document actually weighs - it may be more than you think - but if it suggests that the key was enclosed, it adds weight (sorry!) to your argument.


(When sending something "important" through the post I tend to record it on my 'phone).

irishmarky1

Just an update on the below, complaining paid off!

The insurer purchased the same packet, put a V5 and a car key into it and weighed it and it came to the same as what was on my receipt.

They have now agreed to pay out!