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Car insurance query!! Need advice

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tberry4118
tberry4118 Posts: 48 Forumite
10 Posts
edited 2 August 2021 at 9:12AM in Motoring
My car was stolen a few months ago. The police found it and identified it. It was badly burnt. The insurance company investigated me and I have co operated fully. They have now referred it to the fraud unit because they say the car they collected is green  when my one was white, however on the police reports the police identified the car as white and with my chassis number. The original colour of the car was green and it had been repainted white. I have pictures that the police have sent me which shows it was white when first found. They are also saying the car has loads of rust, again it didn't have rust when the police found it, it had then sat in the field in the rain for 2 more weeks so everybody knows a car will incur rust if left outside for 2 weeks. They said in order to be satisfied they want my itemised phone bill which I have sent with no hesitation. I understand they have to investigate but how long can I let this go on for. Im very mentally unwell and I'm in active treatment for PTSD which I've waited nearly a year for. Ive contemplated suicide a few times because of my PTSD and the stress of this claim is making it worse. Would it be worth mentioning it to the insurance company? They also haven't even obtained the police report yet, which will confirm the vehicle was white. Seems like they are bullying me 

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  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 9,261 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It is possible that the Police are referring to the car as white, not because that is the colour of the paint that is left on the  car, but because the DVLA have the car recorded as white.

    The white paint may have mostly burnt off if the car was ablaze for a long time, or may have completely burnt off. I would also have expected much of green paint to have burnt off. How much green paint is visible on the car, and was there any white paint visible? 

    I agree that a car that has had all its paint burnt off will go rusty in a couple of week,  but perhaps they are referring to deeper rust that has been there for a long time; might the rust have been covered with filler & paint, and now that that has burned way, be visible now?

    You can complain to the insurance company, but you need some evidence that the car was white, and it is the same car that they collected. Do you have any photos showing the colour? Do you have any photos showing unique features of the car that would confirm the car that has been recovered to be your car? 

    I don't see how your PTSD is relevant to whether you have committed fraud or not. I also don't think they are bullying you, but if they suspect you of fraud, they are going to be pretty robust, and you need to be robust in return.  Do you have a friend of family member that you could ask to act on your behalf to work through with the insurance company why they think they have collected a car that is not the one you insured?  


    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
  • tacpot12 said:
    It is possible that the Police are referring to the car as white, not because that is the colour of the paint that is left on the  car, but because the DVLA have the car recorded as white.

    The white paint may have mostly burnt off if the car was ablaze for a long time, or may have completely burnt off. I would also have expected much of green paint to have burnt off. How much green paint is visible on the car, and was there any white paint visible? 

    I agree that a car that has had all its paint burnt off will go rusty in a couple of week,  but perhaps they are referring to deeper rust that has been there for a long time; might the rust have been covered with filler & paint, and now that that has burned way, be visible now?

    You can complain to the insurance company, but you need some evidence that the car was white, and it is the same car that they collected. Do you have any photos showing the colour? Do you have any photos showing unique features of the car that would confirm the car that has been recovered to be your car? 

    I don't see how your PTSD is relevant to whether you have committed fraud or not. I also don't think they are bullying you, but if they suspect you of fraud, they are going to be pretty robust, and you need to be robust in return.  Do you have a friend of family member that you could ask to act on your behalf to work through with the insurance company why they think they have collected a car that is not the one you insured?  


    My PTSD is not relevant to my claim, however I'm seriously unwell from it and on the brink of suicide. I havent committed fraud.
    I have photos from the police and the paint thats remaining is white. There is a bit of green paint in the footwell. I cant confirm any features which shows the car as mine, it was stripped and burnt out 
  • MSE_ForumTeam5
    MSE_ForumTeam5 Posts: 1,277 Community Admin
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    We've moved this to a more appropriate board
    Official MSE Forum Team member. Please use the 'report' button to alert us to problem posts, or email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
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