Total loss claim

Thesaltmustflow

welliesrgreat said:

Thank you! I’m now not sure how to proceed with the claim. 

I ran a number of vans when I was in business and if you run the business like I used to, then carrying on trading is the most important aspect of all this. Take the best 'offer' you can get from the insurance company, Get your mechanic/panel beater/ painter to source some cheap replacement parts AND book a slot for them to repair it where hopefully it can all be done in one day, two at most I would think (once all the parts are in the garage) job done. 

It's an 05 van, doesn't have to look like it's been repaired by Rolls Royce, just presentable and safe.  

AdrianC

welliesrgreat said:

Thank you! I’m now not sure how to proceed with the claim. 

There's two different questions...

1. Getting it repaired. Insurance aren't going to do that. It's up to you. So get it fixed asap...

2. Getting the money. They've put an amount on the table. You think that's too low. But how much time, energy, blood pressure do you divert from the business into getting an extra grand out of them?

So long as getting it straightened with used panels costs you £2,800 or less, then the actual incident has been paid for. You could easily get a straight MOT-fail van for less than that, swap the panels over, and you've got a stack of other spares...

BTW, I presume it's a Daily...?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274980712279

lincroft1710

As you have owned the truck for 16 yrs but have only been in business for 8 months, was it not used by you previously for business related to your current one.


Also a 16 yr old truck doesn't usually give a "good impression", I personally don't judge a company by the age and condition of its vehicles but the standard of its workmanship, charges, efficiency and promptness

jimjames

lincroft1710 said:

As you have owned the truck for 16 yrs but have only been in business for 8 months, was it not used by you previously for business related to your current one.

That's a very good question, it can't have been owned by the business if it's only been trading 8 months. What value was it transferred into the business at 8 months ago? It shouldn't be too different to that or is it rented to the company?

welliesrgreat

AdrianC said:

welliesrgreat said:

Thank you! I’m now not sure how to proceed with the claim. 

There's two different questions...

1. Getting it repaired. Insurance aren't going to do that. It's up to you. So get it fixed asap...

2. Getting the money. They've put an amount on the table. You think that's too low. But how much time, energy, blood pressure do you divert from the business into getting an extra grand out of them?

So long as getting it straightened with used panels costs you £2,800 or less, then the actual incident has been paid for. You could easily get a straight MOT-fail van for less than that, swap the panels over, and you've got a stack of other spares...

BTW, I presume it's a Daily...?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274980712279

Thank you! This is really helpful advice! 

welliesrgreat

jimjames said:

lincroft1710 said:

As you have owned the truck for 16 yrs but have only been in business for 8 months, was it not used by you previously for business related to your current one.

That's a very good question, it can't have been owned by the business if it's only been trading 8 months. What value was it transferred into the business at 8 months ago? It shouldn't be too different to that or is it rented to the company?

My husband originally bought the vehicle from new to use in the renovation and extension of buildings. He then moved into civil engineering and finally when I left teaching we decided to start our own business in Feb 2021. We have not transferred the vehicle to the new business yet,