Accidental Damage Cover - Churchill

Pumba2709

Hi MSE Members, I'm hoping you can help. With the adverse weather, our family car has a cracked sump. We're unsure exactly how this happened, but have a rough idea of where and when. As a result, the engine ran dry.

Our insurance is fully comprehensive to include accidental damage. We contacted Churchill claims line who approved the claim to repair it and issued a claims reference. They made arrangements with a local garage re repairs and a courtesy car. The garage contacted us to say they only do body work and not engine repairs, but that Churchill would make alternative arrangements.

We contacted Churchill today to query the new arrangements to be told the claim is no longer being approved and is now classed as mechanical failure. We can't get to speak to anyone in the UK regarding this and are being bounced about call centres.

Please can anyone offer any advice? I'm on maternity leave and this is an unexpected bill we just can't afford, along with everything else. Thanks so much.

DullGreyGuy

How is the cracked sump related to the adverse weather?  Did you skid on ice and hit an object?

Pumba2709

We're having a lot of snow and ice here at the moment. There wasn't any skid or collision. Our mechanic who looked at the car said he believes there's been something on the road along the way (covered by the snow) that the car has driven over or has connected with the car in some way and caused the damage. There was only one journey made in the car on the day it happened and my husband doesn't recall hitting anything. Certainly not anything that would have damaged the sump.

TadleyBaggie

I'd say you are a long way from proving accidental damage, without an actual incident this is all conjecture.

The damage to the sump could have occurred long before but only just failed. I think you will struggle with the insurance angle.

Pumba2709

Update: Received a call back from the manager. We are fully covered under the insurance. Absolutely delighted! Full apology for the conflicting messages earlier and the repairs will proceed with a garage of our choosing. 🥳

DullGreyGuy

Pumba2709 said:

We're having a lot of snow and ice here at the moment. There wasn't any skid or collision. Our mechanic who looked at the car said he believes there's been something on the road along the way (covered by the snow) that the car has driven over or has connected with the car in some way and caused the damage. There was only one journey made in the car on the day it happened and my husband doesn't recall hitting anything. Certainly not anything that would have damaged the sump.

Appreciate you've since had it sorted but just for future potential readers... insurance is generally written on an insured peril basis, which means to have cover you have to show one of the perils has occurred (eg AD for car/home, storm for damage to a roof and Home). 

The "dunno how it happened" can often cause claims to be declined, particularly with non-motor classes of business (a big dent in the side of a car isnt going to be questioned on if its an insured peril unless there is reason to think of a deliberate act by the policyholder). 

For your case it should have been fairly straightforward. If its hit something with sufficient force to break it there should be signs of impact damage. If it/seals just worn out through age then there'd be no impact damage and so declined as a mechanical failure rather than AD