UPDATED: Zafira written off - what should I expect to get from insurance?

chivers1977

That is the problem from where I live in Kent, the only cars that I could buy that are 2002 reg are around180 miles away and are all going for around 4k anyway!

Altarf

thescouselander wrote: »

My OH who used to work in motor insurance reckons the normal proceedure is to assess the vaule of a car based on the equivelent vehical as sold by a private seller (not a dealer).

Your OH seems to have worked for one of the many insurance companies who try to pay less than is due. To quote again from the Financial Ombudsman -

We want to see firms making a reasonable assessment of the car’s ‘market value’ – and then paying this amount. The ‘market value’ is the likely cost to the customer of buying a car as near as possibly identical to the one that has been stolen or damaged beyond economic repair.

...

In most cases, the firm should have assessed the market value as equivalent to the ‘guide retail price’ (the price that a member of the public might reasonably expect to pay at a dealership).

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/22/issue-22-motorinsurance.htm

The OP wasn't looking to sell their car, so why on earth should they accept the amount that they would get if they did so. They had a car before the accident, and the insurance company has a responsibility is to put them back in exactly they same position they were before the accident. And that will mean the insurer paying out (less any excess) enough for the OP to go to a dealer and buy a similar car.

chivers1977

Thanks Altarf - I will be quoting the FOS guidelines at them when I go back with my appeal. It does help that I answer banking complaints for a living so am quite good at complaining myself!

vansboy

A couple things to consider...

Is your insurance through a broker - if so, then get THEM to do all the negotiating, on YOUR behalf - they earned £$£$ selling the policy.

If you still come unstuck with the offer, consider the Legal Help insurance you have either seperatly in your car or house insurance - probably fone number for a quik, free chat initially - they will be a bit more ammunition, if you have to start REALLY hassling them!

VB

chivers1977

Thanks VB. I bought through Diamond direct using all of Martin's tricks so unfortunately can't go through the broker. That is a great idea re the legal insurance. They are acting for me already for the injuries. Also could you PM me your fees for auctions

anna42hmr

chivers1977 wrote: »

That is a great idea re the legal insurance. They are acting for me already for the injuries.

its highly unlikely that the legal team will act reference the value dispute, if they are providing the legal cover, as the insurance company can't sue themselves, which is effectivaly what people ask them to do when they have a dispute with their own insurers. with regards to injuries, uninsured losses etc, they act on your behalf against third party or tp insurance companies.

Smi1er

chivers1977 wrote: »

Right, they offered me Market Value £3,645.00
Less Excess £210
Settlement figure £3,435.00

It's not the insurance companies fault that you paid absolute top dollar for a 6 year old car. Their offer is actally very good based on the trade in figure.

The petrol is not insured so it becomes an uninsured loss.

withabix

Insurer's offer seems to be bang on Glass's Guide value for age and mileage and is much as I predicted, given the figures I originally quoted were 'advertised price'.

Don't think you will have much scope there.

Like the previous poster said, unfortunately you paid too much for it.

The £5295 you are quoting was probably the 'windscreen price' - What did you trade in when you bought it (make/model/year/mileage) and what did they give you for it in part exchange?

If you did p/ex, you may have got over value for that, so you also need to take that into consideration, given the high price you are quoting.

vansboy

anna42hmr wrote: »

its highly unlikely that the legal team will act reference the value dispute, if they are providing the legal cover, as the insurance company can't sue themselves, which is effectivaly what people ask them to do when they have a dispute with their own insurers. with regards to injuries, uninsured losses etc, they act on your behalf against third party or tp insurance companies.

I appreciate what you're saying, Anna, BUT...

Usually this part of your (motor) insurance, may well be charged for as a seperate item & actually a totally seperate policy.

& if you take out Legal Cover, or have it included on your HOME insurance, then there is even less chance of a conflict of interests & more chance of a result!

Hope it doesn't come to this!!

VB

LondonDiva

Have a look on glass, you pay £3.95 for it to breakdown the cost of your car & it will do by trade, private sale, retail (?) and by condition.

I'm told it's suppossed to be what the companies use to value the car and puts you in a solid position so you know whether or not it's worth fighting for.