Car valuation

Minilover

I'm confused - my car was hit by a drunk driver and written off by my insurance company with a valuation that we negotiated. It became a Cat N car we bought it back, repaired it, re-mot'd it and it was back on the road.  We were unlucky enough to be hit from the rear by a driver who admitted liability, our car again was written off by her insurers who have valued the car considerably less that our insurers did the first time ( our insurers were Direct Line her insurers were Churchill who we believe are the same company). Churchill won't negotiate on the price even though we have written proof of the first valuation. Churchill say we have no rights to challenge the valuation. What can I do - the valuation is over 1k difference! Anyone know why consumer rights don't apply and what we can do about it?

born_again

Really is not a consumer rights question.

But a class N car is not worth the same as it was before.

caprikid1

2 Things

1. DL are Total *****s

Second thing, I have this on first hand Direct Line do not like paying out on previously written off cars, my car had been written off by them previously and paid out on, "We have already paid out on this car" !.

Direct Line are cheap for a reason, I have had multiple dealings with them over the years on both household and more insurance and they make money through not paying out !.

I am sure the insurance experts will be along to remind me that I have a vendetta against direct line (-:

Obviously your car is not worth what it was, it's now older, a CAT N and higher mileage.

I would suggest a CAT N can be up to 20% cheaper.

photome

never going to be same valuation as before

car is older, higher mileage and a Cat N

what makes you think it should be worth the same 

HillStreetBlues

Minilover said:

I'm confused - my car was hit by a drunk driver and written off by my insurance company with a valuation that we negotiated. It became a Cat N car we bought it back, repaired it, re-mot'd it and it was back on the road.  We were unlucky enough to be hit from the rear by a driver who admitted liability, our car again was written off by her insurers who have valued the car considerably less that our insurers did the first time ( our insurers were Direct Line her insurers were Churchill who we believe are the same company). Churchill won't negotiate on the price even though we have written proof of the first valuation. Churchill say we have no rights to challenge the valuation. What can I do - the valuation is over 1k difference! Anyone know why consumer rights don't apply and what we can do about it?

How much did you buy it back for?

MeteredOut

HillStreetBlues said:

Minilover said:

I'm confused - my car was hit by a drunk driver and written off by my insurance company with a valuation that we negotiated. It became a Cat N car we bought it back, repaired it, re-mot'd it and it was back on the road.  We were unlucky enough to be hit from the rear by a driver who admitted liability, our car again was written off by her insurers who have valued the car considerably less that our insurers did the first time ( our insurers were Direct Line her insurers were Churchill who we believe are the same company). Churchill won't negotiate on the price even though we have written proof of the first valuation. Churchill say we have no rights to challenge the valuation. What can I do - the valuation is over 1k difference! Anyone know why consumer rights don't apply and what we can do about it?

How much did you buy it back for?

This. If the £1K is 50% of the previous value, then I can see an argument. But if its 20%, then no so much.

400ixl

When was it written off the first time, used car prices have dropped considerably in the last 18 months. As people have said a CAT N car is not worth the same as a straight car.

One of the issues of not going through your own insurer is that you have fewer rights.

You will need to give more details of the timeline and the vehicle if you want people to be able to advise.

Ectophile

If you are chasing the other party's insurer than you have no consumer rights, as you're not even a customer of theirs.  They have no obligation to negotiate with you.

You do have the usual legal rights: if you believe the compensation they offer is too low, you take them to court and sue them for your losses.

caprikid1

"Churchill say we have no rights to challenge the valuation. What can I do - the valuation is over 1k difference! Anyone know why consumer rights don't apply and what we can do about it?"

Instruct a claims management company, get a hire car.... that will focus their mind, did anyone suffer any Whiplash ?

Try deciding what you want and offer a "Full and final settlement" at the moment they are only discussing the car, don't let that cloud your judgement, can you find an equal Categorised car for sale ? Or industry standard % for what it is worth.

You are not going to get the previous pre accident value in a million years but you may be able to get more with a bit of pressure.

born_again

caprikid1 said:

"Churchill say we have no rights to challenge the valuation. What can I do - the valuation is over 1k difference! Anyone know why consumer rights don't apply and what we can do about it?"

Instruct a claims management company, get a hire car.... that will focus their mind, did anyone suffer any Whiplash ?

Try deciding what you want and offer a "Full and final settlement" at the moment they are only discussing the car, don't let that cloud your judgement, can you find an equal Categorised car for sale ? Or industry standard % for what it is worth.

You are not going to get the previous pre accident value in a million years but you may be able to get more with a bit of pressure.

Let your insurance company deal with the claim.

How much did you buy the car back for?

As in reality that is it's worth.

I would not go the get a hire car route etc. As it will not focus their minds. It will leave you with a big bill. 

Arunmor

Without knowing the model of car, its age and date it was written off, the initial settlement figure the cost to retain the salvage and how much the repairs were then we are in the dark.