Motorhome engine fire not covered by insurance

johntbudge

CW8825
Basically when calling lexham as soon as I said engine fire, they jumped in and said mechanical or electrical fires are not covered, under section 7, I asked about getting us home and was told, as it's not covered, we need to find our own way the same as national breakdown did, I have pay to repatriated to the UK and they are willing to get it inspected but if it any part of section 7 of the we won't payout in the Lexham motorhome insurance policy booklet then we're not covered, the motorhome cost us £60,000 two years ago it's a lot to loose plus the £7,950 to get it repatriated 

cumbrianmale

When they say motorhome I assume they are referring to the habitation area rather than the base chassis cab vehicle.

Hoenir

johntbudge said:

 we need to find our own way the same as national breakdown did, 

Didn't you cover yourselves against this eventuality? 

johntbudge

Hoebir
Yes we paid for breakdown cover, which claims to repatriated you and your motorhome in our case if it's not repairable with in 48hr but because the garage said it was a write-off they said it's down to the motorhome insurance policy so washed their hand if it 

johntbudge

Cumbrianmale.
The name motorhome in what the called in the UK it's a rv in the USA and camper car in most of the EU if you call a motorhome a habitation on a chassis cab is like calling a caravan a habitation on a trailer a motorhome in the name of the complete vehicle 

cw8825

johntbudge said:

CW8825
Basically when calling lexham as soon as I said engine fire, they jumped in and said mechanical or electrical fires are not covered, under section 7, I asked about getting us home and was told, as it's not covered, we need to find our own way the same as national breakdown did, I have pay to repatriated to the UK and they are willing to get it inspected but if it any part of section 7 of the we won't payout in the Lexham motorhome insurance policy booklet then we're not covered, the motorhome cost us £60,000 two years ago it's a lot to loose plus the £7,950 to get it repatriated 

The cause of the fire does need to be established. 
where you driving at the time or parked up?
is the damage to the engine only?
why Did you call breakdown first?

imo it makes sense for the breakdown to not repatriate if it’s not repairable for a normal car but a motor home full of you belongings needs to be brought back. 

If it was not a breakdown, why did they move and inspect it?

johntbudge

CW8825
I phone the motorhome insurance first and was told call my breakdown insurance, I had driven from Victoria to around 40 miles south of Salamanca about 200 miles, in cruise control with no problem.

I had got about two thirds up a step hill and lost power luckily I was able to pull of the motorway and stop on a side road, within seconds smoke and then flames start showing, I popped the bonnet and put it out with one of my fire extinguishers, about 2 or 3 minutes later it started up a again,  with my other fire extinguisher once again put it out, then it started up again this time I only had a gallon of water which stopped altogether.

 I told the breakdown company it was a engine fire, to be honest the UK side of national breakdown was pretty good, but the Spanish side was one !!!!!! up after another.

In total I phone the UK side 28 time over the two day just to get information on getting moved, hotel and transport but that's another nightmare story.

I called the breakdown company at 10am it was 5:15pm we was picked up dropped at the garage which was just closing and left us outside the garage till 9:20pm,we were taken to a hotel and dropped off , only to find it hadn't been booked by the Spanish side left there till 1145p
.
We were taken to another hotel getting there after midnight. the next day we had to book out by 11:30 and we was  left sitting in reception all day, 5pm was told it's a write-off but they had booked us back in the hotel for the night but no booking was made again after 6 phone calls to UK side, at 8:30  I ended up booking in and paying to find out after 10pm they had booked us in to another hotel 7 miles away hadn't booked a taxi or told us 

sheslookinhot

Paragraphs and punctuation would help others read and understand. 

Ectophile

cumbrianmale said:

When they say motorhome I assume they are referring to the habitation area rather than the base chassis cab vehicle.

That would just be a home.

cw8825

johntbudge said:

CW8825
I phone the motorhome insurance first and was told call my breakdown insurance, I had driven from Victoria to around 40 miles south of Salamanca about 200 miles, in cruise control with no problem.

I had got about two thirds up a step hill and lost power luckily I was able to pull of the motorway and stop on a side road, within seconds smoke and then flames start showing, I popped the bonnet and put it out with one of my fire extinguishers, about 2 or 3 minutes later it started up a again,  with my other fire extinguisher once again put it out, then it started up again this time I only had a gallon of water which stopped altogether.

 I told the breakdown company it was a engine fire, to be honest the UK side of national breakdown was pretty good, but the Spanish side was one !!!!!! up after another.

In total I phone the UK side 28 time over the two day just to get information on getting moved, hotel and transport but that's another nightmare story.

I called the breakdown company at 10am it was 5:15pm we was picked up dropped at the garage which was just closing and left us outside the garage till 9:20pm,we were taken to a hotel and dropped off , only to find it hadn't been booked by the Spanish side left there till 1145p
.
We were taken to another hotel getting there after midnight. the next day we had to book out by 11:30 and we was  left sitting in reception all day, 5pm was told it's a write-off but they had booked us back in the hotel for the night but no booking was made again after 6 phone calls to UK side, at 8:30  I ended up booking in and paying to find out after 10pm they had booked us in to another hotel 7 miles away hadn't booked a taxi or told us 

1.the cause of the fire - is this something the motor insurance covers? 

If it’s something specifically excluded by the policy wording not much you can do   

They say they won’t pay for : For any mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer or computer software breakdown, failure, fault or breakage

2. What is the extent of the damage - is it a new engine needed of is the motorhome now a burnt out shell?
If it is the later you would be throwing good money after bad in getting it repatriated. 

Your issues with the hotels and booking are to be taken up with the breakdown company.