Car a total loss - offer from insurance co is pants

hairbrain05

Thanks everyone - that's encouraging!

I've sent examples of exact same model, same yr, similar mileage etc which are advertised in the autotrader. The average price of the examples is £1200 - I sent email last night & await their reply!!!

hairbrain05

um... can anyone tell me how to get info on completed Ebay sales?

dobbie82

just do a search for "1997 nissan almera" and you get this

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=1997+Nissan+Almera

then on the left hand side if you scroll down a bit you get the option on searching by new/used, distance etc, there is an option of "completed listings"






then click search to get this:

http://search-completed.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=so&sbrftog=1&dfsp=1&from=R10&_trksid=m37&satitle=1997+Nissan+Almera&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&a39=-24&a33535=-24&a85=-24&a38=-24&alist=a39%2Ca41%2Ca33535%2Ca85%2Ca38%2Ca18%2Ca3801&pfmode=1&reqtype=1&gcs=13&pfid=1150&pf_query=1997+Nissan+Almera&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=LL401UA&sabfmts=1&fis=2&ga10244=10425&saslt=2&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&sabdlo=&sabdhi=&saprclo=&saprchi=&sass=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search

doesnt make for happy reading though!

mattymoo

Just to expand on Dobbie82's excellent post, only those with the price in Green actually sold. Those in red did not receive any bids or reserve was not met.

dobbie82

thanks for adding that, I forgot that bit!

hairbrain05

thanks guys - that's really helpful

hairbrain05

thoughy i'd mention incase anyone else in similar position that there was an interesting article in the Daily Mail yesterday....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/dmstandard/frame.html?in_bottom=http:%2F%2Fwww.thisismoney.co.uk%2Finsurance%2Findex.html%3Fin_page_id%3D4&in_page_id=1804

ecoelle

The same thing happened to my brother and you're doing the right thing. They came back to him with a second offer and it still wasn't enough so he told them again and sent examples of identicle cars to his with more miles that were selling for more than hey were offereing. Third time lucky they made him an acceptable offer and he accepted. I think it seems to be standard practice now to offer you a low amount and turn it into a bartering system. Good luck and don't accept an offer until you are happy, from what you've said 1k seems fair and if you'd be happy with that then make sure you get it:)

hairbrain05

Just an update incase anyone in similar position.

I sent off an email with examples as advised by the insurance co. I then had to chase them to find out what was going on. They then reviewed my emails & asked me what the minimum i would accept for the car. If i'd been more prepared for that question I would have realised I should have given a higher price to allow for negotiation!

They initally offered £800 but I didn't realise they'd take the excess off so after bit of argy bargy & threatening with the FO I managed to get £900 with them taking £100 off for excess which I have to recover seperately.

I really feel sorry for anyone in a similar position or who doesn't realise you don't have accept their first offer. Their negotiation tactics of asking what the min price you'll accept is - then they quoted to me that I agreed to a 'fair price'!! Quite a difference between a fair price & minimum me thinks.

The hassle of phone calls, paperwork & nearly 5kws before getting the cheque meant it's been a total nightmare! Now have to find similar roadworthy car in that price bracket in 7 days before hire car goes!!!

supermonkey

Just wondered if anyone had any advice...

We've had an offer made for our write off & it is basically the trade value of the car.
Unfortuatnely the car was previously a total loss (unknown to us) and so they've said that amount is not negotiable.

I just wondered if anyone knows if this is correct. I would have prefered a few hundred quid extra!

Also does anyone know anything about buying the vehicle back. I've told I can get it for 26% of the value and I know that I could sell it for more... but i'm not sure on the legality of selling a written off car!

Thanks
Supermonkey