They crushed my sisters car!

kitchpoo

Dont forget the cost of the fuel in the car - add this to the claim - a full tank is around £50

Ask to see the certificate of destruction too - you may need this as proof that a)it is off the road to claim the car tax back and b) proof you no longer own the car.

Put her car registration in to car reg transfers websites too - see if there is a value of the number plate - once a vehicle has a destruction certificate/ tax reclaimed it is VERY difficult (but not impossible) to get the plate transferred back.

And take all this to a solicitor.

bill55bill

kitchpoo wrote: »

Dont forget the cost of the fuel in the car - add this to the claim - a full tank is around £50

Ask to see the certificate of destruction too - you may need this as proof that a)it is off the road to claim the car tax back and b) proof you no longer own the car.

Put her car registration in to car reg transfers websites too - see if there is a value of the number plate - once a vehicle has a destruction certificate/ tax reclaimed it is VERY difficult (but not impossible) to get the plate transferred back.

And take all this to a solicitor.

The petrol, I'd forgotten about the petrol :rotfl:
May as well add the oil and anti-freeze too

I think my sister will still own the car even if they've destroyed it won't she?

The_Bounder

have you contacted the police as this would appear to be criminal damage at the very least.

MrsTinks

If she has signed no paper work and not agreed on the phone (ie recorded) that she is happy with the settlement and has not accepted/banked any money then she hasn't "sold" the car to the insurance company.
I would include proof of what it would cost to replace the car with one of similar milage, same extras and general condition. If it will cost her £1000 to buy a replacement car then this is what she needs to claim for!But include evidence from say autotrader to back this up.
Technically i think it's theft as they have removed and destroyed her car without her consent. That makes it still her car!

Tiddlywinks

How about speaking to your own insurance co about it - after all, a third party (the other insurance company) has caused damage to your car and so your insurers should be able to claim for the damage / replacement value.

That's what you pay your premiums for - and it shouldn't affect your no claims bonus as the fault lies entirely at the other insurer's door!

Also, does your car or household insurance offer legal cover / advice to assist in this?

Let us know how you get on and good luck.

Tiddly

bill55bill

tine wrote: »

If she has signed no paper work and not agreed on the phone (ie recorded) that she is happy with the settlement and has not accepted/banked any money then she hasn't "sold" the car to the insurance company.
I would include proof of what it would cost to replace the car with one of similar milage, same extras and general condition. If it will cost her £1000 to buy a replacement car then this is what she needs to claim for!But include evidence from say autotrader to back this up.
Technically i think it's theft as they have removed and destroyed her car without her consent. That makes it still her car!

Well luckily my mum was in a position to lend her the money to buy another car, it cost her £1800.
Have looked at a few websites that sell spares for old VW Golfs and it's no wonder they stripped it down as the cost of all those bits is well in excess of the £350 the thieving gits first offered for the car.
Emailed a top bod at the Royal Bank of Scotland last week as they are the parent company for NATWEST insurance (avoid!) but he seems to have just read the email and done !!!!!! all either so it's off to the small claims court.
Am going to put in for about £2000 and see what they do.

I 'd love to involve the Police but I just know I'd get fobbed off with it being a 'civil matter'

Smi1er

If you want to win then put in a realistic offer and not a stupid £2K.

£350 was a decent offer to start with, and seeing as your sister didn't provide prove it was serviced for the previous two years we can assume it wasn't.

Tell them you want the contents of the car back. Car tax, CD's, car seat etc.

anewman

Smi1er wrote: »

£350 was a decent offer to start with, and seeing as your sister didn't provide prove it was serviced for the previous two years we can assume it wasn't.

On the whole the assumption may be true, but some people. like myself, service their own cars. I couldn't provide direct proof of two previous years as I stocked up on oil filters etc. IMO there's no real difference in value, especially seeing the car will be crushed anyway. The insurance company is simply using it as an excuse to pay out less assuming most people do not bother getting a regular service on cars of this age.

OP could try excuse of what the individual parts would have sold for had they broke the car for spares. I.e. if you could reasonably have expected to sell the seats for £50, headlights for £40, and so on (check ebay completed listings) then you have a value that the car could have been to you had they not 'stolen' it. They need not know you would never have stripped the car.

If it was the wing only that had been damaged it should have been repairable for less than £350 IMO.

custardy

Smi1er wrote: »

If you want to win then put in a realistic offer and not a stupid £2K.

£350 was a decent offer to start with, and seeing as your sister didn't provide prove it was serviced for the previous two years we can assume it wasn't.

Tell them you want the contents of the car back. Car tax, CD's, car seat etc.

that was all well and good when there was an option on how things proceded.
im not in for this legal action/compensation culture but tbh in this case i feel the insurer needs to make financial amends here.
as said her golf could have been home maintained and in far better condition than any £350 car she could have bought

kitchpoo

Tell the insurer the proof of servicing is in the car's glovebox!