Write off valuations

mattalf_2

Hopefully someone will be able to give me some advice.

Basically I left my car parked outside my sisters house one night after having a few drinks and was going to pick it up the next day.

About an hour after I left it some drunk driver ploughed into the back of it. He was caught and has been charged with drink driving.

My car was subsequently declared a total loss by the insurers and thats where the problems began.

I was contacted by a company called ETWB which is acting on behalf of the insurers. They told me that they had found a car in my area (27 miles away) similar to the one I have lost which was for sale at £2495. They then offered me £2200. Which in essence leaves me £300 out of pocket to purchase the cheapest example of a car the same as mine.

I told them I didnt think their offer was fair and they told me I would need to provide them with evidence as to why I thought the offer should be increased, which I did.

Then a cheque arrived in the post for the value of £2050 - their offer of £2200 less my excess of £150.

Why should I be charged my excess when none of this was my fault and the other guy was insured and his insurers should be taking all the costs?!

And what should I do regarding trying to get a better offer out of this company? What if they refuse to increase their original offer? At the moment, to replace like for like on the car I lost, I'm looking at having to shell out £450 out of my own pocket when the accident was 100% not my fault!!!

Quentin

If you don't like the offer, then don't accept it - return their cheque saying the offer is unnacceptable.

You agreed to the excess when you took out your insurance. Claim it off the guilty party.

Find evidence of your own to back up your case for a better offer (adverts etc).

teaonshirt

i am having the same problem myself but dont give up i have just sent off my adverts from autotrader and i got a quote from a dealer that i think holds some weight i hope anyway good luck

*MF*

This is a frequent cause of disputes - and can be referred - eventually - to the Financial Services Ombudsman.

This link takes you to the FOS site, and a newsletter on how they adjudicate on any disputes.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/66/66-vehicle_valuation_disputes.html

No bad thing to make those you are in dispute with aware of your knowledge of the possibility of eventual referral to the FOS.

mattalf_2

Thanks for the replies guys.

I will keep plugging away and make sure they know I have done my homework. I know they are likely to try to take my hire car off me now they have sent a cheque out so I have made arrangements to borrow a friends car while I look for a new one if they did take it off me.

Does anyone know if I would have any legal position to claim damages from the other party if I do end up out of pocket? Would I be able to claim anything from them? I know they have been charged and will be going to court and I know that I am entitled to be given their name and address if I ask the police for it under the road traffic act.

Quentin

Of course - claim all your uninsured losses. If you can find out their insurers, claim directly off them.

*MF*

@ mattalf

Very common to have some form of legal expenses cover as part of or as an add on to car insurance - have you checked to see if you have such cover - that is what you can use to recover all "uninsured" losses?