Car Insurance - Without Drive Assist!

Lammy

Thanks for the info re Watchdog. I'm gutted to have missed the programme, not knowing they were on it. Their reaction strikes me as being similar to the one after they were featured in the Guardian article...namely to put their hands up, notify that no one will be charged after all, hope this reaction nullifies any further complaints about them and puts them back under the radar, then resume business as usual!

You'll be aware that your case is not a unique one by any means. Nonetheless I'd say that leaving the car at your place for over eight days is incredible. They surely have an obligation to pick it up at their earliest convenience, especially you would be liable for anything that happened to it in that time. I certainly couldn't see why you should be held responsible for keeping it clean all that time!

Perhaps it might be an idea to submit them an invoice in respect of charges incurred for letting them keep their vehicle on your property all that time! I might suggest they are very similar to the amount that they are now claiming from you :-).

Anyway, let us know how you get on. I think this is the kind of company that deserves to be kept in the spotlight.

I'd still like to know if these PDA's they use have any legal standing. Seems strange they can present a signature as something of "evidence" when that signature is provided only as requested to confirm the release of the car and not to admit, (nor even to have the knowledge of) any damage they claim the signature acknowledges.

But most of all I'd like to know if there are insurance companies out there who shield their customers from their outsourcing, and instead deal on a one to one with basis with all aspects of an insurance claim, whether that involves attempting to first recover any excess from the party at fault rather than charge their customers automatically, through to the direct arranging of a coutesy car if required.

My insurance was purchased through Zurich UK, which is what bought me into contact with Drive Assist in the first place. that experience has not opnly put me off Drive Assist, but any insurance company that uses them. Hence I'll be looking elsewhere to renew my car insurance come January.

Now I am armed with hindsight, that is certainly something I would do. Hopefully this thread helps to arm others without them having to go through the experience.

I'd love to see someone conduct an independent audit on the company to see, for example, whether every bit of damage they claim was on the returned cars, was either repaired there and then (for the cost claimed), or listed as existing damage when provided to the next customer.