Friday 13th... Edition 30 - Officially DEAD

[p3eps]

In terms of offer, you will get offered the trade value for the car. Because you are still the owner of the vehicle, they will deduct a salvage value based on the amount of damage. This is then deducted from the settlement due to there still being value on the car. Wheels, tyres, interior, head unit, engine, exhaust, etc

Obviously, its not very convenient having an extremely damaged vehicle on your drive so I would say to them that you will sell to a salvage yard and anything less than £3k that they offer you should be covered by the at fault insurers.


Who is the company that insures the guy that hit you?

Thanks for that...
The guys insurance is Fortis.
What you're saying is that I need to tell them that I want them to sell the scrap car to the salvage yard?  Am I still able to go back to them and say that the £13k + the estimated £3k for scrap only makes £16k... and I want more like £18k?
A few folk at work mentioned haggling for better offers and not taking the first offer - but the letter from Fortis says the cheque will follow in the post.  No one has ever mentioned that I get lumbered with a duff car!!

[electric_cooper]

Yes, they will make you a duff offer to start with (at the end of the day, they have nothing to lose)

I would call them and say that you are accepting the cheque on an interim basis (basically means you are not accepting it as full and final settlement and will find examples to prove it is worth more)

then find as many examples as possible on autotrader, pistonheads, etc

They will then have no option to raise their offer. I would throw them lines such as

"my vehicle is a limited edition and holds a stronger book value than most cars"
"it was a mint example with low mileage, full service history, etc"
"threaten to make a complaint against the company if neccessary because that tends to scare them into an increase"

In terms of salvage, ring them and tell them you dont want it because there are no salvage yards near you and you have nowhere to store it. some insurance companies will then retain the salvage. if they are unwilling to do so, I would ask them whether they will cover the shortfall if you fail to get £3k for the salvage at a salvage yard.

[Steve Baker]

Yes, they will make you a duff offer to start with (at the end of the day, they have nothing to lose)

I would call them and say that you are accepting the cheque on an interim basis (basically means you are not accepting it as full and final settlement and will find examples to prove it is worth more)

then find as many examples as possible on autotrader, pistonheads, etc

They will then have no option to raise their offer. I would throw them lines such as

"my vehicle is a limited edition and holds a stronger book value than most cars"
"it was a mint example with low mileage, full service history, etc"
"threaten to make a complaint against the company if neccessary because that tends to scare them into an increase"

In terms of salvage, ring them and tell them you dont want it because there are no salvage yards near you and you have nowhere to store it. some insurance companies will then retain the salvage. if they are unwilling to do so, I would ask them whether they will cover the shortfall if you fail to get £3k for the salvage at a salvage yard.

Some very sound advice from 'Electic'. Sorry this has happened to your car but at least you weren't badly hurt!  Glad we took out the 'Gap insurance' now; just hope never to have to use it!

[electric_cooper]

Some very sound advice from 'Electic'. Sorry this has happened to your car but at least you weren't badly hurt!  Glad we took out the 'Gap insurance' now; just hope never to have to use it!

Cheers mate

It is nice to give something back to the forum after all the advice and questions I have had

[p3eps]

Cheers mate

It is nice to give something back to the forum after all the advice and questions I have had

Yeah - thanks for that!  Having never been in an accident its nice to have someone who knows what they're talking about around!

I called Accident Exchange today - and told them that I didn't want a wrecked car!!!
The lady on the phone was very nice and said that they can arrange to have the car salvaged for me and get me the money for it.  I told her even with their £13k and £3k that I was looking for more than £16k.  She asked me to send in examples of cars etc (which I'd already done last night) and then said she'd find the email I sent in and get it linked.  She'd then contact the guys insurance and tell them that I need more.
She asked if I always buy from a main dealer - which I said YES.  She said this is good because if I buy from a main dealer, then the price will be more.  I told her that I bought that car new for a few pence less than £25k about 20 months ago, and that I need about £18 for a decent replacement.  I also explained that after buying a repaired write off car (wasn't listed in HPI) that I'll never buy a second hand car again, and that I'll be buying a brand new one.  She advised me not to cash their cheque for the time being (if I get one!) and they'd get back to me soon.

I'll save all your lines for later when they come back to me with the next crummy offer! 

If I do threaten to make a complaint - who is it I say I'm complaining to by the way?!


I wish I'd taken GAP insurance - but as they gave me 1 year free, I didn't see the need!  I'll definately be taking it on my next car!

[Martz]

Hey mate

Not had anything back today but should hear tomorrow. Will IM you mate.


Martz

[electric_cooper]

Cheers mate

It is nice to give something back to the forum after all the advice and questions I have had

Yeah - thanks for that!  Having never been in an accident its nice to have someone who knows what they're talking about around!

I called Accident Exchange today - and told them that I didn't want a wrecked car!!!
The lady on the phone was very nice and said that they can arrange to have the car salvaged for me and get me the money for it.  I told her even with their £13k and £3k that I was looking for more than £16k.  She asked me to send in examples of cars etc (which I'd already done last night) and then said she'd find the email I sent in and get it linked.  She'd then contact the guys insurance and tell them that I need more.
She asked if I always buy from a main dealer - which I said YES.  She said this is good because if I buy from a main dealer, then the price will be more.  I told her that I bought that car new for a few pence less than £25k about 20 months ago, and that I need about £18 for a decent replacement.  I also explained that after buying a repaired write off car (wasn't listed in HPI) that I'll never buy a second hand car again, and that I'll be buying a brand new one.  She advised me not to cash their cheque for the time being (if I get one!) and they'd get back to me soon.

I'll save all your lines for later when they come back to me with the next crummy offer! 

If I do threaten to make a complaint - who is it I say I'm complaining to by the way?!


I wish I'd taken GAP insurance - but as they gave me 1 year free, I didn't see the need!  I'll definately be taking it on my next car!

The term that scares them the most is " complaint to the FOS" which is the financial ombudsman service which is basically the indpendent complaint settling service in the insuranxce industry. explain that they said if you sent examples then they would increase there offer and they havent so you feel like you have been lied to. they will do anything to stop you going to the FOS as it is a bad reflection on a company.

[2007GTI]

sorry for your loss dude. 

I tried this threat of financial ombudsman service with my girlfriends claim when they werent playing ball, which didnt seem to work. the f*ckers sent a cheque anyway, so we returned it.  They bumped the offer up a bit, and even after writing 3 letters over 3 months, we just took the money in the end.  so hold your ground!

[Gene Hunt.]

Very sad end to a great car BUT at least you walked away.Good luck with the claim & as from the other posts hang on untill you get something you'r happy with.

[bobotheclown]

oh man that sucks ballz big time. so sad to se the car like that.

Just seen this thread and not read all 5 pages so if anyone else has mentioned VW's secret plan to reduce the number of Ed30's on the road already then please forgive me.