VW Ensurance - a spanner in the works

[monkeyhanger]

Absolutely raging at VW Ensurance today.

An 8.5 week wait since I was rear ended by someone insured by Aviva that not only didn't report the incident themselves to their insurance company, but have apparently ignored 3 letters from Aviva asking for their side of the story to help determine liability. They finally are able to look at the photos of the 2 cars taken at the scene and google maps of the area of the incident and my statement of events that Esure say were supplied to Aviva on day one, but Aviva denied seeing anything before I forwarded the photos last week.

They've been pushing for a VW courtesy car supplied via rental while my car is being repaired, at my risk (they hope to pursue the other side for costs, but if they don't pay up it's on me) even if the repairer has non-VW courtesy cars that I am happy to be in for a short while. They promise an equivalent output VW, so i'm expecting a 150ps ACT GT Golf as a minimum.

As the parts are finally all in I am supposed to be getting my car repaired on Monday, so they have put "Europ car" on the case that won't even guarantee a VW, let alone a Golf. The Golfs they have are a 1.6TDI Golf S, or a 1.2TSI S Golf, but none of those will be available Monday.

I've been pushing for a Mini courtesy car from the start to keep claim costs down (it's a BMW franchise repair centre, using Mini fleet courtesy cars), but they won't be able to take a cut from that so it's not allowed, even though Europ car cant get me into an equivalent VW, or even a VW.

They told me liability was admitted, so no risk on the rental costs biting me. I find out later from my own insurance company (Esure) that Aviva are now looking at what we've supplied them "without prejudice", meaning that they're now considering liability without admitting it, so right now I still might be liable for rentals.

My insurance company still insist that excesses must be paid by me and said excesses have been jacked up from £300 to £500 because i'm not using their approved repairer. They won't lift a finger to help recover that excess either, so i'm relying on VW Ensurance to help out there and i'm not sure they're adept enough to handle it.

So far they've done nowt that I couldn't have chased myself, certainly have no more clout than me in the chasing and have lied to me about liability admitted. Absolutely sh!te. My insurance company hasn't been any better either.

[mcmaddy]

Don't use esure the come renewal time and tell them to pi44 off with 'because you aren't using our approved repairer' it's total s4it and a scam to with costs and costs alone. Is the bodyshop that they insist on VW approved? If not it may reduce the trade in figures of your car if when you take it to Mick he spots something wrong. It's all well and fine for cars out of warranty but in my opinion not for 18 month old ones still in warranty.

[monkeyhanger]

Chris: Yes, it's a bit of a racket. I'll be able to get it back eventually if I ever get a confirmed admission of liability from Aviva - if it doesn't happen soon i'll be writing to the financial services ombudsman.

Can't believe that for a claim they'd have to presume they won't end up paying for, they don't want me going to an approved repairer using all the right parts and not scrimping on a part that should be replaced.

Mick will probably spot the repair - the rear bumper will be better colour matched to the bodywork than a factory finish. 

[phope]

The last time I had an accident was 21 years ago, so I'm a bit out of practice with insurance claims.

However, our 8 month old A6 got driven into on the rear quarter at the weekend by a dozy driver who decided to change lane on a roundabout without looking 

With the evidence of road markings, lanes and where the car has been hit, there's no argument that she was in the wrong and she admitted liability at the scene thankfully, but being on a busy roundabout, there are no witnesses that I can call on. Definite bodywork damage, and possible damage to rear suspension

We rang up the Audi Accident Management Services line that our dealer had provided details of at the time of purchase, so I'm assuming it will be very similar to the VW Ensurance scheme you mention. The scheme our dealer uses is run by Accident Exchange, who arranged for a BMW 5 series (go figure!!) to be provided on Monday as the courtesy car, and have had the car taken away to Dundee Audi bodyshop

I gave the service a heap of car pics as well as a few streetview images and the like, and they seemed pretty confident in what I was saying, but I guess the proof will be when the other insurance company actually deal with it

I must admit to being a bit wary, as technically we are liable for the hire costs unless they can be recovered from the other drivers insurance, but we've been assured that the Audi scheme also has a built in insurance cover that recoups such costs from another underwriter should the other insurance company piss us about. They also state they will recoup all uninsured losses such as my own excess from the other party/insurance company

Still a bit unnerving

[phope]

Although, what did piss me off today about the service, was their strong 'encouragement' to my wife on the phone to pursue claims for whiplash and the like, even though the accident was at such a low speed no one was injured in anyway 

[monkeyhanger]

Although, what did piss me off today about the service, was their strong 'encouragement' to my wife on the phone to pursue claims for whiplash and the like, even though the accident was at such a low speed no one was injured in anyway 

Yes, we've relentlessly been pursued by JLS Law on VW Ensurance's behalf.

[fredgroves]

Have to say, its never a good idea to try to get repairs done in a particular place or insist on a particular car for a loaner.

Whilst I understand you are wanting an "approved" repair and another GTD as a loaner, all insurance companies run a series of rackets involving kickbacks *and* discounts from all of their suppliers.

Half the reason why the small dent my son had in his car was a claim valued at "1500 pounds" is because of all of the gouging that goes on. The dent repair guy around the corner from me could do the *same* job for 125 quid...

However, if you want the insurance companies to pay out, you have to play along with their nonsense, otherwise they will start getting right sh!tty with you.


Oh and I thought it was now illegal to sell/pass on details of accidents to third parties for ambulance chasing?

[monkeyhanger]

Have to say, its never a good idea to try to get repairs done in a particular place or insist on a particular car for a loaner.

Whilst I understand you are wanting an "approved" repair and another GTD as a loaner, all insurance companies run a series of rackets involving kickbacks *and* discounts from all of their suppliers.

Half the reason why the small dent my son had in his car was a claim valued at "1500 pounds" is because of all of the gouging that goes on. The dent repair guy around the corner from me could do the *same* job for 125 quid...

However, if you want the insurance companies to pay out, you have to play along with their nonsense, otherwise they will start getting right sh!tty with you.


Oh and I thought it was now illegal to sell/pass on details of accidents to third parties for ambulance chasing?

I'm wanting a courtesy car that the repairing garage can supply (a Mini, it's a BMW garage franchise that owns the repair centre), not insisting on a GTD/GTI or anything else "similar" that will come at greater cost. VW Ensurance are forcing me into a hire car which will require a £250 "assurity" payment on my credit card that will be refunded later assuming all is well with the car (damage, parking tickets, speeding fines etc) upon its return - another temporary expense in addition to the loaded excess for not going to an Esure approved repairer (they have no VW approved repairers on thier books in the North East). I doubt it is an illegal "pass on" if the law company is associated with VW ensurance, you are probably giving your permission for the appointed solicitors to be passed your details following an incident when you sign up.

[fredgroves]

Sounds like a nightmare mate 

The old addage - that you only truly find out how good/bad your insurer is when you make a claim...

I would ask them about where you signed to allow them to pass on your accident details - don't assume that you have - almost certainly they have sold them (another insurance "kick back" payment).

Definitely have a look here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30642368