Why me? For the love of God why me?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Again, sorry to have hijacked.

TT, Just got off the phone to Elephant. The lady said that the £70 is only applicable to Autoglass who are their contractors. Should I want to take it away to a third party to fit an OE VW windscreen I would have to foot the bill and Elephant will send me a cheque for £50 (which leave me well out of pocket). Going to try and give trading standards a bell but work is mental today. Anyone got any words of wisdome?

They can NOT do that.  That is creating a blatant monopoly, it is anti-competative - and it breaches clear and well-established UK laws.  Furthermore, it is a clear breach of the UKs on "insurance industry" specifications, as laid down by the "Association of British Insurers" (ABI) - which clearly states that on car repairs, ONLY genuine OEM parts must be used.  Trading Standards need to know, and a formal letter of complaint to Elephant, copied to the ABI, needs to be sent.  You might also like to get some further info from the Insurance Ombudsman, who can legally force insurance companies to comply with the law.

Are Elephant members of ABI?  Who actually "owns" Elephant?  What address does their paperwork come from?

Like I said, Norwich Union tried this very same tactic on me, and I beat the scum-bag ba$tards - and this was on an Astra which didn't even have any light or rain sensors.

At the end of the day, the windscreen and rear screen are part of the vehicle "structure", and any "weaker" screen could seriously reduce the strength of the overall car in a crash.  Ask Elephant if they have submitted a car with an AutoGlass screen to EuroNCAP for crash testing?  If not, then only an OEM screen will do.

Fcuking insurance companies really anger me!           

<going for a lie down to chill>

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Alan, just a question, obviously you are covered for your windscreen, but what does it actually say in the policy wording?

Dinx

Good point.  But most policies don't actually state such finite detail - because, they know that if they did try to state that "the policyholder must only use AutoGlass, and will not be entitled to an OEM windscreen" - they would find themselves in court, being prosecuted under the "Unfair Contracts Terms Act".  The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) did have very clear guidelines on their own website (www.OFT.gov.uk) some time ago - don't know weather they are still there, but if not, a HMSO search should find the relevant Act.

[RedRobin]

Furthermore, it is a clear breach of the UKs on "insurance industry" specifications, as laid down by the "Association of British Insurers" (ABI) - which clearly states that on car repairs, ONLY genuine OEM parts must be used.  Trading Standards need to know, and a formal letter of complaint to Elephant, copied to the ABI, needs to be sent.  You might also like to get some further info from the Insurance Ombudsman, who can legally force insurance companies to comply with the law.

....As only genuine oem parts must be used, how can some insurers cover 'like for like' (replace aftermarket parts with new aftermarket parts)?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I thought of that today, I don't think im going to win this one. It says that they will replace my windscreen with one of the same specification of the one I have. I really cant be bothered any more, If it goes in and looks exactly the same without the VW badge in the corner then fook it, it will do the job.

Which means OEM. 

Non-genuine screens are not crash-tested, therefore can NOT be proven to be the same spec as OEM.  This "crash-test" bit is crucial for modern cars with bonded screens, beacuse, like I touched on in an earlier post, bonded glass (windscreen and rear screen) form part of the "structure" of the car - some "experts" state that the front screen can provide about 40% of the structural rigidity.  Older screens which are located with a rubber gasket didn't fall into this category, and are not considered a "structural component". 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

yeah...tt does seem a rather...erm..whats the word...
anyway you know what I mean..

What?    PM me, if you like. 

[No Golf Clubs at all]

Just a quickie and as a slight aside.

If I had an accident, and I have body coloured bumpers that are specifically mentioned on my policy do you think that the insurance company should cough up and replace like for like OR do you think they would only replace with standard parts, ie oem,..not body coloured?

OK perhaps I need to delve into the innards of my policy document, perhaps this is different dependent on the insurer.  

[Teutonic_Tamer]

"If you make a claim for loss or damage to your car, we will only pay the cost of replacing parts needed for the car to meet the manufactures standard specification"

Then that is very clear, and Dinx supports that view too.

Go back to Elephant, and ask them to provide documentary evidence that VW Wolfsburg fit AutoGlass screens.  That will fox the robbing ba$tards! 

That whats my policy says. Going to call them again in the morning as there is no point doing it now as I will be on hold for hours. Just to see what they have to say about it, but honestly cant be arsed to spend hours fighting it. Has anyone ever had a good experience with an insurance company? Its f**king day light robbery what us young drivers have to pay and then they try every fooking thing in the book not to pay, what a bunch of cvnts.

worst
Norwich Union = James Blunts
Zurich = pigs really do fly (utterly incompetant pen!s massagers)
MoreThan = liars (don't tell you they will have a rummage in your credit file, leaving a "footprint" - no other ins cos do this)


best
eSure = excellent, though they don't insure "high group" cars (I think gp17 is the max, so Audi S & RS models are out, as are VW R32 & R36)
Liverpool Victoria = excellent - reasonably competative quotes (can haggle them down), and good claims handling

EDIT: why don't this forum like the word  "p e n i s" ? 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Believe me I know all about getting shafted by insurance companies!!!

But its either pay the n0bs or get 8 points like me! (and still pay the n0bs anyway )

What happened there? 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Its f**king day light robbery what us young drivers have to pay and then they try every fooking thing in the book not to pay, what a bunch of cvnts.

Its not just young drivers that get ripped of by the insurance companies. Everyone gets ripped off!   

Agreed, but some are considerably worse than others.  Older, experienced drivers do have the advantage of being able to shop around - and if you are like RedRobin, you can use Saga (sorry mate, just havin a laugh) 

Now theres a point, do Saga cover modifications - nitrous, superchargers, air suspension, £10k audio upgrades? ! 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Furthermore, it is a clear breach of the UKs on "insurance industry" specifications, as laid down by the "Association of British Insurers" (ABI) - which clearly states that on car repairs, ONLY genuine OEM parts must be used.  Trading Standards need to know, and a formal letter of complaint to Elephant, copied to the ABI, needs to be sent.  You might also like to get some further info from the Insurance Ombudsman, who can legally force insurance companies to comply with the law.

....As only genuine oem parts must be used, how can some insurers cover 'like for like' (replace aftermarket parts with new aftermarket parts)?

Ahh, that's were a difficulty can arise - and why some insurance companies have "problems" insuring modified cars.

If the bits in question are OEM upgrades, such as an S3 intercooler, then they could reasonably be expected to cover the cost of repairs (the policyholder could offer to cover the difference between a standard and the S3 i/c).

If they are non-OEM, such as C/F bonnets, or AP brakes, then I'd strongly doubt they would refit the same, unless you had specific policy wording.  If these were damaged, then the standard OEM items would be fitted.

For custom manufactured bits - say a hand made exhaust, or smoothed bumpers - you'd most definately be on your tod.

All in my very humble opinion, of course!  And IANAL.