Car rear-ended. Insurer wants to write off, offers paltry amount

Weepsie

Apologies for the lack of brevity here.

My partner has had their car rear ended in the past week or 2. The other driver accepted liability at the time, and left a sizable dent in the boot, some hairline cracks and scrathes on the bumpet and the boot now does not close.

Details were exchanged and partner rang the other drivers insurance company when home. Later that day other driver text to ask could it be done outside insurance, worried about premium, NCB etc etc. Already the wheels were in motion, and the cost of repair was going to outweigh any premium increase we were thinking, plus it's what insurance is for.

Car was assessed earlier this week at a garage recommended by the other driver's insurance.
The other driver had still not contacted their insurer at this time. Without going into detail of what needed to be done, they said couple of grand and they'd be in touch when other driver was contacted.

Today they rang and said it would be €3500 to repair and were therefore writing it off. They offered €1500 and then denied offering that figure minutes later over in the same conversation. Both the cost of repair seems excessive and the amount offered is insulting (it wouldn't cover what's owed on the remainder of the loan)

Going by CarZone and VRT calculator the car is worth between 4000-5000, was in perfect condition prior to this.


The person from the insurance sounded like they were pulling numbers from the air to try and get the case closed. He also said it would be sorted tomorrow in a manner that suggested he was just trying to get us to p*ss off.

We're not sure where to go from here if anyone could offer insights.

It doesn't help that we are due to be out of the country for a few days while this is all going on.

Greenmachine

First mistake was to engage with the other parties recommended assessor. You should use your own, all the better if the quote is higher. Another parties insurance can't compel you to settle for a write off. But if your claiming on your own insurance, you might have less chance to fight it.

Weepsie

We thought it would be fairer using their assessor than someone else. We're claiming from their insurance as it was their fault entirely.

Can we ask for a second assessment, or does it have to be paid for?

Pat Mustard

Simplest answer is to see a solicitor and let him/her advise you.

Your solicitor can advise you in relation to which assessor to hire etc.

Weepsie

Pat Mustard wrote: »

Simplest answer is to see a solicitor and let him/her advise you.

I was thinking that. But what's the point of insurance if it punishes the victim of accidents too. Down a car, not enough to repair it, or to cover the remainder of the loan on it. It's a scam

Yet arseholes with mystery whiplash injuries get thousands.

peteb2

If you want an engineer to look it'll be out of your pocket as he will be acting on your behalf.

Why are you looking at VRT site?

peteb2

Weepsie wrote:

I was thinking that. But what's the point of insurance if it punishes the victim of accidents too. Down a car, not enough to repair it, or to cover the remainder of the loan on it. It's a scam

Well insurance is never to cover the cost of what you borrowed. It's purpose is to put you back in pre crash position.

If you aren't happy with it you can either
1. Fight it yourself against other insurer
2. Claim off your own policy if you have comprehensive and have your insurance chase it
3. Engage specialist motor solicitor such as hussey fraser

Also you said originally that the party at fault hadn't spoke to insurers. So who recommended the garage and who contacted you about settlement ?

Weepsie

@peteb2 To establish value of the car by open market selling price

Weepsie

peteb2 wrote: »

Well insurance is never to cover the cost of what you borrowed. It's purpose is to put you back in pre crash position.

If you aren't happy with it you can either
1. Fight it yourself against other insurer
2. Claim off your own policy if you have comprehensive and have your insurance chase it
3. Engage specialist motor solicitor such as hussey fraser

Also you said originally that the party at fault hadn't spoke to insurers. So who recommended the garage and who contacted you about settlement ?

The other parties insurance company arranged to have it assessed before they ever heard from them. They gave a number of approved garages to go to.

Ah I know, but it's just another annoyance. What they've offered would in no way put it or us back in a pre crash condition.

peteb2

Weepsie wrote:

@peteb2 To establish value of the car by open market selling price

waste of time. If it is actually worth 2k the lowest price they default to is 2500 or something

peteb2

Are you comparing like for like on car zone? Condition mileage spec nct. And allowing for discount? Just because someone looks for 4k doesn't mean they will get it.

Weepsie

peteb2 wrote: »

Are you comparing like for like on car zone? Condition mileage spec nct. And allowing for discount? Just because someone looks for 4k doesn't mean they will get it.

I am. Down to the year, model, mileage. It's in better condition than most on there, good mileage, nct'd/serviced etc.

Weepsie

By chance anyone know the cost of an engineers report? And how the scrappage value offer works. Something like they offer the difference of the market value and scrap value if we want to keep the car?

We we're just having a lot thrown at us, and given the run around by the assessor on the phone who kept going back on their words and not avoiding questions.

Thanks for the input too.

Pat Mustard

Weepsie wrote: »

I was thinking that. But what's the point of insurance if it punishes the victim of accidents too. Down a car, not enough to repair it, or to cover the remainder of the loan on it. It's a scam

It seems from what you are saying that the insurance company is offering you an amount that is considerably less than the pre-accident value of the car.

If you speak to a solicitor, you can access the courts and if people refuse to play ball, a judge can decide what's fair, if necessary. The systems has its flaws but you are not completely at the mercy of insurance companies and lowball offers that they may make.

Weepsie

Pat Mustard wrote: »

It seems from what you are saying that the insurance company are offering you an amount that is considerably less than the pre accident value of the car.

If you speak to a solicitor, you can access the courts and a judge can decide what's fair. The systems has its flaws but you are not completely at the mercy of insurance companies and lowball offers that they may make.

Chatting to partner again, it's an offer from the assessor on behalf of the insurer. Not sure if that makes a different. Looked up assessor, and they have a reputation for making low balling on here and other boards.

colm_mcm

What make/model/year are we talking?

Weepsie

I've purposely been avoiding naming names, brands etc. It's a 2007 1.25 5 door hatchbook with less than 100k. Dealers have it listed at around 5,000 for the exact same model with at least 50% more mileage.

colm_mcm

As in a **r* *i**ta

I can't see an 07 being worth €5k, but €1500 is too low for sure.

Weepsie

Yup that's the absolute high end with lower mileage, barely used type I'd think. The repair cost quoted was extortionate too and they'd end a lot of grief by just repairing it. underside was never checked but that's okay as since checked.. We've been advised it can be repaired for much less, but now would need the engineers report thrown in. Basically needs a new rear boot door or panel beating/painting and possibly a new bumper. Not cheap but not 3500 worth

As said, the assessor has a bad reputation

peteb2

I bought a 2008 one of those 3 months ago. 4750 with 60k on it and 2 year nct without a mark on it.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Weepsie

Patww79 wrote: »

Can you not tell them you'd rather have it fixed?

Precisely what was requested. Theyve deemed it too expensive. That's the thing that grinds most. I don't believe they should have that thaso unless it's completely unroadworthy or a Cat a or b write off. It's a cat. D write off so they've chosen not to repair it though it can be done.

By straight up writing it off, they just open up a load of other issues. Unfortunately the claim is with partner and I can't speak on their behalf, but I'd be firmer with the assessor and indicate I'll be seeking legal advise, and request every scrap of documentation from them

pablo128

Weepsie wrote: »

Precisely what was requested. Theyve deemed it too expensive. That's the thing that grinds most. I don't believe they should have that thaso unless it's completely unroadworthy or a Cat a or b write off. It's a cat. D write off so they've chosen not to repair it though it can be done.

By straight up writing it off, they just open up a load of other issues. Unfortunately the claim is with partner and I can't speak on their behalf, but I'd be firmer with the assessor and indicate I'll be seeking legal advise, and request every scrap of documentation from them

I think you can insist on them repairing it, and even compensating you for it being devalued due to it now on the system as a crashed and repaired car. I would get legal advice from someone more qualified than me though.

Gmaximum

Ask for a copy of the claim file. They will refuse this. When they do advise that as it contains information on you your entitled to it and ask how you can make an FOI request and also their complaints procedure as you'd expect repair to be carried out at their own cost. Threaten to engage the services of your own engineer.

I'd expect them to roll over as the above is going to be too much hassel for them

Markcheese

I'm not sure if you were talking to their assessor or the insurance company... I doubt you have to deal with their assesor.. get onto the insurance company, tell them of your unhappyness ,and tell them your getting a solictor (have a name ready) to deal with it unless it can be all sorted out within the hour ...

Sono

Appoint your own assessor, they are acting in the interest of the third party, your partner would have been advised of their right to appoint her own at the time the assessor was appointed.

Pre accident value less excess less salvage is how your figure is determined.

If I were you I would certainly contest the PAV as that is just them chancing their arm and people do contest them and do get the more once they can show proof of a truer value than what is originally being offered.

Good luck

Weepsie

Markcheese wrote: »

I'm not sure if you were talking to their assessor or the insurance company... I doubt you have to deal with their assesor.. get onto the insurance company, tell them of your unhappyness ,and tell them your getting a solictor (have a name ready) to deal with it unless it can be all sorted out within the hour ...

It was the assessor. A crowd in the UK called ETWB. 2 people I know in insurance have never heard of them.

Partner is contacting insurance company, but again I fear won't be as stern as needs to be. They threw a lot of jargon at her and kept talking over her

Weepsie

Sono wrote: »

Appoint your own assessor, they are acting in the interest of the third party, your partner would have been advised of their right to appoint her own at the time the assessor was appointed.

Pre accident value less excess less salvage is how your figure is determined.

If I were you I would certainly contest the PAV as that is just them chancing their arm and people do contest them and do get the more once they can show proof of a truer value than what is originally being offered.

Good luck

Cheers, looking into another assessor too. Open to recommendations. Might I ask what PAV is? I'm assuming it's an ombudsman type association but don't recognise the acronym

Sono

I know the ETWB, contest this pre accident value, once you can back up your value you'll probably end up getting more. Trust me on this!

Sono

PAV = pre accident value

Weepsie

pablo128 wrote: »

I think you can insist on them repairing it, and even compensating you for it being devalued due to it now on the system as a crashed and repaired car. I would get legal advice from someone more qualified than me though.

I don't think you can do this unfortunately. And thanks for some more of the above responses. Sound advice on how to approach it at least.