insurance help

[sx_turbo]

it's been 8 weeks now, and still no sign of any settlement. they have taken the hire car off me, and now i have no means of transport at all.

i have spoken to highway numerous times in the last 2 weeks to try and get something sorted, and there just being arsy with me.

there saying that its my problem for not accepting there first offer. (which was 2k, and quite rightly i wasnt going to accept). they also said that they have an extra 28 days because i never accepted there offer. so thats an extra 28 days and no car.

the accident wasnty even my fault, and i'm being made out to be the one in the wrong. and i'm the one suffering cos some berk cant drive.

anyhoo out of principle i will not be using highway ever again, and i will make it my mission to warn people about there crap service. there quick to take your money though.


i'm really stuck about what to do, and i feel like i'm going to have a breakdown about the whole thing, (there has also been other things that have been going wrong to, but i wont bore you).

can any body help, or have i just got to wait it out and have no form of transport?

 

[skyinsurance]

Insurance claims ALWAYS take time to resolve. I've had one which took over 2 years to resolve, admittedly my case was pretty unique. The driver that crashed into me (head on!) was insured through the same company that I was with at the time. The insurance company just wanted it to go 50/50 when it was completly the other part's fault, I had to go to small claims in the end to get it resolved.

You are just going to have to be patient, try and get hold of someone at the Highway who is dealing with your case and always speak to that individual. It may be worth buying a cheap runabout car to see you around in the meantime? I managed to buy a Toyota Camry 2 days ago for £300 with a full tank of fuel

Above all be patient, these things are never resolved overnight. Most insurance comapnies would treat you the same, its not just highway.

Regards

Ollie
Sky Insurance

 

[sx_turbo]

why should i be penalised for something that wasnt my fault?

i shouldnt have to buy another, why should i have to waste my money, thats what i pay insurance for.

if the third party driver didnt hit me then i would still have my car, why should i be the one with no car? and no means of getting around?

i live in canvey, its a small place where there isnt a train station, and the buses dont run very often. thats why i need a car.

i know insurance takes time, but its already been resolved as to who's fault it was. it's just highway taking there time in paying me out.

the guy who hit me has already got his van back all nice and repaired. he got that within 2 weeks of the accident.

 

[Mo_GT]

if u want u can hire out a car and pay the expenses out of your pocket and the claim it off the third parties insurance but its extra hassle to me it sounds like really poor service as with my claim i have been given a courtesy untill i get paid out and i am tpft so i see no reason as to why they took your car away i will surely stay clear of highway in the future as they do seem a bit bad on the service side good luck with sorting it out mate

 

[sx_turbo]

apparently they are entitled to take the hire car back as they sent me an interim cheque.

i did not ask for this interim cheque, they told me it was company policy.

i havnt cashed the cheque and i wont do until they give me a final offer, i just dont see why i'm the one being penalised for an accident that quite clearly wasnt my fault.

it just makes me so mad, and whats worse it seems as though there is sweet fa i can do about it.

my dad tried to add me to his policy so i can borrow his car, but his insurance wont let me be a named driver on his policy as i am 22.

so i'm well and truly stuck.

oh and i dont have £300 to go and spend on another car.

 

[Mo_GT]

explain to them that you dont wanna accept the offer and if they would be able to send u out a car as you think that your car is worth a lot more but there isn't much you can do if they have sent you an interim cheque the best thing is to talk to them and see how it goes sometimes it can be a pain in the backside trying to sort things out with insurance companies

 

[sx_turbo]

explain to them that you dont wanna accept the offer and if they would be able to send u out a car as you think that your car is worth a lot more but there isn't much you can do if they have sent you an interim cheque the best thing is to talk to them and see how it goes sometimes it can be a pain in the backside trying to sort things out with insurance companies

yeah i done that, they said its company policy to send out an interim cheque.

i tried arguing my point and got no where. as far as there concerned, its my problem i have no form of transport, and they dont feel they need to help me out.

 

[Mo_GT]

yeah i done that, they said its company policy to send out an interim cheque.

i tried arguing my point and got no where. as far as there concerned, its my problem i have no form of transport, and they dont feel they need to help me out.

bunch of bast*rds quick to take shit loads for premiums but dont wanna provide a good service

 

[sx_turbo]

bunch of bast*rds quick to take shit loads for premiums but dont wanna provide a good service

thats my point, i need help on what i can do now.

i have been well and truly taken up the arse with all this

 

[Mo_GT]

i really dont think there is much you can do as far as i know if your own insurance is hittin u up the shitterz then ur basically f*cked jus gotta ride it out unless u wanna keep hassling them only thing i can think of

 

[Monkfish]

I know it's not an ideal situation to be in and it sucks donkey dick that you have been put in it because of someone elses mistakes, but why penalise yourself further by being stubborn? If you need a car, go out and buy one.

You can buy a car far cheaper than £300 if you don't mind driving round in a dog. If you pay £100 for a car that has 6 months MOT and Tax, even if you only keep it for a month you can sell it on for pretty much what you paid, sometimes even more. Buy one that has faded paint (And old Corsa B for example), spend a day polishing it and guaranteed 100% you could sell it for more than you paid. I know a few people that have done this and each time they're made money on it. I'm tempted to do it myself to make some money to spend on The Bitch.

Failing that, if your policy gives you a courtesy car, have a read through the small print, there may well be a line in there stating that the company car can only be had for x amount of time and has to be returned after that. I do wonder why Insurance companies do that given that in non-fault claims (Such as yours) the claiming insurance company recover all costs (and then some) from the 3rd party insurance. Perhaps Ollie could explain the dynamics of it better.

I still say to go out and get a cheap car.

 

[sx_turbo]

I know it's not an ideal situation to be in and it sucks donkey dick that you have been put in it because of someone elses mistakes, but why penalise yourself further by being stubborn? If you need a car, go out and buy one.

You can buy a car far cheaper than £300 if you don't mind driving round in a dog. If you pay £100 for a car that has 6 months MOT and Tax, even if you only keep it for a month you can sell it on for pretty much what you paid, sometimes even more. Buy one that has faded paint (And old Corsa B for example), spend a day polishing it and guaranteed 100% you could sell it for more than you paid. I know a few people that have done this and each time they're made money on it. I'm tempted to do it myself to make some money to spend on The Bitch.

Failing that, if your policy gives you a courtesy car, have a read through the small print, there may well be a line in there stating that the company car can only be had for x amount of time and has to be returned after that. I do wonder why Insurance companies do that given that in non-fault claims (Such as yours) the claiming insurance company recover all costs (and then some) from the 3rd party insurance. Perhaps Ollie could explain the dynamics of it better.

I still say to go out and get a cheap car.

monkfish- that is not the point.

i have naff all money. i dont have £100 for another car.

i have £175 to last me till pay day, as i trying to back what i spent at xmas.

i have paid for a service and have been fucked over massively.

why am i the one being penalised?

i have looked through the policy, and it states that i am entitled to a hire, with no time frame.

the company state that it is there policy to issue interim cheques. i didnt ask for it.

apparently because of these interim cheques, they are entitled to take the hire car back.

i dont know why they do this, they say the interim cheque is sent out to help me so i9 can go and get another car.

but the £1600 cheque they sent wont buy me another car. so it as much use as a chocolate teapot.

 

[starbogt]

get a few adverts from the autotrader for cars relatively similar to what yours was and get in touch with the other parties insurance as eventually it will be those that are making the offer not your company and explain to them that you cannot replace your car with a like for like with the offer they have made to you and also explain to them about your transport situation. When I was hit by a third party their insurance company paid and supplied a car until my money was sent to me, if you have refused their 1st offer and you're company isn't doing anything (which I had the same problem with privilege) take it into your own hands and chase them up for another offer with the adverts proving that the car was worth a lot more.

Good luck and give em hell.

 

[Monkfish]

monkfish- that is not the point.

i have naff all money. i dont have £100 for another car.

i have £175 to last me till pay day, as i trying to back what i spent at xmas.

i have paid for a service and have been fucked over massively.

why am i the one being penalised?

i have looked through the policy, and it states that i am entitled to a hire, with no time frame.

the company state that it is there policy to issue interim cheques. i didnt ask for it.

apparently because of these interim cheques, they are entitled to take the hire car back.

i dont know why they do this, they say the interim cheque is sent out to help me so i9 can go and get another car.

but the £1600 cheque they sent wont buy me another car. so it as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Hmm, this 'Interim Cheque' sounds a little suspect to me. I've never heard of an insurance company doing that, especially if a hire car is provided with no time frame. I'd be wary about cashing that in just incase they then turn around and say that that is your payout and by cashing the cheque, you have accepted it.

I'd phone them back and say that you don't want the interim cheque, you just want the hire car until the claim is settled and you have a cheque for the value of your car. If they say that the interim cheque is company policy, check through the paperwork to see if it is mentioned in there. If it isn't, question why not and question why you weren't told this at the time of taking the policy out. If there is no mention of the interim cheque in the small print and they insist it's company policy and they start getting awkward about it, tell them that you are not happy with the service they are providing you and that you will be seeking advice with the Insurance Ombudsman and FSA (Financial Standards Authority, they licence and regulate insurers and have the power to put them out of business). That should shake them up a bit.

 

[sx_turbo]

get a few adverts from the autotrader for cars relatively similar to what yours was and get in touch with the other parties insurance as eventually it will be those that are making the offer not your company and explain to them that you cannot replace your car with a like for like with the offer they have made to you and also explain to them about your transport situation. When I was hit by a third party their insurance company paid and supplied a car until my money was sent to me, if you have refused their 1st offer and you're company isn't doing anything (which I had the same problem with privilege) take it into your own hands and chase them up for another offer with the adverts proving that the car was worth a lot more.

Good luck and give em hell.

so you think i should go straight to the guy who hit me insurance?

 

[sx_turbo]

Hmm, this 'Interim Cheque' sounds a little suspect to me. I've never heard of an insurance company doing that, especially if a hire car is provided with no time frame. I'd be wary about cashing that in just incase they then turn around and say that that is your payout and by cashing the cheque, you have accepted it.

I'd phone them back and say that you don't want the interim cheque, you just want the hire car until the claim is settled and you have a cheque for the value of your car. If they say that the interim cheque is company policy, check through the paperwork to see if it is mentioned in there. If it isn't, question why not and question why you weren't told this at the time of taking the policy out. If there is no mention of the interim cheque in the small print and they insist it's company policy and they start getting awkward about it, tell them that you are not happy with the service they are providing you and that you will be seeking advice with the Insurance Ombudsman and FSA (Financial Standards Authority, they licence and regulate insurers and have the power to put them out of business). That should shake them up a bit.

i havnt cashed the interim cheque, i was very wary of it to. i'm about to phone them up now.


cheers for your help guys.

 

[starbogt]

I got more information from the other insurance company than I did from my own. Your company can't answer you until they've recieved one from the other party. And I agree with monkfish call them and send it back. your insurance is a contract if they break it then they are liable.

 

[sx_turbo]

right thanks guy's.

i just phoned them and had a bit of a moan, done what you said and miracuosly (spelling) they have received the new report from the engineer, but there was no figure on the screen, so they are gonna find out and apparently call me back.

i'm not holding my breath though.

 

[Monkfish]

Mention any regulatory body to any regulated company and 9/10 times they'll shit themselves and give you what you ask for. It doesn't always work and it's a sly hand to play, but if often gets the results you need.

 

[thomllee1981]

dude i know it sounds a bit dumb but try getting an appointment with the citizen's advice beuareu (spelling lol!) take in all your papperwork and see what they say they have specialist people who will be able to give you some real good advise!

and also will contact people on your behalf showing them that you are seeking advice and dont accept what they are doing to you.