Crash bang wallop

[dollywobbler]

Aye. Whiplash seeking when you're actually fine is just outright, short-sighted idiocy.

[Felly Magic]

Look, if the boot was on the other foot, they would most deffo be claiming off the OP, and ANYONE on here would do exactly the same. Don't kid yourself that you wouldn't, especially if swmbo starts saying 'the cash would come in handy for...'

[504GL]

Look, if the boot was on the other foot, they would most deffo be claiming off the OP, and ANYONE on here would do exactly the same. Don't kid yourself that you wouldn't, especially if swmbo starts saying 'the cash would come in handy for...'

If my missus said this I'd tell her to fuck off.

[Craig the Princess]

Look, if the boot was on the other foot, they would most deffo be claiming off the OP, and ANYONE on here would do exactly the same. Don't kid yourself that you wouldn't, especially if swmbo starts saying 'the cash would come in handy for...'

 

I wouldn't (and didn't).

[Alexg]

Neither would I. Unless I had genuine injury

[Shep Shepherd]

What 504GL, Craig and Alex said.

[ashmicro]

I wouldn't (and didn't) despite the Punto I was a passenger in being hit hard enough to write it off. I wasn't hurt. End of.

[Albert Ross]

I certainly wouldn't. Even considering I got called by a company who wanted to compensate ME, for the trauma of me scraping into an unattended S class Merc 3 years ago.... They told me, because it was a high level car, I could claim up to £3750. Off who? Me. So, I would be liable for the payout to me. But..... I would only have to put 25% into the pot.... so THEY would put up 3/4 of the payout to me? By this tim, my head was hurting, and I told them to fuck off. Numerous times. It took them 32 months to ACTUALLY fuck off. So just, basically. If you want to avoid a World of Pain, tell them you are fit and well, and your conscience is clear.

[M'coli]

Look, if the boot was on the other foot, they would most deffo be claiming off the OP, and ANYONE on here would do exactly the same. Don't kid yourself that you wouldn't, especially if swmbo starts saying 'the cash would come in handy for...'

So you condone insurance fraud?

[CreepingJesus]

If everybody who doesn't need to claim didn't, then the ambulance chasers would be starved of their oxygen. It's a vile practice which costs us all, every day. Hats off to the OP for doing the honest thing. Shame on anyone who suggests sticking in a spurious claim.

Au contraire, I didn't get to do a genuine compo claim, despite spending 14 months off work doing physio on my badly fucked up neck. Due to Fife police being utterly useless.

Shame about the car, tho'; I've seen cars worth more than that written off for kinks in the boot floor/floorpan. Those springy bumpers can really hide some nasties, can't they?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

While I personally wouldn't make a false claim due to reasons related to conscience etc, I do sympathise with Felly in that the motor insurance system is so fucked up that, apart from conscience-related matters, there is just no point in "doing your bit". If the ambulance chasers are gone, the 'accident managers', credit hirers and recovery firms will just increase their rates to keep claim amounts high and insurance companies making more money on higher turnovers...and let's not go back to the "motor insurance is a loss-making business" cyclical argument...because, even if it were true, changing it only needs claims costs to be reined in- when was the last time that a claimant sued an insurer who hadn't paid out because due the lack of loss mitigation on the part of the claimant? I don't recall seeing anything like that in the news- most likely because insurers never engage in the practice themselves.

 

On a more practical issue, is jigging a really expensive job? I was under the impression that the specialist equipment available to the trade made it a relatively straightforward operation (though I guess that someone needs to pay for them tools, too!).

[Felly Magic]

Luxo has it bang on there. You get rid of the 'Blames Direct' mob, and other people in the insurance 'food chain' will be there to keep claims & premiums nice & high. If you are injured, even only slightly, swallow that bloody pride, and claim. No point being pig headed & stubborn. The only person you are cheating is yourself if you don't.

 

It is common sense when involved in any form of RTA to seek medical advice, because although you may THINK you aren't injured, there may be underlying problems awaiting to rear their ugly head. Didn't the OP mention a stiff neck etc after?

 

I haven't claimed for a couple of RTA's that weren't my fault, but now, several years on wished I had (the joys of buses not having seatbelts fitted for the driver), because I am in a lot pain with my back fairly often, especially when it is cold and damp, and some days I have to walk with a stick. It is now way too late to do anything about it, also more & more legislation is coming into force to try and stop people who are injured claiming. Also, odds on the 3rd party in this may try a sneaky claim against the OP. It happens rather all too often nowadays, so I hope they have legal expenses cover. That is why I'm advising the OP to seek legal advice. They will have plenty of out of pocket expenses, and are fully legally entitled to claim for the whole lot, so why shouldn't they?

 

The insurance company will offer the OP the square root of sod all for their Volvo, and will have to fight for a half decent payout. I'm 99.9% certain they value cars on the very bottom trade in book price for a complete nail, so to be actually able to afford to replace it, a claim for out of pocket expenses may be required. Why should he have to fork out for something that isn't his fault eh? (time/loss of earnings/inconvenience). I did provide the OP with some evidence of how much a similar car would cost, but knowing insurers, they may ignore this fact, especially when he won't be dealing with his own insurers here, and they will be in 'damage limitation' mode.

 

Swmbo had to fight for almost 3 years to get compensation for an accident that wasn't her fault, thanks to lies from the 3rd party, with false witnesses, and her own GP breaking GMC guidelines on handing over medical reports, and she is now going through that again, because she now has permanent injuries to her spine thanks to a thick old biddy in Felixstowe failing to spot a 40ft long bus coming down the road & pulled out of her driveway. She has been putting off a claim for as long as possible thanks to her stubborn side, but now she is dealing with solicitors. She was finally starting to recover, but last week an RTA on black ice set her recovery back, and has now caused a quite severe back spasm when she is standing up for anything more than a few seconds.

 

Also on the subject of jigging, it is bloody expensive nowadays and labour intensive, with all the laser alignment tools required, and the jigs all being hydraulic and many insurance approved garages use jigs that are computer controlled. Not only will the car need jigging, there will need to be panel beating (sanding/filling/painting etc), and of course a replacement bumper, bumper mounting brackets & clips, paint, and a week in the body shop....A minor tap nowadays can easily result in a claim for over a grand in repairs.Just look at all the relatively new motors in scrappies that have been written off, with what looks like minor damage.

[The Moog]

Where are you located, Mr Moog?

I could do with a front bumper carrier and maybe lights (mine don't match) for my S40. If the insurers write it off and you can retain the salvage please may I be first in line for parts before you weigh it in (assuming you don't repair it)?Thanks!

 

Car has gone in to get an estimate today. I will see what happens offers wise. I am located in Ashford, Middx. Likelihood is that I would just get rid of it rather than bothering with salvage because I just don't have the space and time. I cant see the point in repairing it. I think it is shit rather than shite!

 

Heeeelllllooooooooooo!!!!Check my sig!

Will run it past er indoors

 

Get a whiplash claim in..... I would hold out for at least a bag of sand for the car, plus about £1500 for a whiplash claim.

 

The amount of people phoned me up checking whether I could put a claim in makes it hard to say no sometimes but honestly I am fine. Even my brother said he could think of 2000 reasons to put in a claim.

 

Would struggle morally bunging a claim in for something that I knew was wrong. It seems as if people just see this as a payout for their inconvenience!

[dollywobbler]

Fair play to you Moog. When my 2CV got walloped up the backside, I didn't claim for whiplash because I wasn't injured. Jumping on the bandwagon is just ridiculous and I'm glad most folk here seem to agree.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

So I have got a insignia.

 

A word of warning to you Sir.

 

Be very, very careful with this. Did it come from Sw**t Prestige Hire? Make very sure you took out the extra insurance (Angel something or other) that covers you for hire car charges because if the third party decide to get funny and deny liability - as obvious as the accident seems to you, they may well try and put the blame on you (braked too hard, brake lights not working etc) and that keeps the courts busy for months. If they decide on a 50/50 claim, you owe the hire car company a lot of money. Also, do what I did and take out the extra insurance for scratches, dents, wheels and tyres because they're not covered and the excess is immense.

 

Do not ignore any letters from the hire/accident managament company. Answer every one. If not, they will say that you were not cooperating fully and sting you for the full hire charge.

 

Just so happens that the fucking idiot that pulled out on me on a roundabout is now saying I caused the accident by side swiping him. Luckily I covered myself, but this will go on for months now and faced with a £4000 hire car bill, dickwipe's insurance is going to do it's best to wriggle out.

 

Unless yhou are 100% covered for everything, I'd give the thing back - seriously!

 

Also a big NO!! to whiplash claims.

[Woody]

The insurance company will offer the OP the square root of sod all for their Volvo, and will have to fight for a half decent payout. I'm 99.9% certain they value cars on the very bottom trade in book price for a complete nail, so to be actually able to afford to replace it, a claim for out of pocket expenses may be required.

 

I used to work for a large insurance company as a claims handler, dealing with both repairable and total loss/unrecovered theft claims. Part of my job was making settlement offers, and I can assure you that what you've said above is largely untrue.

 

When making a offer on the value of a car, it was made taking into account a number of factors, much as a car trader would do. If a vehicle could be inspected, an accurate assessment of it's pre-theft/accident condition could be made by an independent motor engineer who would then suggest a valuation based on book value and market trends etc taking into account the condition, mileage etc. If unrecovered, just the guides were used and the figures checked and agreed by an in-house engineer. The valuation offered would be based on the private sale valuation shown in the guides, not on retail as the car is not usually representative of one for sale on a dealer forecourt complete with service, warranty, preparation costs and so on, nor on trade unless the car was in exceptionally poor condition. The value offered is supposed to represent the cost of replacing the car with one of equivalent age, mileage, spec and condition in a private sale.

 

Insurance companies will admit they are not always right, and are open to negotiation if you can demonstrate that the car would cost more to replace than the offer made. The best possible way to do this (as others have said and done) is to provide cuttings from local newspaper ads, auto trader cuttings and such like, but be sure to show the cars as being directly comparable to your own - not 2 years younger, higher model, different engine, newly serviced, from a dealer for example as I have often seen people do. However, do make the insurer aware of any repairs or work carried out to the car recently, as although routine maintenance does not add to the value of the car, it does make it more saleable and consequently must be taken into account in a valuation.

 

On the other side, I have seen cases where the in-house engineer in particular has given instructions to go in with a low offer and then increase to a better figure if the customer complains. Whenever this happened on a claim I was handling, I would argue the case and usually win - after all the key principle of insurance is indemnity i.e. to put the insured party back in the position the were prior to the loss and all insurers must adhere to this.

 

A word of warning to you Sir.

 

Be very, very careful with this. Did it come from Sw**t Prestige Hire? Make very sure you took out the extra insurance (Angel something or other) that covers you for hire car charges because if the third party decide to get funny and deny liability - as obvious as the accident seems to you, they may well try and put the blame on you (braked too hard, brake lights not working etc) and that keeps the courts busy for months. If they decide on a 50/50 claim, you owe the hire car company a lot of money.

 

Totally agree. I know someone who had to go to court as the third party insurer disputed the credit hire car charges in his non-fault claim. His car was a BMW 325i Compact, and while in for repair the accident management company gave him a 328i Convertible on the basis of it being a similar size engine car. The bill was £4000. The key thing here is that when you get the car from the accident management company, you sign a credit hire agreement which basically means that you accept liability for the rental charges of that car if they are not paid in full by the third party insurer.

 

These charges (as I'm sure you're aware) are extortionate. When I had a non-fault accident almost three year ago, I had my insurers handle the repairs, but on being given an unsuitable loan van by my insurers I contacted the TP insurers and got them to agree to hire a van for me on their account with Enterprise. The hire van was £28 per day, and I had it for two months in the end. A credit hire van would probably be three or four times this amount.

 

Also, do what I did and take out the extra insurance for scratches, dents, wheels and tyres because they're not covered and the excess is immense

 

Yup! I also worked for Drive Assist (for a very short while) and one of the things they did was to charge the person whose name was on the agreement immediately for any little dent, scratch etc. One customer I remember had a very slight scuff on the wheel rim where they had kerbed it, and were charged £125 for repair. Obviously the repair would never be done unless it was serious damage. As one of their drivers, we had to do a visual inspection of every car before we took it out of the yard and there were always scuffs and scratches on the car.

 

A credit hire company will have taken your credit/debit card details up front when you took delivery of the car, and therefore are able to debit any excess or damage charges without any further notice.

 

Also a big NO!! to whiplash claims.

 

Agreed.

 

Apart from all the other valid reasons people have talked about, the 'ooh my neck hurts' lot make it so much more difficult for those who have suffered genuine injuries. In my crash three years ago I was knocked sideways and consequently suffered injury to my upper back, neck and right shoulder. I have since been through three medicals, two of which I've proven wrong in their prognosis, three years of physio and osteopathic treatment (still ongoing), potential court action, and a hell of a lot of hassle so far to get any sort of compensation. And it's still not settled, and unlikely to be for some time. Oh, and not to mention the constant and at times intense pain I've been in since as well.

 

Apologies for the long post, but I felt it might be useful to give a viewpoint from someone who's both been there and seen things from the other side.

[The Moog]

Cheers for advice. The other party has accepted liability so shouldn't be an issue. I have had his insurance company offer me a car, my insurers offer me a car, the accident management company offer me a car and also the workshop has offered me a hire car!! Everyone wants a piece of the action.

 

I went with albany who are admirals accident management company. Part of what I signed up for was insurance against other party not paying up. Didn't have to pay for it. So shouldn't be an issue.

 

Giving the insignia back tomorrow due to being on hols and then will get another when come back.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Why am i not surprised that our resident expert on all matters to do with everything is straight in there with his bollox 'whiplash' claim. make everyone pay a bit more on their car insurance so you can get £1500 to spend on an indoor gym or whatever.

[Cavcraft]

 

 

The insurance company will offer the OP the square root of sod all for their Volvo, and will have to fight for a half decent payout. I'm 99.9% certain they value cars on the very bottom trade in book price for a complete nail, so to be actually able to afford to replace it, a claim for out of pocket expenses may be required. .

 

In that case I'm .1% certain they go off the values in AutoTrader and look at quite a few examples before coming up with a price. Only one of us is right. Don't look now but it's not you.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The insurance company will offer the OP the square root of sod all for their Volvo, and will have to fight for a half decent payout. I'm 99.9% certain they value cars on the very bottom trade in book price for a complete nail

 

Not true. I got a £700 payout (first offer) for my 1995 3 Series which was already a Cat C from 5 years ago, and a distinctly average 140'000 mile example. I didn't bother asking for more because £700 was already around twice what it's actually worth. The way I look at it, that pays for the (minimal) repairs as well as next year's insurance.

 

I would expect a similar figure to be offered for the Volvo. Insurance companies aren't going to waste their time pissing about arguing over £300. They will most likely offer enough £££ for a suitable replacement.

[trigger]

My insurance company offered me £2000 for my Passat last year after my crash which is what i paid for it a year before so i accepted it, although in the engineers report they valued it at £2300.

 

I also got my payout last week, 16 months after the crash which I'm using to pay for proper physiotherapy instead of the rubbish one's i got from my insurance company which have in fact made my injuries worse, My lower back muscles have stopped working as a result of the crash and i need treatment at £36 for 1/2 hours to build them back up again, Money i wouldn't have if i hadn't claimed for whiplash.

[dollywobbler]

That's fine though Trig. Claiming when you HAVE been injured isn't what upsets people.

[The Moog]

My insurance company have written it off. I hurried them up as I am on a plane this afternoon.

The claims guy was good. They hadn't had a report from bodyshop but just said judging by incident and age of car and hourly rates would be write off.

I need to phone them when I am back but already mentioned 1000 which would be happy with. Also the insurance policy has been put on hold and I can get it restarted when I get a new car.

 

So all round fairly good service. Although will reserve judgement until I get the cheque.

[The Moog]

Got back from Cambodia last night and found a cheque waiting for me.

 

They have settled at £1200 without any arguement. So all in all a good result considering the car cost £500. I have to say I can fault Admiral, everything has been done quickly and efficently.

[ashmicro]

Tidy result there Moog.

 

Direct Line paid out in 3 weeks for Katie's car. No loan car issues, as due to the nature of her injuries she was advised by doctors not to drive (couldn't see properly).

 

The wrecked car was taken to the main dealer, which is the only one for that marque in the island of Ireland. Dealers gave DL the pre-accident value and job jobbed.

 

Third party have admitted liability and are preparing for a right shafting on the injury claim.

[eddyramrod]

That's fine though Trig. Claiming when you HAVE been injured isn't what upsets people.

 

It might not upset the specatators but it sure as hell upsets the genuine claimant! The fakers have ensured that the whole insurance industry treats every claim as fake, so the genuine claimant has to fight every inch of the way for every penny. I know, I've been there, it's horrible. Trig, you have my sympathy! And now we know what you next car should be too: a pre-facelift Volvo 244GL. Supremely comfortable heated leather seats... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! My back loves Volvo seats...