Crashed my classic, and the repairer can't be arsed, apparently.

[rovamota]

I had a prang on Sunday in my Princess Wedge on the way to Gaydon and did a fair bit of panel damage to the front end and wing, but it is repairable. Yes, I am totally pissed off!

 

Anyway, the authorised repairer contacted me today (eventually) after being told by my insurers to collect it and assess the damage. The chap at the repair centre told me that he didn't think it was worth collecting and taking to their yard as 'it's a total loss anyway with it being so old and worthless and would be wasting all of our time, as we even write off stuff that's only 10 years old'. He then suggested I go back to my insurer and negotiate a payout.

I just told him to do what he's been told by his paymasters and come and get it and that I couldn't care less how much hassle it is for them. 

 

Yet again, real life gets in the way of the bullshit that insurance companies promise you when you take out a policy.

 

Don't really want to post a picture of the damage. It'll make you cry.

[stripped fred]

Is it a normal policy or classic? I had a Citroen BX a few years ago that they wanted to write off so they paid me and I fixed it myself. Well, I just bent the bonnet back. They won't be interested as it's out of their comfort zone so just get the payout and find someone to fix it if that's what you want. Photos might mean you get more replies as a lot on here will be good at assessing the damage.

[John F]

In a strictly financial sense, the repairer is right - nobody wants things like Princesses so their value is essentially their weight on the bridge.

 

But value doesn't always have to be financial. Hope you get your car straightened out.

[rovamota]

Yeah, it is on a classic policy. Having restored a few of these I know what's fixable and what isn't, but if this was 30 years ago it would be sorted straight away.

 

Two wedges have sold for over £5000 each in the last 2 months...

[Junkman]

Has a value been agreed with the insurer?

[Six-cylinder]

My suggestion is, don't let that authorised repairer take your car as they have shown they are not interested. Tell your insurance that it requires a classic car repairer and find one who is willing to work with you and present them to your insurance company. I know it is work for you but if you rightly want to your save car I am afraid you will have to do the leg work and make a fuss to make it happen.

[rovamota]

Yeah, we agreed a value of £3000 based on the fact that it would cost that to replace it at the time.

[rovamota]

Well they are the authorised repairer for this classic car insurance company so they should know what they're getting into. The insurers should live up to the bullshit they write when they tell you that your classic is as important to them as it is to you.

[panhard65]

My suggestion is, don't let that authorised repairer take your car as they have shown they are not interested. Tell your insurance that it requires a classic car repairer and find one who is willing to work with you and present them to your insurance company. I know it is work for you but if you rightly want to your save car I am afraid you will have to do the leg work and make a fuss to make it happen.

I agree don't let anyone take the car away. Ask the insurance company to send someone to inspect it as even with a £3k value they are still likely to write it off due to the difficulty in finding parts. If it gets picked up you won't see it again without a lot of messing and probably expence on your part. If you know someone who can repair it get them to give you an estimate. The insurance company are looking for the cheapest outcome for themselves and won't be doing much to help you.

[Junkman]

It doesn't work that way.

If they aren't arsed and you manage to force them (which I doubt you will succeed in anyway), guess what kind of quality their work will be.

[worldofceri]

Exactly.  I wouldn't trust the job to anyone who didn't want to do it.

 

They're probably of the view that 'classic car' only applies to E-types, big Healey's etc.

[Skizzer]

Wot Six-Cyl and Panhard said.

 

This sucks - name and shame the insurer please.

[rovamota]

Exactly.  I wouldn't trust the job to anyone who didn't want to do it.

 

They're probably of the view that 'classic car' only applies to E-types, big Healey's etc.

 

Exactly, and it's snobby bullshit. 

[fordperv]

What a load of shit they talk, I had an accident in my sierra, it bust the bonnet, headlights, bumper, grill and strip below the headlights and I told the insurance company that I would not accept a total loss on the car, i would source the parts using a mix of new and used parts to keep the cost down, the assessor looked at the car which I did not have an agreed value on and would realistically be worth 2-2.5k and it got approved, find a garage you trust tell the insurance you want them to repair it, get an estimate from them, supply the insurance company with as many pre accident pictures of the car you can then go from there, if needs be get them to send one of their engineers out to you to physically see the car and chew their ear off about condition etc. But don't let the car go out of your sight.

[colino]

I don't think the guy is doing anything other than be honest.  The insurance company isn't going to authorise a repair, so would you prefer he started stripping the car (none too delicately) to expose the level of damage and have it sitting for months until someone agrees that the parts aren't available?

Best to negotiate a settlement and have the cash to get it fixed under your control.

[rovamota]

Why will it be a problem if they take the car. If it's not being fixed they'll bring it back?

[LC Torana]

I just told him to do what he's been told by his paymasters and come and get it and that I couldn't care less how much hassle it is for them.

Correct.

[richardmorris]

If they want to write it off and it's agreed value, there's nothing to negotiate is there? You get what they've agreed with you - ie £3000.  Bet they don't write it off, but I wouldn't let anyone take it away for inspection. Take it to your local specialist and get the assessor to go there to inspect.

[richardmorris]

Why will it be a problem if they take the car. If it's not being fixed they'll bring it back?

Yea right.

[fordperv]

Rovamota pop up a pic of the car, I'm presuming it's that lovely looking one that someone linked to a picture off accident damage which was on farcebook.

[fordperv]

Why will it be a problem if they take the car. If it's not being fixed they'll bring it back?

It's not just the fact of them bringing it back or not, it's the fact it will get treated like shit whilst it's there and extra damage, things disappearing off it etc

[Junkman]

Why will it be a problem if they take the car. If it's not being fixed they'll bring it back?

 

Oh yes they will, will they not? If you're lucky after months and with a hefty bill for transport/storage after you threatened them with

a series of letters written by your lawyer. If you're not so lucky, you'll find the scrapping certificate in your letter box.

 

My CCI policy explicitly states that I can choose a repairer I trust to have my car repaired by after a crash (just checked).

OK, at 185 quid a year, it's relatively expensive, but I urge you all to check this and if yours doesn't have this passus,

switch to an insurer who provides this. It's well worth the higher rate once shit happened.

[rovamota]

[fordperv]

What a crying shame, have the inner wings been damaged or is it purely outer panel damage?

[UltraWomble]

Ooooof, but repairable

[rovamota]

Outer panels only, no structural at all.

 

Anyway, I have contacted my insurers again and it's not being collected now. They are sending an engineer around instead. Thanks for the advice, chaps.

[richardthestag]

bugger I would say that is going to be 2/3 of your agreed value which is going to be a total loss in insurance terms.

 

If you think it can be fixed then keep it and negotiate a settlement direct with insurer. My policy says I get first refusal on the remains probably at scrap value. There will be a marker - probably cat c against the car though. Then use cash to choose your repairer and get it done yourself.

 

If you dont want it, do as above but dont exercise your right to buy the remains.

[Junkman]

What a crying shame, have the inner wings been damaged or is it purely outer panel damage?

 

I can see from here that the inner panels are damaged. To be fair, I have written off 3 year old cars with less damage back in 1986.

To get a payout and have it repaired by a specialist is the only option now, but even if the parts are obtainable cheaply, the repair will be quite involved.

[Dippy]

Its a shame as even valued at 5K they wont be interested as body panels are not available new. Best to buy back from insurance company and find someone happy to work on such a fine classic as the wedge.

 

Long term advice is always agree salvage rights with your insurer if you really want it back, thats how i insure mine as I wouldn't give them up for their insured value even though they are well valued against current market conditions.

[John F]

Failing that, there's a red 1.7 auto on ebay for £1600...

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leyland-Austin-Princess-2-Wedge-1700-HL-Auto-1980-MoT-Dec-2015-PAS-/301681598277?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item463d9fdf45