Insurance and the 'write off'

[AlabamaShrimp]

So full exciting story. If you didn't see in the grumpy thread last week Mrs Shrimp decided it'd be a good idea to get an old man to run his Honda Jazz in to the front of her Fiesta ST.

 

Its been decided by the insurance that it's her fault and sent an 'assessor' who didn't say much but it was obvious that he wanted to write it off.

 

 

As you can see it's the wing, bumper, light and a small bit of inner wing. Turns of some green fluid that leaked was the aircon fluid. So there's some hidden damage there.

 

So the 12 year old assessor panicked a bit when he saw a small bit of rust near the bent inner wing and had no idea what the fluid was but he's reported back and the garage he's from rang today saying that think it's £3500 to fix, which is a utter joke, yeah I know their price will include genuine parts, paint and a fuck ton an hour rate. So they are recommending it to be a write off to the insurance company (tesco).

 

Needless to say the car isn't worth millions but it's not that badly damaged and I'm fixing it no matter what. Thing is we know someone that used to work for direct line and he thinks due to its age 11, and its top market value £2500 that they'll try and make it a cat B.

 

So, my question in all this rambling is that I could argue with them all day on how much money they are going to offer but what can I actually do about what category they might want to put on it and has anyone been in a similar situation?

[omegod]

That won't be a B, C at worst  

[Rocket88]

Take the money, buy it back, fix it, run it 'til it drops

[SiC]

Well I believe it's your property until it's handed over to the insurance company when the claim is settled.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Yeah the cars mine, I want let anyone take it and in the end I don't even have to take any money from them do technically don't need to buy it back but some would help towards fixing it.

 

What I mainly have issue with is how it could be given a category that means it shouldn't go on the road again just due to how much it is supposed to cost to fix yet much newer and worse damaged stuff is fixed up all the time.

 

I've already got a wing in the right colour on its way for £30 and I pick up a door, again right colour, for a tenner tomorrow (the other side is a bit dented but not that bad).

[EssDeeWon]

Can you always buy the car back if its written off?

 

I would worry about losing my car forever over a slight shunt / minor scrape.

[SiC]

Can you always buy the car back if its written off?

 

I would worry about losing my car forever over a slight shunt / minor scrape.

Unless a policy says otherwise (I.e. special classic one), then no, there is no automatic buy-back once you settle the claim - as the insurance company will now own it. So it becomes their choice if they want to sell it back to you or not.

[Matt]

From what you describe I personally would kick up a bit of a stink about the assessor first and foremost before they actually do anything. To me it sounds like he made his mind up without really knowing what he was looking at. He didn't know what the fluid was? Find where it came from, follow (presumably) a pipe, oh look, the A/C pump//condenser/it goes to the cabin. Hardly rocket science to figure that out. Phrases like I feel/believe that the assessment was 'inadequate', 'unsatisfactory', 'inaccurate' etc should get the message across. If needs be it sounds like you could with some legitimacy question the assessors ability.

 

In the mean time I would be hitting up breakers to find out how much the bits you could replace yourself would cost; a wing, bumper and headlight is surely going to be a piece of piss on a car like that meaning that all the garage has to do is knock the inner wing out, refit the A/C part (I'm guessing metal pipe) and re-gas the system. All depending on whether they go along with it, they likely wouldn't want to, but be adamant unless they state specific policy that says other wise. Another option might be to say you or the garage buy those parts second hand, let the garage fit them and ask your insurer to reimburse you/the garage. Should bring the bill way down from £3,500 to well within the cars value. Just my two penneth.

 

Here's one on Ebay in the right colour which seems to have good parts. No stripe on the bumper but a kit for the entire car is £35 off Ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171842655962

[sierraman]

I'd make sure you can repurchase it as a write off at first. Then go all out with proof of its value from Autotrader etc, claim, buy it back at probably scrap value, spend a weekend putting it right with 2nd hand bits and then spend the profits on a decent holiday.

[omegod]

There's actually nothing to say a cat B can't go back on the road so don't be alarmed but I'd he mighty gobsmacked if it was a B

[Pillock]

Insurance categories are bugger all to do with the DVLA, it's a guideline but it's just insurers making out like they run the show.

You can put a B back on the road, it's been done before.... just not as straightforward as a C or D since they'll want reports and photos and stuff. But yeah, I'd be very surprised if it was a Cat B looking at the minimal damage.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Thanks all so far. Been on auto trader and seen a good few that I've made notes about. Mines a one owner (me/us) with a full service history and) adapt from the hidden rust) in excellent condition so I aren't taking shit money and no for an answer. I'd rather have sod all money from them than get paid out just so they can send it to the scrappers.

 

I am going to mentioning the uselessness and uninformed 'assessor' and I'll get it reassessed myself if needs be.

 

Already on with getting the bits, killer one is the bumper as they are the best part of £200...

[omegod]

Insurance categories are bugger all to do with the DVLA, it's a guideline but it's just insurers making out like they run the show.

You can put a B back on the road, it's been done before.... just not as straightforward as a C or D since they'll want reports and photos and stuff. But yeah, I'd be very surprised if it was a Cat B looking at the minimal damage.

 

Hurrah , someone else agrees on the cat B bollocks, the amount of arguments I've had over it with so called experts !

[DodgeRover]

My insurers said that as well, said not to worry I know a man with a copart account...

[Eddie Honda]

That's a Cat C all day long anyway.

 

Unless a policy says otherwise (I.e. special classic one), then no, there is no automatic buy-back once you settle the claim - as the insurance company will now own it. So it becomes their choice if they want to sell it back to you or not.

Their choice is also partly dictated by economics. Cheaper not to move it, be shot of it and milk the salvage value. I've never had issues buying back, I've only had issues over what they wanted me to buy it back for!

[alf892]

Most insurers will write off at 70% of the car's book value. Especially if the repairer puts the scare phrase in 'there is likely to be further damage apparent once stripped'

 

Get it bought!

[chaseracer]

And suggest to Mrs Shrimp that she funds it... 

[AlabamaShrimp]

See it just goes to show what knob heads some people are. Had a friend of my sisterin laws come who has an accident repair garage and look at the ST.

 

said the inner wing was something and nothing and the suspension hasn't moved at all its the wing that's been pushed back (why didn't I notice that??). Found a tiny crack in the aircon condenser and says its sod all to fix the car.

 

Think it may be a very interesting discussion with the insurance when they ring.

 

Other than that picked a door up in the right colour for a tenner today, which was nice.

[fatharris]

I'm on the other side of this, I've got a damaged spare wheel well and I'm awaiting the assessor arrival on the 3rd Jan. So far, the only quote I managed to get for a repair on Herman was over £3k.

Sad times.

[FakeConcern]

My C4 VTS was written off Cat D earlier this year and I had it repaired. I wish I hadn't really as it cost much more than I expected to get it fixed and it's not really as good as it was even though it looks alright.