Is there any justice in this country???

[blakey]

Just one question though, if your wife took photo's of the damage and there is absolutely no damage to your car how can the insurance company sanction a £2000 bill including a wheel? You must have a case here mate ???

[Perpetua]

(((( Giz ))))

It does make you wonder sometimes if it pays to be honest doesn't it?

Although to have a clear conscience, whilst not a huge amount of comfort right now . . . does make you and your lovely partner, good people.

You can't put a value on that, as it's priceless.

[bluemagnum]

Leave it a couple of months then round to Dick's house with a tin of manky coloured paint. Knock a nail through the top then stand it upside down on his roof. Might not get your insurance money back but it will put his premiums up a bit

Sweet Revenge!

[gizmondothefirst]

You know what guys - haven't got enough time to reply to each individual, but thanks for your comments.
Its been a busy night sorting the insurance for the latest bump, but that should be taken care of for the time being.

One thing that I will mention now is regarding what Blakey said, and he has echoed my thoughts entirely!

Not once has the insurance company offered to actually inspect either vehicle, even after emphasising the difference in damage that the vehicles sustained, and asking them on several occasions to actually 'look' at the photo instead of paying it lip service!
It beggars belief that when we contacted the insurers for my partners car earlier this evening (Different insurer) they will be contacting the 'hit and run' driver from today tomorrow morning, and if the driver doesn't accept liability the insurance will send an inspector out immediately to check both cars to compare damage etc. as, in the words of the insurance "they want to reduce the amount of time available for someone to cover anything up".

Now why can't my insurance take a stance like that. Its obvious to anyone that something just doesn't add up!!!

So I will be contacting my insurance tomorrow and telling them I don't accept the outcome, that they are in effect, working for me and that they actually have to investigate this further!

These days we are all expected to accept being shafted. I don't expect anything to come of it, but if you don't even bother in the first place then that's a guarantee! Grrrrrr!

As an aside, this is all taking preciuos vaping shopping time away and is just not acceptable!

[nicky]

Have you thought about contacting the Financial Ombudsman Service Giz?

I had to use them 18 months ago for an insurance problem and they were excellent.

[bel]

((((Giz)))) im so sorry, its not fair is it. Hubby had a women reverse into him the other day well a couple of weeks ago and he isnt getting any where with the insurance people because she wont answer her phone

[Sandra (aka Chillax)]

So sorry to hear this, seems I have heard a few lately in the same boat

[gizmondothefirst]

Thanks Perps.

Nicky - I would never have thought to use the ombudsman service for this...I will see how my phone call with the insurance goes in a minute, then look into it if needs be.

Bel - how can an insurer operate like that? "I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do as she isn't answering her phone"!
It really is laughable isn't it? So whilst she plays 'silly buggers' you have to either find another means of transport, or make do with a damaged car?!
Okay, there may be a genuine reason she isn't communicating, but the insurers (yours or hers) must have a contingency strategy in these situations?
And throughout this period you and hubby are expected to accept it? Hmmph! It does make me cross! >

Sandra - it seems that we live in a society that offers anyone free money through claims etc because it's a loop-hole solicitors can manipulate whether its deserved or not!

My partner had an accident a few years back with a car slamming into the back of her, and pushing her car under the trailer of the lorry in front. She was in a SmartCar and I'm surprised she didn't sustain any other injury than whiplash.
She didn't feel it at first, and it only became noticeable the next day and gradually got worse, until at the end of the week she couldn't move her head/neck. What surprised me the most though was her insurers legal team kept calling her and telling her they could 'get more out of them' as settlement.
Okay, so my partner didn't have loss of earnings, but she had to take holiday to cover her off time, and all the times she saw the doctor, but she had so much work on she wanted to go back sooner to catch up, yet she was told over the phone that she can take as long as she felt necessary and the settlement would reflect this! She didn't take much time off (less than a week) and returned to work in a little pain, but again she was told that its perfectly acceptable to be off work for a number of weeks with severe whiplash!

No wonder our premiums go up - anyone could experience a little whiplash, which under normal circumstances, wouldn't affect their health, but after the insurers have finished wth them, it would be all too easy to 'play on it' and take 2 - 3 weeks and then receive thousands as compensation!

Now I've taken too long writing this that I have no time to call the insurers, but it can wait until lunch time

[gizmondothefirst]

34 minutes of my life I will never get back!

It turns out that there is absolutely nothing I can do!
Apparently the photograph of the parked vehicle we sent to the insurers in January was never received!!!! And Dick's insurers inspected his car and found that it had been damaged.
Apparently Dicks insurers were threatening me with legal action if their claim wasn't settled, my insurers, acting in my best interest (?) settled the claim and paid for the repairs. Which, incidentally, only totalled £789, but did include an alloy wheel refurbishment and a new tyre, amongst other things.

Although I emphasised the fact that there is no damage to our car and there is no way such damage could be sustained to a parked vehicle, the lady told me that a vehicle inspector would be able to find damage on ours that isn't visible to the naked eye! WTF???! And because the claim wasn't large enough to warrant doubt from our insurer, they just paid out.

They take fraudulent claims seriously my arse!!!

Anyway - she pretty much agreed that G4S would definitely be able to track their employees, but again, without a reg number there is nothing more they can (or will?) do.
Even if we were to see the vehicle now and gave the reg number, although our insurers could challenge G4S it would then be their word against ours, regardless of the witness statement.

Frankly, they have acted independently of me, they have telephones us only once throughout this debacle, all other times either me or my partner have had to chase them. They have kept us in the dark when important milestones have not only been reached, but have passed, and even though this is now closed they still are yet to contact us?!!!
My partner called them yesterday to find out what was happening and was told the case is closed, "but we wrote to you yesterday"(Tuesday)....still waiting for that letter to appear!

Will the financial ombudsman be able to help?

There are 2 reasons we have insurance.. 1 is because we have to, but the most important reason is to give us protection to help and guide us through a claim. Well thanks DIRECT LINE - you failed on all counts, and out of the 3 people involved we were the only ones acting honestly and within the law, yet we end up as victims and have to pay the penalty and are left feeling alone and like no one really cares!
No wonder you're not on comparison websites, because, quite frankly - no one compares to you!

[nicky]

i would ring them Giz, and explain whats happening and they will tell you what they can do, they really are so helpful.
Here's their site

www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/contact/index.html

[gizmondothefirst]

Thanks Nicky

[Karma]

Good luck with it Giz!

[Lilac]

Defo ring the Ombudsman, Giz, i was going to suggest them when i saw Nicky's post, another question....i thought the very point of protected no claims was to ensure you don't lose out with a claim?

The photo taken that was never received...can you get another copy of it to show the ombudsman if needed, this has been handled very badly...

I had my bag stolen 2 years ago at work, and had to have the locks replaced on my Japanese imported SUV, i was told by my insurers at the time that it 'shouldn't' affect my no claims (which stupidly, i didn't have protected)

Then at renewal, my quote had jumped from £139 to £500!!!! I complained and they 'investigated' it, but replied as they couldn't claim from the thief that nicked my back, the fault was classed as mine...it sucked and i just wish i had gone to the ombudsman at the time, altho a claim for replacement locks wasn't mentioned in the policy, i have since found out that there's loads of insurers who don't hold you at fault when this happens...i'll be more careful with my choice of insurer in the future >

[nicky]

Apr 19, 2012 15:19:59 GMT gizmondothefirst said:

Thanks Nicky

YW, seriously call them, i didn't think they could do much for me but they ended up saving me in excess of £14000.

[gizmondothefirst]

Thanks again guys,

Get this - my protected no claims is left intact and I still receive my 65% discount. This discount is applied to my base rate, which is the actual insurance cost.
Because I have now made a claim my base rate is increased, which will continue to, over a 3 year period. My NCD is then applied to the increased base rate.

There you go! Protected no claims discount, but still a large increase in premium. I may be wrong, but I think the £789 that was claimed against my insurance will be what's added to my premium over the 3 year period, so my insurance recovers their costs. I would have been better getting a 3 year loan and paid Dick out of my own pocket!

Lilac - I thought 'lost keys' was a standard addition to any policy which didn't affect no claims etc?
Damned small print! And damned cheeky insurance companies!

Nicky - no wonder you sing the ombudsman's praises! £14k - Well done to you! (and them)