Total Loss

[Dan_s2_coupe]

Just spoke to my insurance company and they have told me that my car is a total loss

And someone is going to ring me tomorrow to discuss my options

I dont no what to do

[spink]

from the photo you put up it didnt look too bad,is the floor creased?

[Rusty]

You should be able to buy it back and have it repaired yourself. If the car is driveable then don't let them take it anywhere if you intend to do this. If you just want to cut and move on the so be it.

Make sure you push them for the best price for the car that you can get. Never accept the first offer and scan all the classified ads for simillar cars and what they're selling for.

Oh, good luck too.

[denniselbows]

sad to hear that Dan. i fear this is the route the insurance companys will take with our cars now which is not good at all. what ever you do. do not let them have the car.

[Dan_s2_coupe]

The car is locked away in a secure garage they aint having it

I want the full value that i gave when i got my insurance quote i will go see a soliciter

I dont really want a car that has been wrote off but it is worth a fair bit in parts so have to see wots happening

[bluetack]

Dan,

You need to understand the process and objectives of the various people that are involved. The next person you may meet is called a loss adjuster or something similar. He/She has paid the insurance company already for the loss. So assume you have a value of £5000 in your head for the car. The loss adjuster makes an offer of £3000 (say)to the insurance company. The insurance company are happy because they have reduced their potential loss from £5000 to £3000. The insurance company sell the loss and the loss adjuster's job is to satisfy your claim at less than £3000, because then they make a profit.

So, say he/she offers you £2000 and agrees to sell the car to you at £500, they will make a profit of £1500 ( because they have agreed a fee from the insurance company of £3000 and got rid of the claim for £1500).

So your job is to get the damage repair properly estimated, using secondhand parts if required. Then with this cost in mind and the reduction in value of a "marked car" set about doing a deal which gets your car back, properly fixed, and some cash.

One of the most valuable components of a deal in your case may be that the car is not given a " write off " classification or that your no claims are protected. All of these elements are available in the negotiation because they cost the loss adjuster almost nothing.

So to summarize, the insurance company has sold the loss. The loss adjuster is'nt working for you but himself. You have some aces if you decide to use them.

It's a game like chess or monopoly.

[pixsaudisex2]

my mate had a two litre coupe same crash as yours and they fixed that only last year said it was close his car value was 2000 pounds so i thought you would have got it fixed for that ( the hardest part and most expensive bit was getting another towbar made up for it they said) argue your case if you want to keep the car. after all you are the customer .

[Mikes2]

That is not how it worked when mine was written off.

I was never contacted by any loss adjusters. Everything went through the insurance company which is how it should be.

He has a contract with his insurance company and it is up to the insurance company and him to reach agreement.

Most of the large insurance companies use their own loss adjusters.

[K Simmonds]

I wrote off a 1996 VR6 Corrado a few years ago, I was insured with Sunlife. They gave me the option off buying the car back for £350 as it was a cat C. Made a fortune off the parts so far!!! More than enough to cover buying my 3B

[bluetack]

Well I didn't make this up.

Here is what the "Chartered Insitute of Loss Adjusters" says and you can see that they aren't employed by the insurance company they just do their dirty work.

What we do
For most smaller and straightforward claims involving domestic or commercial property, insurance companies are able to make a payment immediately. However insurance companies may send a claims inspector to check upon the circumstances and for larger or more complicated claims, they employ the skills of a loss adjuster.

Loss adjusters are experts in many fields. In addition to a thorough knowledge of insurance and of the area in which they work, they can advise both the insurance company and the policyholder on repair and replacement techniques. After discussions with the policyholder, the loss adjuster's report to the insurance company enables the company to process the claim without delay. Each loss adjuster may work for many insurance companies. These companies know they can rely on the skill and impartiality of the loss adjuster.

The loss adjuster will visit the policyholder, within days after submission of the claim form, to discuss the circumstances of the claim. The loss adjuster will check:

That the loss or damage falls within the terms of the insurance policy
That the sums insured on the policy are adequate
That the amounts being claimed are fair and reasonable
That all valid items of claim have been included and nothing omitted
Loss adjusters are able to advise how home security or safety could be improved to avoid a further incident.

Loss adjusters can often point to aspects of the claim which the policyholder may have overlooked. They can advise on repair techniques, such as the matching of a damaged carpet or bathroom suite. They will know of specialist firms in the area who can undertake work in connection with the claim.

The loss adjuster reports his findings and recommendations to the insurance company. The company is then in possession of full facts on the matter and is able to make a decision.


Can you see anywhere when he/she is working for you?

[S2central.net]

I dont get it... The car is in your garage with some damage - just fix it and get on with it. Shouldn't have bothered contacting insurance people - all you've done is blotted the car... I know that partially defeats the purpose of having insurance, but if they are going to try and shaft us with games like that they can **** right off.

Paul

[curlyks2]

Well I didn't make this up.

Agreed, all true...

They can advise on repair techniques, such as the matching of a damaged carpet or bathroom suite.

[RANT]

And that's where the mother ******* ******* money grabbing **** sucking ***** got me.

My bath broke (long but genuine story). Happily no flooding. Researched replacement baths etc until I was sick of it. In summary: New bath to match suite not obtainable, new tiles to match existing not obtainable (impossible to remove old knackered bath without trashing several rows of tiles), new taps (etc) to match existing not obtainable... you get the idea.

Loss adjusted strolls in... "oh yeah, that's just a cheap new bath with some taps. Yeah it'll take out a coupla rows of tiles... ya just get the bath raised so it meets the unbroken tiles."

*****

[/RANT]

Fight the ******** all the way.

Ck.
PS **** me, the filter worked. And a probably good thing too.

[Dan_s2_coupe]

I would love to fix it if i knew how dont have a clue bout bodywork

I shouldnt lose any money just cus some old **** has the ****ing reaction times of a snail

At the end of the day i have the car if they dont repair it i want a gd price for it and ill buy it back but its just annoying. the estimater said its just over £2000 of work and there shouldnt be a problem as it is a lot less then the value of the car then the bitch on the fone tells me that

[adamw]

another option would be to get a quote from a bodyshop and ask the guy to pay for it? that way the car gets fixed and no insurance companys are involved.

even if he can pay for some of the damage?

cheers adam

[adamw]

were you claiming against your insurance or his insurance?