Crash!

[Christophski]

Hey guys

So last year I went into the back of someone in the s2. Called the insurance company and said I would get mine fixed myself. Only damage done was the bumper, foglight and indicator and obviously a dent on the crossmember intercooler pipe thing. I have a new bumper and indicator and foglight on it but left the crossmember bit as couldnt find a non dented one.

I have got home from work to find a letter saying they want to come and inspect the post repair of the car. Have phoned them and they say its probably so they can make sure the other party cant claim for all they are trying to claim for.

Question is they want to value my car too. Are they going to be barstewards and try and write off my car because I didnt replace the front pipe bit or are they trying to wriggle out of covering me for the third party damage? Any kind words of wisdom guys? Kinda worried about it.

Thanks
Chris

[Dan]

Are they going to be barstewards and try and write off my car because I didnt replace the front pipe bit

Can't see the merit of doing this from their point of view.

or are they trying to wriggle out of covering me for the third party damage?

Again, can't really see the relevance of your repair to this.

They might want to inspect the state of the car now and have you confirm you're happy it's "repaired". This prevents you from coming back later and saying, "Oh, I need to claim again, I've just realised this was broken".

Alternatively, if you were to have another accident of the same nature, they'd need to know what was damaged that time and what was unfixed from this time, so you're not claiming for existing damage.

That's how it looks from here. Can't see any other reason if they'd already agreed to you doing the repair.

[QuattroFever]

they probably just want to come round and check and make sure its not so bad that it doesn't belong back on the road, Otherwise you might get someone that says " ahh, its only a headlight and a plastic trim." When really they've ditched it and bent the pillars.

I wouldn't worry. You have the right to take it wherever you want to get it repaired and if they can repair it for you for less than what they want to value it then you're laughing (if you get where i'm coming from)

They might try and take the p*ss, they valued my old 3B at £1500 when I had only bought it concours brilliant black for £5000 - 5 weeks prior to someone stuffing into the back of me. Had to get photos of similar spec cars and prove value etc. etc. PITA but got the whole lot back.

[Christophski]

I just hope they arent out to try and write off my car or anything. Its fixed into the same state, not a mark on it kinda thing, to the way it was before the accident. Wonder are they going to inspect much else of the car if it was only the front damaged? Any experience with this? Is it worth me getting some print outs of cars for sale in similar state as mine before they come so I can say what its worth? Mine is a standard spec ABY is all and is quite tidy.

[Big Lee M]

I think they want to check your car over to see the damage as the 3rd party might be trying to claim for a boat load of stuff and trying to make a fraud claim.

[Christophski]

They mentioned something similar to that Lee.

[DamianURS4]

worst case scenario - if they wrote off your car (and I see no chance of that happening) you can buy it back for much less! ;-)

Win win situ!

[Christophski]

True but don't really want it on the records. Do u think that I should put on og boost hoses as since the crash I fitted samco. Literally just n it's not mentioned. Due to a boost leak

[Big Lee M]

I wouldn't worry about it fella, like I said it will be that the 3rd party are trying it on.

[Christophski]

R they likel to try to invalidate the insurance cos of it tho?

[GavS2]

Hey Chris,

As you know i deal with insurance companies all day at our bodyshop. I wouldn't worry mate, as others say its probably the other party trying to claim for more than they should, maybe personal injuries caused in the accident also. You don't have to have your car repaired if you don't want to, as you may not want to to pay out the insurance excess. They cannot write off your car as you have not had it repaired by them at there cost. It would cost them alot of money to write her off, thats not what they will want to do. As for the value they have asked for, its probably the person you talked to on the phone has got there wires crossed with the circumstances of the claim. The person who will view your S2 will be an independent assessor sent on behalf of the insurance company, the insurance companies never come out thereselves. The main thing they may check will be tyre depths so i wouldn't worry about the samco's and they will just have a look to see how much damage your car had due to the accident.

So don't worry dude.

Hows the boost issue going, any luck yet ?

Cheers Gav

[Rusty]

My 90 year old neighbour had an insurance inspector round to look at his car after a light impact. The 3rd party was claiming several grand and there was virtually no damage to my neighbour's car, so they wanted to see what was what.

[Christophski]

Ok. Thanks guys. Im feeling more relaxed now. As mentioned already there is no damage to my car as I have reaired it all with second hand parts so you cant tell what was what. I have my old bumper for the inspector to look at so hopefully shouldnt be that bad. I guess they cant write it off anyway as I am not claiming my costs and all is fixed already. Just a bit annoyed it has taken this long for them to come round to look and cause me this headache after all this time. You know it was about 6 months ago and now they decide to act on it. Just a bit aprehensive is all.

Thanks guys

[Phil Payne]

My 90 year old neighbour had an insurance inspector round to look at his car after a light impact. The 3rd party was claiming several grand and there was virtually no damage to my neighbour's car, so they wanted to see what was what.

I had the same thing happen. I was in a Type 44 Avant with a massive towbar on the back and someone ran into it on Queen's Road in Sheffield. It was a woman (probably sober) who'd picked up two family members (definitely not sober) from a football match. I think it was a Fiesta.

Her car was a write-off. The hook had folded her radiator in half and shoved it into the fan. There were ripples in both wings and the roof. I couldn't find any damage on the Type 44 so we exchanged details and I went, leaving her waiting for a tow truck.

I had an assessor come round a few months later and the reason was exactly what others have suggested - he wanted to know why one party had written their car off and the other hadn't claimed. Not claiming makes them suspicious - they start thinking there must be something else you don't want anyone to know about.

[Christophski]

Ok, fair enough. Main reason I didnt claim was because I knew it was a bumper and fog light as only real damage and I know you cant get the bumper anymore so I sourced a second hand one as I knew I could get it fixed cheaper than they would have plus my car wasnt that badly damaged even though I went into the back of the van. Didnt touch any body work on my car and the Intercooler pipe dent isnt visible with the bumper on and isnt bent at all. I guess it goes to prove how Audi have a good strong build oon their cars.