Insurance advice

[Dieselman]

Why can't you go the the others, just wait a bit longer.

[Charles M]

Make a clear note of what was said to you. It is essential in disputes to maintain contemporaneous notes.

You must write to the insurance company specifically stating that the offer is unacceptable, state what you consider reasonable, with supporting evidence, and that until the time you accept their offer, the car is your possession and any attempt to move it will be criminal. Third, indicate you believe the statements made to you were a deliberate attempt to coerce you into an unacceptable settlement, and you reserve your right to raise this with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Office of Fair Trading. Finally, demand they put this in writing.

They all have procedures to attempt to screw you. If you don't need the money, play their own game and refuse to move. Time is money.

[Peter.N.]

They are all good - until you have a claim! Personally I get the cheapest insurance I can by searching 'Confused.com' as my cars are sufficiently cheap to be able to throw them away and get another. My C5 is about £140.00 and the 406 about £130.00 and I am 75 and had an accident 5 years ago.

Peter

[citsncycles]

I've got mine with Adrian Flux at the moment - one of the cheapest I could find, and the policy has a clause enabling me to keep the vehicle afterwards, even if only for spares.

[ragger]

Really sorry to hear you are getting this grief Russ. I think you have been given some good advice above, and would support the view to only accept information in writing.

It seems that just about all companies are the same as I have heard good reports about Admiral's claims procedures as well as bad.

Best of luck; remember what Ford Prefect's book cover advised...

[russ92xmsed]

Wow, more amazing advice this is excellent. Thanks very much everyone.

I have all the time in the world to sit this one out. I will not be pressurised, I was taken by absolute surprise this afternoon and it's really annoyed me. They can put everything in writing from now on. I will not speak to them if they will behave like this. I think I might do as you suggest Charles.
Importantly for me at the moment, I want that car to remain in my possession until the shell can go to scrap. And as I see it, as long as it is on sorn, it's mine. Just hope they can't do any sneaky things with the DVLA.

I will give Adrian Flux a bell. See what they can do. Thanks Mike.

[White Exec]

More good advice above from guys who know!

Without knowing what value you attach to it Russ, or what it was "insured for", it's possible that the old car might be worth more to you in spares than anybody's payout valuation. In which case, take a reasonable offer from the IC, but insist that you keep the car (it's yours anyway), and look at it as a spares resource.

To avoid this situation occurring again, it might be worthwhile looking at Agreed Value insurance, for classic/collectable/cherished cars, as offered by Footman James (and others). Widely used in the Classic Car world, and was good in my P6 days, and no more expensive than most others. An agreed value at least leaves you knowing where you stand in the event of theft or total loss.

http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/classic-car-insurance

I'm sure others will have recommendations on this.

[russ92xmsed]

Excellent good idea Chris thanks. Footman James was recommended by another friend. Said they were good.
I insured the car for £2k. Okay maybe a bit high, but talking to some different chaps at the national seemed not too outrageous. But here's the frustrating thing there's an SED for sale at £2.2k and they don't wanna know. Anyway this is them being nasty and trying to settle things quickly.
I am prepared to think the car is worth more in spares, what I really want, is a payment that covers the cost of replacing it. And the insulting offer I got today, won't even replace my fuel pump!

[White Exec]

. . . what I really want, is a payment that covers the cost of replacing it. And the insulting offer I got today, won't even replace my fuel pump!

You rightly insured the car for what you were advised it was worth, and did not under-insure it, all of which is in line with IC's usual requirements.
A principal purpose of (comprehensive) insurance is to cover the event of total loss, enabling you to replace like-for-like at the prevailing market prices. Anything significantly less is not helpful.
Might be worth your taking a look at the policy's small print (ask for a copy is you don't have one) and general terms and conditions, which might help clarify matters.

[Dean]

If you accept a settlement the car will become the property of the insurance company so be carefull about stripping it out just yet, you are almost always offered the chance to buy trhe car back regardless of it cat classification.
You have been given some good advise already, just make sure you collect those high end adverts, the more the better, the value you insured the car for has nothing to do with the claim, if you stated it was £1 or 10k, up to a point.
The other thing to remember is it is your insurance company who are negotiating with the 3rd party insurers for a settlement, be carefull they dont have the same underwriter as they are then technically paying out themselves and thats when you get all this stupidity.

As said keep your chin up, ask for all comunication in writing (they wont bully you or pull shady tactics when its in writing!) and insist that you have enough of a payout to see you with the car you had in the first place which is where your high end adverts come in.

Oh and dont tell them you have bought a car.

Good luck Russ, you will get a fair settlement but you have to not let yourself get pushed around!

D