Another one had an accident

MikkiJayne · #1 10th August 2016, 08:07 PM

Is it one of the top tabs which screws to the slam panel? You can get repair kits for those for about £20 - 4D0998121A. They screw to the housing in place of the broken tab.

pete-p · #2 10th August 2016, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulrstaylor

Th D4 hire car will be costing them more than the headlight and probably the full repair

I know, you'd think they would worry about that more than the cost to repair the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Is it one of the top tabs which screws to the slam panel? You can get repair kits for those for about £20 - 4D0998121A. They screw to the housing in place of the broken tab.

I'm not sure it's the tab, it looks more like the housing. I can't see for myself yet as too far away, but here is the photo from the estimate.

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MikkiJayne · #3 10th August 2016, 09:21 PM

There doesn't look to be anything wrong there

pete-p · #4 11th August 2016, 07:36 AM

If you look carefully he is pointing to a small crack. I didn't notice it the first time. It seems a waste to replace the whole unit just because of that.

pete-p · #5 15th August 2016, 03:09 PM

It seems the engineer has given my car a 'market value' of £2500.

This being the reason for writing it off.

I can find two for sale, one being Professor Peach's (although he's taken a deposit now) at £7k and another which has no photos and suggest it's a 1998 pre-facelift at £8k.

What's the best way to tell them they're ignorant pen pushers and it's worth more than the £2,500? Just forward the adverts or something else?

moltuae · #6 15th August 2016, 03:29 PM

I don't think you'll be able to persuade them to change their valuation. I think they use reference data, based on trade values, that they have to adhere to.

Like I said earlier (here), same thing happened to me. It should be possible to get them to agree to give you a cash payout instead. In which case you would get to keep the car (without any recorded write-off against it) and the £2.5K that they would've paid you to replace it, though they may offer less as a cash payout, or deduct the scrap value. You're then free to take the car anywhere you like for the repair and have it repaired with used parts if you prefer.

MikkiJayne · #7 15th August 2016, 04:47 PM

Ffs thats total BS

I paid more than that for mine with known engine problems.

Can't you negotiate the value by showing other similar examples? I've done that before although it was a long time ago. If they consider it a write-off and pay out surely it does get recorded?

Oh and another thing - I was looking at my headlight the other day and it looks *exactly* like your picture. Is someone mistaking the gap between the rubber seal and the plastic housing as a crack? If it doesn't need a headlight could you get them to just repair the bodywork?

paulrstaylor · #8 15th August 2016, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete-p

What's the best way to tell them they're ignorant pen pushers and it's worth more than the £2,500? Just forward the adverts or something else?

This - keep it polite.

They need to put you back into pre-claim position, that could be by repairing your car, they could find you an equivalent car that you are happy with or they can give you a cash settlement.

If they are insistent on cash (or if you prefer that and they agree) then ask them to find you another similar car for sale for £2,500. Bear in mind, you are not a trader so it is retail value that counts - not trade. Alternatively you may be able to agree a partial payment/keep the car also known as a contract repair, they pay you and you get it fixed as you see fit.

Good luck with your negotiations

HPsauce · #9 15th August 2016, 05:55 PM

I used that "find me one the same for that price" when insurers were thinking of writing off my PF S8 some years ago (stolen, crashed and recovered with major body damage). I knew they couldn't, not least because it was pretty much unique.

They fixed it. Cost a LOT - I saw the bills, needed a whole new rear quarter panel which is a MASSIVE piece of aluminium.

sarg · #10 15th August 2016, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulrstaylor

This - keep it polite.

They need to put you back into pre-claim position, that could be by repairing your car, they could find you an equivalent car that you are happy with or they can give you a cash settlement.

If they are insistent on cash (or if you prefer that and they agree) then ask them to find you another similar car for sale for £2,500. Bear in mind, you are not a trader so it is retail value that counts - not trade. Alternatively you may be able to agree a partial payment/keep the car also known as a contract repair, they pay you and you get it fixed as you see fit.

Good luck with your negotiations

This is the perfect advice, they are under contract to return you to your pre-accident position

And never accept the first offer, wait until at least the 3rd

And see if you can get any help from the legal expenses element of your insurance if you have it