Insurance advice/experiances please

g7pkf · 23-08-2005, 08:27

After 3.5 years and 108K of happy motoring my baby died, i feel like i have lost one of the family at the time i didnt want it to go to some cold yard i was too distraught!

the following occured:-

http://www.packetradio.co.uk/gallery/car

The good news is that i am fine, the bad news is i have to make an insurance claim and i don't do that very often. I am with a large supermarket company T*****. anyone had any dealings with them and any other advice anyone can give me? I am fully comp with protected no-claims discount.

The officers that attended reckon it was an electrical problem-not sure if i would but another skoda but suspect that this is not a common occurance?

philc · 23-08-2005, 08:43

Blimey, that's nasty!
I'm glad that you weren't caught up in the conflagration. Just call your insurers, and they'll do the rest. They have a pretty good reputation, as these things go.

Phil

Dr Zoidberg · 23-08-2005, 09:05

Yikes!

Were you driving it at the time or did it just go up on the drive?

ScoobyChris · 23-08-2005, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by g7pkf

I am with a large supermarket company T*****. anyone had any dealings with them and any other advice anyone can give me? I am fully comp with protected no-claims discount.

Your insurance company are excellent and I made a claim through them a few years back which they dealt with quickly and efficiently. Just ring the claim number and they will walk you through the process. I'm assuming the car is written off, but one thing I would bear in mind in future is if you ever make a claim where the car is repairable, take it to their recommended repairer as the one I took it to (recommended by my local Subaru dealer!) were painfully useless and kept ordered incorrect parts for the car!

Chris

bonhead · 23-08-2005, 10:51

Sorry to hear about your loss.

when it comes top settling the claim, the claims handlers are often targeted on "mitigation" of their losses. In other words, their bonus may depend on paying as little as possible for your car.

Check that any offer made is reasonable. they should pay you enough to buy the same car with similar mileage from the local small ads and they will expect you to haggle a bit. if you think their first offer is too low, youwill need to provide evicence as to why (clippings from autoexpress etc.)

good luck.

KentStu · 23-08-2005, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonhead

Check that any offer made is reasonable. they should pay you enough to buy the same car with similar mileage from the local small ads and they will expect you to haggle a bit. if you think their first offer is too low, youwill need to provide evicence as to why (clippings from autoexpress etc.)

Good advice this. Their first offer is almost invariably going to be too low. As Bonhead said get a really good file together with local adverts, autotrader adverts (these are easy to check on the net) etc with as near to the same model, spec, year & mileage as yours and use that as the basis of negotiation. If you bombard them with these they have very little scope for disputing the worth of your car.

I had the same issue when my old Sierra was nicked, used in an armed robbery and burnt out - they contiunally tried to claim that the car was not in great nick and offered me a pittance, but I was able to show all the relevant service documents etc until eventually (after about 20 phone calls

) they met what I thought was a fair price.

g7pkf · 23-08-2005, 13:55

Well it has now gone to the salvage yard via a repair centre, they didnt even bother unloading it, its gone now just have to wait for the estimator, have done above found one identical to mine 5,995 but 81K mine was 108K what differance will the 27K make? mine was fully dealer serviced FSH cambelt discs etc?

and yes it happened while driving this is what happened:-

Basically what happened was I was on my way home from meeting friends, driving down the lower luton road smelt some burning and thought “someone’s having a bonfire late” .

About half a mile later realized it was my car that was smelling, pulled off the road opened the drivers door (after pulling the bonnet) and when the light came on realized that smoke was pouring from under the dashboard 10 minutes later the firebrigade arrived and you can see the result.

Most importantly I am okay.

Dr Zoidberg · 23-08-2005, 13:58

On the vauxhall website is a link where you can value you car.
It'll only give you trade in prices but you will get an idea of what difference the extra 27k makes.

bk1 · 23-08-2005, 14:33

I saw a video recently where the same thing happened to a Golf Mk IV. The passenger caught it all on camera.. started with some smoke coming from the dash, they pulled over pronto, and minutes later the whole thing was ablaze. It was gutted, same as yours, very very fast.
Makes me think it's worth getting an extinguisher just in case.

g7pkf · 23-08-2005, 14:58

next car i get i will be buying a 4Kg extinguisher the firebrigade said an extinguisher of 2 or less wasnt worth the money as they would only put out the smallest fire,

they also said most car fires an extinguisher is nigh on useless as they are usually either behind the dash or under the bonnet and there advice is if there is a fire under the bonnet do not open it as it will more than likely flame outwards.

Still think ill get one though.

still sad car gone....

Pimpster · 23-08-2005, 17:09

have you found out what caused this?

g7pkf · 23-08-2005, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk1

I saw a video recently where the same thing happened to a Golf Mk IV. The passenger caught it all on camera.. started with some smoke coming from the dash, they pulled over pronto, and minutes later the whole thing was ablaze. It was gutted, same as yours, very very fast.
Makes me think it's worth getting an extinguisher just in case.

Don't suppose you can remember where you saw this web etc?

g7pkf · 23-08-2005, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pimpster

have you found out what caused this?

NO fire brigade say electrical fault and with this other recent post about the golf
makes you wonder.

the radio cut out 20seconds before i stopped and relalised the car was filling with smoke.

AndyC · 23-08-2005, 18:01

I had a car catch fire while all the family were in it. A fuel line split and blew a fine mist of petrol over the hot engine.... All the smoke was pulled under the car so did'nt see it for a few minutes. No one hurt, but it ain't much fun standind at the side of the road while your car burns.....

AndyC

flatfourburble · 23-08-2005, 18:10

Yikes!

Sorry to see that but atleast you wasn't stuck in it

bk1 · 24-08-2005, 09:23

RE: the golf video I saw, it was on audi-sport.net a few weeks ago, but that site seems to be down at the moment (and has been for at least a week).
I'll try and find it for you anyway.

ScoobyChris · 24-08-2005, 09:29

A few weeks ago there was a burnt out Fabia blocking the southbound M3 just north of Winchester Services. Hard to tell what trim, age or if it was petrol or diesel, but it looked liked the occupants got out ok which is the main thing.....

Chris

g7pkf · 24-08-2005, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk1

RE: the golf video I saw, it was on audi-sport.net a few weeks ago, but that site seems to be down at the moment (and has been for at least a week).
I'll try and find it for you anyway.

If you could either get a link or a copy i would be most gratefull. I want to see if it was the same thing that happened to mine!!

bonhead · 24-08-2005, 12:35

With regard to the 28k miles, look at Parkers or What Car guides for the mileage depreciation - they're not Glass' guide but they'll give you a good idea. Re the new bits, the insurer will probrably expect you to have maintained the car anyway and probrably won't give you more for it.

let us know how you get on..

BH

PJW -VRS · 24-08-2005, 13:58

HI Dean

looked you up on qrz ....... sorry to see the state of your car
hope you did`nt loose any radio gear ...... 73 m1som

23-08-2005, 08:27	#1
g7pkf Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houghton Regis Posts: 145 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Insurance advice/experiances please After 3.5 years and 108K of happy motoring my baby died, i feel like i have lost one of the family at the time i didnt want it to go to some cold yard i was too distraught! the following occured:- http://www.packetradio.co.uk/gallery/car The good news is that i am fine, the bad news is i have to make an insurance claim and i don't do that very often. I am with a large supermarket company T*****. anyone had any dealings with them and any other advice anyone can give me? I am fully comp with protected no-claims discount. The officers that attended reckon it was an electrical problem-not sure if i would but another skoda but suspect that this is not a common occurance?

23-08-2005, 08:43	#2
philc Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Not far from some places, but a long way from others. Posts: 3,250 Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Blimey, that's nasty! I'm glad that you weren't caught up in the conflagration. Just call your insurers, and they'll do the rest. They have a pretty good reputation, as these things go. Phil __________________ "A good diesel, like a good whisky, should be strong, smooth and slightly smokey" <--respectful gap-->

23-08-2005, 09:05	#3
Dr Zoidberg Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: On the back of an AA truck with a failed turbo Posts: 10,515 Thanks: 21 Thanked 185 Times in 136 Posts	Yikes! Were you driving it at the time or did it just go up on the drive? __________________ Alex "I laugh in the face of danger, then I hide until it goes away" www.drzoidberg.co.uk

23-08-2005, 13:55	#7
g7pkf Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houghton Regis Posts: 145 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well it has now gone to the salvage yard via a repair centre, they didnt even bother unloading it, its gone now just have to wait for the estimator, have done above found one identical to mine 5,995 but 81K mine was 108K what differance will the 27K make? mine was fully dealer serviced FSH cambelt discs etc? and yes it happened while driving this is what happened:- Basically what happened was I was on my way home from meeting friends, driving down the lower luton road smelt some burning and thought “someone’s having a bonfire late” . About half a mile later realized it was my car that was smelling, pulled off the road opened the drivers door (after pulling the bonnet) and when the light came on realized that smoke was pouring from under the dashboard 10 minutes later the firebrigade arrived and you can see the result. Most importantly I am okay. Last edited by g7pkf; 23-08-2005 at 13:58.

23-08-2005, 13:58	#8
Dr Zoidberg Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: On the back of an AA truck with a failed turbo Posts: 10,515 Thanks: 21 Thanked 185 Times in 136 Posts	On the vauxhall website is a link where you can value you car. It'll only give you trade in prices but you will get an idea of what difference the extra 27k makes. __________________ Alex "I laugh in the face of danger, then I hide until it goes away" www.drzoidberg.co.uk

23-08-2005, 10:51	#5
bonhead Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hampshire Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sorry to hear about your loss. when it comes top settling the claim, the claims handlers are often targeted on "mitigation" of their losses. In other words, their bonus may depend on paying as little as possible for your car. Check that any offer made is reasonable. they should pay you enough to buy the same car with similar mileage from the local small ads and they will expect you to haggle a bit. if you think their first offer is too low, youwill need to provide evicence as to why (clippings from autoexpress etc.) good luck.

23-08-2005, 14:33	#9
bk1 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK - SouthEast Posts: 251 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I saw a video recently where the same thing happened to a Golf Mk IV. The passenger caught it all on camera.. started with some smoke coming from the dash, they pulled over pronto, and minutes later the whole thing was ablaze. It was gutted, same as yours, very very fast. Makes me think it's worth getting an extinguisher just in case.

23-08-2005, 14:58	#10
g7pkf Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houghton Regis Posts: 145 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	next car i get i will be buying a 4Kg extinguisher the firebrigade said an extinguisher of 2 or less wasnt worth the money as they would only put out the smallest fire, they also said most car fires an extinguisher is nigh on useless as they are usually either behind the dash or under the bonnet and there advice is if there is a fire under the bonnet do not open it as it will more than likely flame outwards. Still think ill get one though. still sad car gone....

23-08-2005, 17:09	#11
Pimpster Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Leicester Posts: 428 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	have you found out what caused this? __________________ --------- Pimpster Ex-Skoda Owner

23-08-2005, 18:01	#14
AndyC who...? Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 411 Thanks: 3 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	I had a car catch fire while all the family were in it. A fuel line split and blew a fine mist of petrol over the hot engine.... All the smoke was pulled under the car so did'nt see it for a few minutes. No one hurt, but it ain't much fun standind at the side of the road while your car burns..... AndyC

23-08-2005, 18:10	#15
flatfourburble "Bones" Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Heathrow/Crewe Posts: 5,449 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yikes! Sorry to see that but atleast you wasn't stuck in it __________________ Oh to have the internet back..................oh have I missed it

24-08-2005, 09:23	#16
bk1 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK - SouthEast Posts: 251 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	RE: the golf video I saw, it was on audi-sport.net a few weeks ago, but that site seems to be down at the moment (and has been for at least a week). I'll try and find it for you anyway.

24-08-2005, 09:29	#17
ScoobyChris Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Andover Posts: 18,117 Thanks: 15 Thanked 326 Times in 284 Posts	A few weeks ago there was a burnt out Fabia blocking the southbound M3 just north of Winchester Services. Hard to tell what trim, age or if it was petrol or diesel, but it looked liked the occupants got out ok which is the main thing..... Chris __________________ Holding up the traffic in a little Italian..........

24-08-2005, 12:35	#19
bonhead Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hampshire Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	With regard to the 28k miles, look at Parkers or What Car guides for the mileage depreciation - they're not Glass' guide but they'll give you a good idea. Re the new bits, the insurer will probrably expect you to have maintained the car anyway and probrably won't give you more for it. let us know how you get on.. BH

24-08-2005, 13:58	#20
PJW -VRS Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Taunton - Somerset Posts: 315 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	HI Dean looked you up on qrz ....... sorry to see the state of your car hope you did`nt loose any radio gear ...... 73 m1som __________________ Regards Pete SILVER DREAM MACHINE FABIA vRS 2005 Talex hard wired tnx Stu - Cruise control tnx Stu - Mio C510 sat nav - Personal No Plate

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