Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!!

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Thu 3 Feb 2011 11:32
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - Ladyanna

Sorry if I have posted this in the wrong place - I am new to this site. I really need some advice as I have very little experience with anything like this and this is my first time ever having to deal with insurance companies.

Basically a girl reversed into my car (1994 Mazda MX-5) in the carpark of my local shopping centre a few weeks ago. Unfortunately she had a towbar on her car which broke my rear bumper and light. She chose to let the insurance companies sort this out so I rang AA (my insurance company) and Lindsay Ford collected my car on Monday last week to be repaired. I still had not heard anything about the repairs, so I contacted them yesterday. They told me over the phone that they had classed my car as a Cat C write-off and that in could not economically repaired. They then returned my car (unfixed) last night.

The quote they got for fixing my car was £900 and they are trying to tell me that it is 106% more than the value of the vehicle. Where on earth are they getting this value from??? My car is worth a minimum if £2500!!! They told me on the phone that because it was involved in a previous Cat C write-off (before I owned it) that it has lowered the value of the vehicle.

I really want to know what to do from here. My car is my little baby and until 2 weeks ago was in showroom condition. It doesn't seem particularly fair that they will not fix my car. Even when they send me out the cheque it will only be for a few hundred pound (considering they are trying to value my vehicle at £400) Is this not what I pay my insurance for???

A little advice from anyone that has any knowledge or experience in this would be very helpful. Thank-you all in advance

xx

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Thu 3 Feb 2011 13:12
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - Falkirk Bairn

You should not be going through your own Ins Co - the 3rd party caused the bash - the 3rd Party insurer is duty bound to put you back in the position you were in prior to the event.

Contact the 3rd party insurer and tell them to pick up the car, repair it to a satisfactory standard and by the way you need a set of wheels whilst they mess about / fix the car. Demand a reply within 3 days as time is money and you will have to hire car yourself - at their cost so you can get on with your life.

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Thu 3 Feb 2011 13:30
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - Ladyanna

My insurance company put me through to a company called "Claimfast". They deal with all the repairs, courtesy vehicle etc and recover the costs from the third party insurer.

I contacted claimfast again today to say that I just wanted my car fixed but they are still saying that it is uneconomical to repair and the best that they can do is send me out a cheque for the value of the vehicle. I cannot even get me own valuation as I am only 3rd party fire and theft.

They did supply me with a courtesy car for the week that my car was in the garage.

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Thu 3 Feb 2011 18:31
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - LucyBC
Claimfast are a credit hire firm, not fluffy people who "deal with all the repairs, courtesy vehicle etc and recover the costs from the third party insurer" out of the goodness of their hearts.

Read my earlier advice on this if you want it fixed. It's your car and do not accept the settlement without a second opinion.

It appears it does not need to be written off if the damage is as you described it.
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Thu 3 Feb 2011 13:28
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - LucyBC

If you believe they have unfairly reduced the value of your car you need a second opinion and we can provide a loss adjuster to advice you and (if necessary) negotiate.

It seems they are using the (alleged?) previous write off to devalue the vehicle to the point where the repair is uneconomic and then will seek to pay you on the reduced value of the car.

This sounds like a minor fault which could be repaired at a much lower cost. The car is yours and remains yours so the sensible option is they pay you a settlement figure which includes an allowance for the salvage price and you keep the car using the settlement figure to pay for the repairs.

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Thu 3 Feb 2011 20:32
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - nortones2

Just for clarity, my understanding is that the party who caused damage is liable to return the car to the condition it was in immediately before it was damaged. If so, the value of the car is not relevant, within reason. The AA seem to be unwilling to act in the interests of the OP - quelle surprise! Is not the correct avenue here to take action against the party at fault, using whatever legal action is required to get restitution? This may mean kicking the AA and their minions into touch.

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Thu 3 Feb 2011 20:34
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - Ladyanna

Thank-you for your advice. I have been on the phone to claimfast again today and now I just need to wait and see how much the third party insurers are going to give me in the form of a settlement cheque. According to the guy on the phone I am unable to go and get my own valuation on the car as I am only 3rd party fire and theft. No doubt they will give me a pretty low valuation.

I hope it will be enough to cover the cost of the repairs.

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Thu 3 Feb 2011 20:48
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - nortones2

This issue of THEIR valuation is IMHO, a blind alley. The 3rd party is responsible for rectifying the damage. Don't rely on your insurers minions: they are NOT your friends. I just hope you listen to Lucy BC.

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Fri 4 Feb 2011 06:49
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe - Car has been written off - Please help me!!! - LucyBC
If the accident is not your fault then you are entitled to recoup the value of the car. You cannot force them to repair it but it is not up to them to dictate what the value of the car is nor state that you cannot have your own estimate or argue the value.

In respect of being third party fire and theft, that makes no difference whatsoever if there is clear fault. You recover the full value of the vehicle and are entitled to a replacement car while yours is off the road until they settle the claim.

You are swimming in shark infested waters here and need proper assistance: asklucy@honestjohn.co.uk
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