Hi all,

For the first time I went directly to the third party (after notifying my insurers) insurers to get them to fix my car. Am now at the stage where I've got an answer message to discuss a write-off value.

HISTORY:

Accident: My car was parked outside my home. Extremely helpful passer-by driver took picture of other car who hit me and stopped to try and find the owner (me).

Police was called in the end as the driver (there was severe doubt whether it was her or her non-insured brother) and she admitted full liability. I still have the CAD (I think that's what it's called iirc) card from the police

I tried to reason with the woman that getting the damage paid for would be more cost-effective. But she just messed me about. After about 3 months of this rediculousness, enough was enough and I've gone straight to her insurers (first time I've ever done this). Turned out she hadn't even reported any of the accidents that day.

The insurers took their time and I had to chase them up, again and again, to find out that she had eventually been contacted and that she had admitted fault and that they would be paying to fix my car.

I got a quote from one of my known garages. They rejected it on grounds of too high a labour rate.

I agreed for them to get one they were happy with. Some guy came round and looked at my car. He didn;t call me beforehand as I was told but managed to spot somebody looking round my car - could have been anybody. I let him take the details.

The guy did mention that it would most likely be a write off. I told him that the outside may look the same as the cheaper models but, afaik, my one is the top range one with electric everything, ac, full leather etc so I doubt it would be.

Bear in mind that the quote I got to fix from my garage was just under £750. My garage man also said it could be a write off until I showed him all the extras that he agreed weren't what his listed prices took into consideration. It would seem that my model isn't that common.

Now I've been left a message by some assessor company saying they had been contacted by my insurance company to 'DISCUSS A VALUE with regards to the car being a total loss'.

Having read around a bit I have read that I should be wary of some tactics that are used to bring this down.

Ultimately I would like to be in a position that I have a car or enough money to get a decent car, like the one I have, to be able to continue having the freedom such a car entitles me to.

I want to be prepared for any situation and I am hoping to get advice on what steps can be taken to get the best out of this situation.

Thank you for reading.