You must be joking!!!!!!!!

[chazpowerslide]

           

£8000 spent on the car and back to chassis rebuild (about £4000 in reciepts for parts alone copies of which were sent to Footman and James along with photographs and build history) and after making me wait 6 weeks for a valuation they offer me a settlement of a poxy £5750 (less the excess of £100 of cousre)

I'd only put the car on the road in February this year and done less than 500 miles in it before it was stolen by some retard pond life.

So I'm expected to sit and let the insurers wipe 30% of the value of what was in effect an "as new" car, I'm not having that OH NO!!!!!!!!!!

I have spoken to the factory who have said the'll help out with a valuation based on spec and condition (sent pics and specs to Chris at the factory)

Can you guys give me any advice on how best to negotoate a better settlement with my insurers?

I allready have one ad of a similar spec car for sale at £7350 to use as justification any more help would great.

Chaz.

[Blatman]

Yeah. Ask the factory what it would cost if you commissioned them to build a car to a similar spec. Bet it comes out at over 15K. Send the estimate to the insurers, and then "offer" to take 12K if they settle in 7 days...

[DAVE O]

If you find any adverts for similar spec cars for sale (age as-well) print them off and send these as well.

The more evidence you can produce the better - it will make their offer look paltry.

Insurance companies always come up with a stupid figure first because they know that some people will take it with no fuss.

A friend of mine had his car written off - I told him to get adverts from the auto trader and send them back with the refusal - he ended up getting 3K more from them in the end.

Don't panic yet!

Dave O.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

And this is just when you could do without the additional stress of dealing with these money grabbed barstewards. I got a much better offer on my Good Lady's car by sending ads - it does work. Good Luck.

[chazpowerslide]

I'm firmly in "attack" mode on this.

I think it'd be best to keep my opinions of FJ and their agents quiet for the time being and see how all this pans out.

Thanks Blatman, I had'nt thought of that approach, I'm not being greedy I just don't see why (appart from the excess, which I accepted) I should be out of pocket.

I'll be trawling through the classifides also.

Chaz.

[Scottish Bloke]

Sorry to read about the car. I work in the Motor Industry dealing with insurance engineers on a daily basis. You have been given good advice already. Look for as many adverts etc as poss and don't accept less than you want. They call it the X,Y,Z. They'll offer X, you want Z and hopefully you'll agree on Y.

Good Luck  

[Scottish Bloke]

OH and

ps

Not a good advert for INSURANCE CO.

All take note!!!

[Martin Keene]

Sorry to hear that Chaz... B#stards!

Worse luck, I'm insured with FJ as well... which reminds me policy renewal due soon, must investigate argeed value with Blackford Bloor.

Now, wheres that search button...

[Paul M]

I had an interesting experience with FJ once (tintop, not westfield). PM me if you want further details. Get the money off them then find another broker.

[Blacknblue]

Following this and other posts on here recently I'm about to cancel my insurance with Footman James. I'm awaiting a fixed value quote from a couple of others, my policy has a few months to run but I'd rather cancel it now than wait.

Chaz if it makes you feel any better I shall be giving them the reasons why.

[Arm]

All good advice above but dont forget the last line in your correspondence. 'I am not accepting you offer of £xxxx'

Frequently forgotton.

[chazpowerslide]

The claims guy at FJ has told me that they'll handle the negotiations over the 'phone, I havn't even got a letter stating the first offer yet.

I'll be back on the 'phone Tues and demand that they put it in writing.

I have told them that I'm not accepting the first offer allready, I'm just getting the next lot of info ready to throw at them.

It looks like it could be a while before I get an agreeable settlement.

Chaz.