Write off - or not?

Pete67

Family member sold his car about a year ago, it was a fairly old Ford Sierra. It was stolen back in 2004, the police found it with damage to the passenger door, ignition barrel etc. A quick call to the insurance company confirmed that they would not cover the damage, as repairs would likely cost more than the car was worth when labour is taken into account.

The car was otherwise fine, so a replacement door was located from a scrapyard, and new ignition switch assembly installed. No claim was made to the insurance company. He continued to drive the car for another couple of years without incident, insured with the same company with full NCB etc until it was sold last year.

Now the buyer is up in arms because he has got a letter from the Dept of Environment, saying the car was a write off in 2004 and is likely unsafe. According to them he should stop driving the car and get it examined by an automotive engineer. He is understandably upset, and thinks he has been done.

What do people think? I know the history of the car from new - it's always been in the family, and it was never crashed or suffered any significant damage. I'm thinking of asking the original insurance company to clarify things for the current owner, but why did this happen in the first place??

Seth Brundle

Have you explained to them that it was an economic write off and not a 'structural' write off?
It's yet another ill thought out plan by the government.

Steve

kbannon wrote: »

Have you explained to them that it was an economic write off and not a 'structural' write off?
It's yet another ill thought out plan by the government.

+1

jimmycrackcorm

+1

This whole faux pas was dreamt up by a certain website looking for punters to pay money for car history checks. They published a report that was reported on but did not male a distinction on economic write-offs.