Tips for haggling with Insurance Co

Gloomtastic!

Following an accident, my car has been deemed a write-off.

Car was insured for €3500
Initial offer from Ins Co €860
Similar year/mileage on donedeal €2250 -€2750

Any tips please to get the insurance co. to up their offer to nearer the replacement value?

cup of tea

First off, doesn't matter how much it was insured for, unless it wasn't insured for under it's value. Print off these adverts on donedeal, similarly print off prices from dealers and submit these to your broker/insurance company with an accompanying letter stating that you believe their settlement offer is unacceptable.

wonski

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Following an accident, my car has been deemed a write-off.

Car was insured for €3500
Initial offer from Ins Co €860
Similar year/mileage on donedeal €2250 -€2750

Any tips please to get the insurance co. to up their offer to nearer the replacement value?

Do you mind us asking what car, and what excess(if any) applies?
Pretty sure it is not 2k, but you have to take it into account.

blindside88

They go based on the "book value", you need to go to 3 separate garages and get a written price of the same car, same year. If these are higher than the insurers offer they will reconsider. When looking at ads on the likes of done deal you need to bare in mind that there is a difference (sometimes significant) between what the seller wants for the car and what he gets. Some info on the car would be helpful in offering assistance

Gloomtastic!

Thanks all,

2003 Opal Zafira

150,000 miles

€175 excess

wonski

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Thanks all,

2003 Opal Zafira

150,000 miles

€175 excess

Your insurance company is literally taking a piss offering 860!

CiniO

wonski wrote: »

Your insurance company is literally taking a piss offering 860!

They always do.

galvo_clare

CiniO wrote: »

They always do.

Not always. I had a van written off a few years ago. It was touch and go whether it would be written off or not but once the decision was made I had a call from an assessor.
I knew what I wanted, told him and got the full amount. Sometimes it works out.

bazz26

galvo_clare wrote: »

Not always. I had a van written off a few years ago. It was touch and go whether it would be written off or not but once the decision was made I had a call from an assessor.
I knew what I wanted, told him and got the full amount. Sometimes it works out.

Times are different now though, insurance companies are not making as much money so want to pay out as little as possible.

monkeypants

bazz26 wrote: »

want to pay out as little as possible.

That's their entire business model right there. Don't be afraid to engage a solicitor and make sure they know it.

jspuds

I had the same problem earlier this year and took it two weeks of fighting and arguing before we agreed on a figure. I eventually got them to meet my estimate which was over €1,200 more than they originally offered.

My Tips
1. Find 3 similar cars for sale and print off
2. Ask them what they based their offer on and ask for examples
3. If still not getting anywhere tell them you want to lodge a serious complaint on how your claim is being handled
4. Contact the Insurance Ombudsman for advice.
5. Get the name of the person dealing with your claim and ring every day
5. If you haven't agreed a figure after all of the above tell them you are prepared to get out a loan and fight them in court.

Once then know your not a pushover and hard work it's amazing how they will come around. The set up is totally disingenuous and I would guess a lot of people don't fight for what they are entitled for.

Gloomtastic!

jspuds wrote: »

I had the same problem earlier this year and took it two weeks of fighting and arguing before we agreed on a figure. I eventually got them to meet my estimate which was over €1,200 more than they originally offered.

My Tips
1. Find 3 similar cars for sale and print off
2. Ask them what they based their offer on and ask for examples
3. If still not getting anywhere tell them you want to lodge a serious complaint on how your claim is being handled
4. Contact the Insurance Ombudsman for advice.
5. Get the name of the person dealing with your claim and ring every day
5. If you haven't agreed a figure after all of the above tell them you are prepared to get out a loan and fight them in court.

Once then know your not a pushover and hard work it's amazing how they will come around. The set up is totally disingenuous and I would guess a lot of people don't fight for what they are entitled for.

I've got two weeks.

ValerieR

You could also use the revenue.ie VRT calculator to check what open market selling price your car holds.
Once upon a time, I negotiated with the insurance on that basis.
Hope this helps.
V

Gloomtastic!

ValerieR wrote: »

You could also use the revenue.ie VRT calculator to check what open market selling price your car holds.
Once upon a time, I negotiated with the insurance on that basis.
Hope this helps.
V

Nice one. They can't argue with that one can they.

Atomicjuicer

Large companies abusing their power against individuals more by the day...

sydthebeat

Atomicjuicer wrote: »

Large companies abusing their power against individuals more by the day...

Another trick they have its to find some fault worry your car ie thin tyres, worn brakes etc and will deduct some of the offer price based on this. Are you sure they haven't done this as well?

Gloomtastic!

Atomicjuicer wrote: »

Large companies abusing their power against individuals more by the day...

No. Just good business practise. I knew they'd do this, just preparing myself for the fight....

sydthebeat wrote: »

Another trick they have its to find some fault worry your car ie thin tyres, worn brakes etc and will deduct some of the offer price based on this. Are you sure they haven't done this as well?

Guy just took some photos of NCT (18 months left), tax, mileage and damage. Don't think they'll get me on this one.