Thanks, I guess I better start looking for a reputable independent assessor....no idea how much that will cost! What I don't understand is that if BMW can't say that 'the sealed unit' would protect the ball bearings from immersion in flooded water for an hour, how can the Insurer's expert challenge that? Surely the onus is on the insurer to say why they believe it isn't possible for the flooded water to cause that, because if the BMW engineer is saying it is possible, and the car was fine before, on what grounds can they say it is impossible?

Hi All 3 weeks ago my car ended up in a flooded road, submerged upto the top of the tyre level for over an hour - engine cut out, anyway had to be towed back home. It was a Sunday night so I was towed back to my home and the AA asked me to contact them the next morning to arrange for it to be towed to a garage (they suggested a BMW garage) on Monday morning (while I was trying to do an operating list at the hospital - nightmare!) I wanted to ensure it was all done by the book so I contacted the insurance company first, before it was towed anywhere, who asked me for the details of the garage; they didn't mention anything about having their own authorised repairers. So it was towed to the BMW garage. I then spent 2 weeks ringing to and fro (I got a courtesy car from insurance for 2 weeks) getting BMW to contact the insurance assessor, and for the assessor to report back and then BMW to provide quote. It was telephone ping pong. When the courtesy car was due to expire, I contacted the insurance company to extend the period because there had been delays in getting the quote and authorising the works, but they said it wasn't their responsibility to chase it up because 'I had asked to be towed to a garage of my preference'!! - which I hotly argued to the contrary. BMW luckily provided a courtesy car, and nearly 3 weeks on, the car is about to have a new reconditioned engine put in, which has been authorised. However, in the process of stripping it, BMW found other issues, that the insurance company won't pay for because they have denied that it could have been caused by flood damage - without re-assessing it themselves (seized clutch, front suspension wishbone bushes leaking). So I have agreed to pay for those 'extras'. Now, this week when I was about to get the car back, the garage did a test drive with the new engine and found a rattly noise (which definitely wasn't there before) and say the wheel ball bearings have gone and would need replacing, at a cool £550! Initially they said it could have been caused by the flooded water, but after they phoned the insurance company to authorise works, the assessor again has denied that flooded water could have caused it because they believe it is a 'sealed unit'. Again, they have not re-inspected the car. I am kind of at the end of my tether, and don't really know who to talk to to get this verified. The car was working fine, no noises, clutch working etc. - what can I do?? The company's handling of this claim has been shambolic from the start.

Thanks for the advice! ....I just have that urge to take the Housing Association to task for allowing such shambolic money extorting activities on their premises, can't believe they are happy to just wash their hands off it! ...But you are right, I'll stay put for now, ignore everything and see what happens.....

Hi everyone Can I start by saying I have read the stickies and nearly 33 odd pages of posts, and have to say how remarkable the support on here is, particularly from letshelp, crem and lamma who keep saying the same thing again and again - IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE. I was one click away from sending in my 'online appeal' to the company after receiving a 'PCN' = (Parking Charge Notice on behalf of the Landowner'), stuck under my wipers, before I read all this. In summary, I've just moved to work in a new hospital 4 weeks ago, and moved into 'hospital accomodation' which is off-site from the hospital and owned by a 'social housing' company providing keyworker accommodation. The car park is privately monitored by a CMS Uk Ltd. On moving in, I paid my monthly rent up front and paid for a month's parking permit, thinking that this was would be renewable by deductions from my salary slip. Anyway, I found out a few days ago that I have to pay upfront for a new permit each time before it expires (even though I have to give 4 weeks notice to move out) and, found out today, when I renewed my permit that the company 'are very quick to enforce their PCNs'. The lady who checked me in didn't tell me any of this at the time. My permit date expired on 1st Feb; yesterday, the 2nd, I was at work all day (from 0700 to 1800) in operating theatres, and couldn't get back to the accom office (opens 830-1600) to pay for another permit (about £25 a month). This morning I managed to leave work temporarily to get back to the office for a new permit. They said, I didn't need to come in person, I could have phoned up and pay before the expiry date and they would leave the permit in my mailbox - again, no information like this was given when I moved in. Anyway, went to the car to apply the renewed permit, and I find a yellow-and-black PCN notice on my windscreen asking for £80, reduced to £50 if I pay before 14 days, stating my contravention was 'Not displaying a valid permit'. The Housing company in their documentation say that they will not enter into any dialogue re.parking fines, and I need to appeal directly to CMS, the parking company. I am a resident there, and so I am not sure how the template letters (re. stating that the onus is on them to prove who the driver was), apply in this situation. My DVLA details, including address, are also in the process of being changed because I only moved from my previous residence about a month ago. I was very tempted to write a letter to explain the circumstance i.e. couldn't get to the office yesterday to renew the permit, but have paid for another month's parking and I am still resident here so I will be paying monthly for the parking anyway. But having read all the posts here, it seems that entering in any sort of dialogue is a waste of time. My only issue is, IF in the remote chance they escalate it to court, will it be a problem if I don't respond to any of their letters - i.e. will the Judge ask why I didn't follow their stated appeals process if I wasn't happy with the charge? And can this 'debt owed' impact my credit rating? To which letters, if any should I make a response? I think I know what the answers will be - ignore, file the letters and only respond to a formal court summons. But I'm also a bit of a worrier, and just checking to see if my situation is slightly different to the normal, since I am a resident here and my car is sitting here all the time. Sorry that it is so long winded, but if these companies are knowingly flouting Consumer regulations, why aren't Trading Standards clamping down on all this activity - can we not fight back in anyway and take them to Court ourselves? £50 isn't a massive deal for me, but it is the principle of it: there are a lot of the other less well paid workers living here who are will probably be scared into paying up. It seems to be so unethical and should be outlawed by the law!