Evening all,

 

I've had a pretty bad week resulting in a potential 'buyer' for my '06 Golf TDI stealing the key (which i only discovered the next day as they swapped it with an identical one from another vehicle) and stealing the vehicle from outside my house overnight.

 

I have followed the standard protocol and notified the police and my insurer. The claim has been referred to the underwriters, however I have been warned that there is the following clause in my policy which way result in the claim being rejected:

 

"Loss of or damage to the vehicle by someone who got it by trickery, fraud or deception"

 

I've narrowed down the only possible time when the key could have been stolen, which was when they 'checked it worked when turning on/off the passenger airbag'. I was standing behind them at the time but it was dark so did not notice anything out of the ordinary. This was the only time when they had the key as I didn't leave them unattended with it at any point.

 

My question pre-emptive in essence as I'd like some advice on how I would go about mounting a legal challenge against my insurer should they decline the claim.

 

I really can't afford to lose the value of this vehicle which still has over £8k owing on it.

 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

David

Dear David,

My Mercedes CLK '57 has been stolen when the "buyer" asked me show him the spare key. I started up the car with the spare key then he got in,was satisfied that everything works and gave it back to me.15 min later when i checked on the car it was gone. I later realised that my spare key has been swapped with an identical one.

My insurance company says that its not likely i will get the money back because it was "theft by deception"

I understand that your was stolen in the same way. Have your insurance company paid up? Could you please give me any advice as to how I should go about it?

thank you in advance

Ana