This thread just proves how mad the world now is! After 27 years of no claims and 17 non fault free years I went to renew my work van insurance on the 12th. The renewal price was quoted at £470. I had a non fault accident last summer, some kid came onto a roundabout straight into the side of my van. He admitted fault, his insurance took my van, repaired it good as new, gave me a hire van to use in the meantime. Now this was top service, I was hardly inconvenienced at all. So I phone to renew my policy and after telling them about the above I'm told the price is now not valid and has increased to £600! I was also reminded that I was required to inform my insurer about non fault claims within 180 days of the accident occurring, why? If you work from my stats I'm likely to have another non fault accident in 2028 and hopefully will never have one that is my fault! So why should I pay more?

Hi, 1st post I hope I'm in teh right place! We have a big problem and would appreciate your advice, its a long story so I will try to keep it brief. My girlfriend had a bump in her car just before xmas. She was at fault and helds her hands up. The other driver got his car fixed and his whiplash claim in (he wern't injured), so all is good for him. My girlfriends insurance arranged for our local Ford dealership to repair her car, they came and collected it, but refused a courtesy car as that had none available for 3 weeks. So we began to hire a car at approx £110/week as she needs it for work. Her car suffered front end damage, bonnet, slant panel, radiator, headlights and other bits and bobs. Ford contacted us to confirm that the car would be ready to collect on 10th Jan. On the 10th they phoned us to say the car had been completed and just needed get upto running temperature, then get valeted, final inpsected then its ours again later that afternoon, hurray! Then the problems started, Ford phoned back saying that after valeting the car will no longer start, but they have their ex-peugeot mechanic coming over to have a look at it (the car is not a Ford, but the insurance company instructed Ford to fix it). They then phoned back late on Wednesday telling us they think a crankshaft sensor has failed and they've ordered a replacement for the day after. Then Thursday I'm ringing them all day to be told the parts not yet arrived, at 3pm they told me it was in transit in a traffic jam. So Friday comes and they phone me to tell me the part had come and they've realised this were NOT the problem and that the problem was from some control box (similar to ecu they said, or rather its the immobiliser system) that had failed. So I pointed out the car except for the damage was running when they took it, which they confirmed as he said on the Wednesday that prior to valeting the car was running perfectly. Now they are saying that the electrical failure had nothing to do with the crash and the insurance wont pay for it to be fixed. They also said the failed part had simply just failed and has nothing to do with them, therefore we must pay £400+vat + fitting for the new part. This is on top of the £400 excess and over £600 that we have already spent on the hire car. Where do we stand on this, as far as I can see Ford have done something during valeting that has damaged the electrics, so they should put it right at their cost? Do they have a duty of care? Also Ford had promised the car would be ready on the 10th (which meant they'd had it a month already), so would we be within our rights to ask them to foot the car rental from the 10th as the problem now is their fault? We would really appreciate your advice as we do not know which way to turn? This is creating a heavy burden on our family finanaces and has already spoiled our Chrismas. Best Regards and many thanks. Steve