I have FINALLY received a cheque from the TP insurer ELDON for the salvage of my car. This was only after more chasing by myself, not Hastings. I am now left with 2 months of 'chasing up the monies' phone bills that have cost me £140 more than my contract; this is because both companies use premium cost phone lines of 0845/0844: and remember this is all through an accident where I didn't make a claim, and the 3rd Party claimed full responsibility from the start. Isn't that a disgrace? I still don't believe I was given a fair price for my car - I couldn't find a 'like for like' replacement for the same money, and had to take out a loan to pay for the replacement car since the insurance took 2 and 1/2 months to pay out in full. The whole episode has left me feeling quite ill and shocked at the state/morals of the insurance companies in the UK. My new car insurance will not be taken via the cheapest quote from comparison websites, but from companies I HAVE had fair dealings from in the past - namely NFU Mutual with whom I have Horse Trailer, Home Isurance and Equine policies have always been outstanding.

It's now looking like we finally have a resolution. I've been liaising with a terrific chap Joe in the Hastings Complaints dept. He has been very transparent (that's all you need to put your mind at rest - to know you're actually being represented by the insurance company you've paid your premium to). He has spoken to the 3rd party insurer to insist they organise the salvage of my vehicle, and raise a cheque for the full salvage value. The 3rd PT have agreed, so I'm now in the process of transferring my car ownership to them. Still possibly a few weeks to go before I get my money, but it's looking promising. I will post the final outcome once I actually have the money in my account. It's not over till the fat lady sings and all that.....

Spoke to one of the Hasting's customer care team today who is going to look into the 3rd PT involvement and see if he can clear up what's going on. Great to hear from him, and actually have a point of contact. Fingers crossed we get a resolution.

Have had no communication from Hastings regarding my issue with the salvage of my car through Albany Assistance. When I heard from them through this thread 5 messages ago, I imagined they would come back to me.

Thank you so much for that dacouc. It IS as I thought and Hastings Direct are pulling the wool over my eyes attempting to tell me that I am now effectively in the hands of the 3rd Party insurers since I have received a cheque from them and paid it in for the valuation minus the salvage - but Albany Assist, who are acting on behalf of Hastings, asked the 3rd PT insurer to raise that cheque and send it to me. I categorically stated to the 3rd PT insurer at the outset, that I did not want them dealing with my claim, but my own insurer for the precise reason you state. Who in their right mind would want to go with the 3rd party insurer when you have no contract with them?! What you say regarding the back handlers is of no surprise either, I sensed it was a very incestuous business from the way Albany and Hastings were stone walling me with the same story. I have since googled Albany Assistance and Hastings a Direct, and the web is rife with worrying stories of the same kind. I just hope they see that what they are doing is incredibly unfair on their consumer - a paying customer, and do the right thing and Salvage my vehicle, raise a cheque for the specified amount, and reclaim it from the 3rd PT. Thanks again! Much appreciated.

Jamie at Hastings said my case was being escalated, but I still haven't heard anything. Friday afternoon now, so that's another week goes by and the Salvage of my vehicle is still not organised by Hastings Direct, therefore further delaying the payout for the Total Loss of my car, where I wasn't even liable for the accident. I now have NO courtesy car as I was forced to return that today - you are only given 7 days from what insurers deem to be 'settlement' - but I don't class a payout for the value of my car minus the salvage value (that which they deem it is worth to a scrap dealer which in my case is around £4000 set by Albany Assist who have been equally difficult) as being a settlement. The accident happened over a month ago now and I still don't have the money to put me back to a place where I was before I was driven into by the guilty party.

Social Media Manager has referred it to the claims team to review and let me know what is happen ending. I'll keep all posted.

I am expecting to hear something back tomorrow morning from Hastings Direct regarding the issue with them refusing to organise the Salvage/Total Loss payout for my car, and them instructing Albany Assistance to deal with the claim. I'll keep all posted

I have contacted the address you supplied Jamie, with the reference details and quoted your comment above. I look forward to hearing your response with regard to the Salvage of my car and the misleading manner in which I feel I have been dealt with by Hastings.

I have had EXACTLY the same problems regarding Hasting's Direct. I was driven into by a man who claimed full responsibility for the accident. Hastings told me they'd get their accident management company to deal with the request, Albany Assistance. My vehicle was assessed by Albany Assistance engineers and deemed a Total Loss so Albany Assistance asked the 3rd party insurers to raise a cheque for the value of my car, minus the salvage amount. The salvage of my vehicle is now the issue as my insurers say that by accepting payment from the 3rd party insurers, I am accepting that they will deal with the logistics of salvaging my car. However, the 3rd party insurers say that as I am not insured with them, they do not take on the salvage of my car and that I personally, will have to salvage the car. They have placed a high valuation on the salvage, and I feel certain this is not achievable, therefore if I do go ahead and salvage my car, I will lose out financially and will not have been compensated for the financial loss of my vehicle. I have asked Hastings to organise the salvage, pay me the value attributed for the salvage, and seek reimbursement from the 3rd party insurer should there be a shortfall, but they refuse to do so. This is my insurance company I have paid a premium to, and the accident is no fault of my own - what should I physically organise the salvage of my vehicle? I spoke to Hastings raising the following points: -I want them to organise the salvage and pay me the salvage cost -That I will collate all of the information I have (I have made painstaking notes on every phone call and correspondence...hours worth!, and will be forwarding it all to the Financial Ombudsman. The rep I spoke to in the Total Loss dept (Joel) told me he'd put me through to their complaints procedure dept., and promptly cut me off. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.