Insurance fraud - garage

[liverpool_fc1]

Hi

 

Just wandered whether anyone can offer any advice on the steps I should take.

 

My car was hit a week a go and damage was caused to the front bumper (nothing else).

I agreed with the person who hit me that we would go through insurance as he accepted liability.

 

This is where the fun starts....

 

The insurance company aranged for the car to be collected and I was given a courtsey car. They filled in a sheet stating that the only damage was the front bumper.

 

2 days later I received a call from insurance saying the car is a write off!!!

 

They listed about 5 different issues e.g bonnet, both lights, bumper, grill etc. I explained that there was no damage to that when they picked up the car. So I decided to go to the garage and have a look.

When I turned up there was loads of extra damage:-x

Luckily I took a photo before it went so I now have proof before and after the garage. The sheet they left is also proof that it was damaged whilst it was there.

 

My guess was that the garage was hoping that the insurance company would pay out for the repairs so the garage would make loads. But its back fired as they have written it off

 

Now i'm left with no car as the amount they are offering would not allow me to buy a car in similar condition/mileage. Also I have a feeling the courtsey car will be taken back soon so I will be rushed in to getting another. I need my car as I have 2 kids. All because the garage damaged my car.

 

Just wandered what I could do to redeem all the money back that will allow me to get an identical car to the one that was damaged?

 

I have contacted the insurance and told them this is insurance fraud and have supplied photographs and I am waiting for them to review it and get back to me.

 

I just want to be prepared but i'm not sure what to do if they deny it (which i'm sure they will). Should I go to the police as its damage on my vehicle? should I go to the papers as this involves a large insurance company and its obvious this is quite common?

Should I take them to small claims?

Could I request that I keep the courtsey car for a longer period until I get a replacement car?

 

Any advice would be greatly received.

 

Many thanks

 

p.s I can see why insurance goes up if garages act like this

[ericsbrother]

The garage will have insurance to cover it for all mishaps to your vehicle whilst it is in their care. It may take a bit of time to sort things out as they are now complicated by 2 claims against 2 people. Tell your insurers that you wish to claim against the garage concerned and that as you suspect fraud that you intend notifying the police. Give them a short time to respond and then go to the police and tell them that your car has suffered criminal damage whilst at the garage. Dont accept a "ita a civil matter" response nor a "speak to your insurers" answer either. If you dont get a sensible answer tell the person on the desk you wish to make a complaint about them and you want to speak to the duty senior, who will normally be an inspector or above but could be a sergeant. You will be given forms to fill in but persevere.

There is the possibility that someone in the garage was using your car and pranged it. Check the mileage.

[liverpool_fc1]

Thank you for your reply ericbrother, much appreciated.

 

I'm expecting a call from the insurance tomorrow regarding the incident. I will tell them they have 72 hours to respond otherwise I am going to the police.

 

The garage phoned me and said that the damage was already there. I told him that I have photographs to prove otherwise also the form which was handed to me (from them) only state the car had bumper damage. He said that the person must of made a mistake and missed the other damage. I then told him its funny that they noticed a small scratch on the side of the vehicle then but missed all the other damage.

He then went on and said it would of been a write off anyway.

 

Thanks again.

 

[Conniff]

Hi

 

Just wandered whether anyone can offer any advice on the steps I should take.

 

My car was hit a week a go and damage was caused to the front bumper (nothing else).

I agreed with the person who hit me that we would go through insurance as he accepted liability.

 

This is where the fun starts....

 

The insurance company aranged for the car to be collected and I was given a courtsey car. They filled in a sheet stating that the only damage was the front bumper.

 

2 days later I received a call from insurance saying the car is a write off!!!

 

They listed about 5 different issues e.g bonnet, both lights, bumper, grill etc. I explained that there was no damage to that when they picked up the car. So I decided to go to the garage and have a look.

When I turned up there was loads of extra damage:-x

Luckily I took a photo before it went so I now have proof before and after the garage. The sheet they left is also proof that it was damaged whilst it was there.

 

My guess was that the garage was hoping that the insurance company would pay out for the repairs so the garage would make loads. But its back fired as they have written it off

 

Now i'm left with no car as the amount they are offering would not allow me to buy a car in similar condition/mileage. Also I have a feeling the courtsey car will be taken back soon so I will be rushed in to getting another. I need my car as I have 2 kids. All because the garage damaged my car.

 

Just wandered what I could do to redeem all the money back that will allow me to get an identical car to the one that was damaged?

 

I have contacted the insurance and told them this is insurance fraud and have supplied photographs and I am waiting for them to review it and get back to me.

 

I just want to be prepared but i'm not sure what to do if they deny it (which i'm sure they will). Should I go to the police as its damage on my vehicle? should I go to the papers as this involves a large insurance company and its obvious this is quite common?

Should I take them to small claims?

Could I request that I keep the courtsey car for a longer period until I get a replacement car?

 

Any advice would be greatly received.

 

Many thanks

 

p.s I can see why insurance goes up if garages act like this

 

Wait and see what the insurance comes up with first. If they don't cover the cost of buying another of the same then you will cost up how much to buy one and charge the difference to the garage.

[renegadeimp]

Iirc you can keep the courtesy car until the claim is settled.

[liverpool_fc1]

Thanks for your help everyone, the garage has admitted liability and they have now said that they will repair the car to the original standard.

 

They will also allow me to keep the courtesy car until the car is fixed.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

[liverpool_fc1]

One thing I have learnt from all this is make sure you take decent photographs of the damaged vehicle before it is taken away.

 

I have a feeling this is a common occurance with garages putting extra 'damages' on the claim. Easy money for them. Sad to hear but unfortunatley the truth.

 

For the people who replied here, thanks for your advise