car insurance

[saintpeter48]

my car has been in for repair for one month now for minor damage to body work, i thought they would need it for just a couple of days even though they quoted me 15 days. the other driver admitted liability and his insurance is footing the bill, i have a replacement saab for the period my car is in repair. my point or question is, i feel that the other drivers insurance company is being ripped off, the longer my cars off road the more they must pay, which in turn means that insurance premiums go up which is then passed on to us drivers which means higher premiums for us all.has anyone else had a similar experience. i dread to think what the final bill will be for this very minor damage, someone somewhere is making money from this and in effect we will all pay.

[dilligaf]

Always has been the way when insurance companies pay.

Ask a garage the cost of a repair as if you are going to pay then ask the cost if it is an insurance job.

You will find there is usually quite a difference.

[Toureman]

There was a case of a motorcycle being repaired after an accident, as the motorcycle was a newly imported Chinese one it took a long time to get new parts.

A courtesy bike was given to the rider whilst it was being repaired.

The repairs took so long that the costs the insurance company paid out in the end would have bought two and a half brand new motorbikes !

CRAZY !!!!!

[Raleigh]

Two years ago a car ran into the back of mine damaging the rear panel. After trying to get the other party's insurance company to co-operate I finally went to my own. I was then contacted by another company who said they were handling the claim and wanted me to sign forms saying that I agreed to them lending me the cost of repairs! As I have fully comprehensive insurance I refused. After many weeks of them nagging me to sign, they gave up and arranged for repairs to be done. They then began calling to arrange a loan car. When I said I could manage without one they kept insisting I was entitled to it - so I agreed. TWO hire cars arrived from different companies, meaning for a short while I had three cars outside my house.
I think the sole purpose of this company was to take a cut of the repair costs and hire car charges. The hire charges were probably as much as the repair costs. Now this company is asking me to co-operate with them in reclaiming the hire charges from the insurance company of the car that hit me two years ago!
That's another reason premiums are going up - parasite companies like this

[rabbitygirl]

Someone rear ended me while I was professionally employed as a driver. I was covered for a loan car so claimed so I could work while mine had the bumper sorted - a 3 days job. I live in Watford and the car arrived on a big trailer from BIRMINGHAM! The driver told me to call them and he would come back and get it after the 3 weeks. His face was a picture when I told him no just 3 days. He just about managed to hold back the bad words.

[saintpeter48]

is there an ombudsman or someone i can complain too regarding this insurance rip off.

[Toureman]

These stupid insurance companies are the main reason for cars that have very little wrong with them been written off.

Not for the cost of repairs but the hire of courtesy cars

[jg96]

Exactly the same thing happened to my son someone ran into his car whilst it was parked they left details surprising I know very minor damage. His car was at the repairers for 3 weeks and he was driving around in a car supplied by a company that lends them out for non fault accidents car delivered and collected at his workplace must have cost an absolute fortune his cars worth around �1200

[barcelonic29]

Hi. I work in car insurance claims so i think i can help here. The other driver's insurers will ensure there was sufficient reason for the delays on repairs. If there isn't they will refuse to pay the full cost of hire. At no point will you be liable for this cost though.
For your second question, there is an ombudsman but they are only there for customers who have made a justified complaint to their insurance company, but are not satisfied with the way their complaint is being dealt with, not if you're not happy with their decision. In this instance the only valid complaint you may have is the delay, but I would be surprised if there wasn't a reason for that, because all parties involved would want your car repaired as quickly as possible, especially the garage.