I was told the ombudsman does not deal with commercial insurance and the Association of British Insurers only deal with claims of over a certain amount (around £50,000)so I was left between a rock and a hard place.

I had a claim with Axa just over two years ago, I was in a customers car when a motorcycle hit me and wrote the car off. I could not claim any loss of earnings, car was valued at "trade" although vehicle had only been bought a matter of weeks before at retail and I would have lost my no claims until claim was settled in full by motorcyclists insurance, so I eventually decided to instruct solicitors (on a no win no fee basis) to pursue a claim against the motorcyclist directly. Still waiting for settlement after 25 months!! His insurance company is now being taken to court.
But all this is nothing compared to my claim back in 1991 when two lads broke in and stole lots of equipment, £36,000 claim and I was offered £12,000 in full settlement. Took two and half years but I got £34,500.

All in all, putting it very politely, I would not trust a word an insurance company said and if they were on fire - - well!

Graham