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What rights has a customer got? #

Posted by Martin Stackemann on February 7, 2009, 11:32 am
Message modified by board administrator February 9, 2009, 8:46 am

Hi just interested in your views,have customer with(or had)a Nissan Micra 1996 quite tidy, hit some one from behind very little damage to both cars I gave my customer estimate £180 + vat slight bumper damage, the guy he hit claimed against him so he thought if he's going to lose his no claims he might as well get his repaired.Insurance company sent authorised repairer with low loader and courtesy car,phoned later to car was right off(the words they used)£1300 of damage offerd him £695.I told him to get his car back,they wont let him have it back said its a class "B" right off(whats that?)and is not allowed back on the road without DVLA approval&MOT,I said rubbish your the registered owner,not any more I'm told your wrong.Any legal boffin's here.O'h by the way they turned up at his work picked up courtesy car and he had to make his own way home 20 miles.Any thoughts. Martin

Re: What rights has a customer got?

Posted by Steve Nicholas on February 7, 2009, 1:36 pm, in reply to "What rights has a customer got?"
Stephen Nicholas

I always understood that as the owner you have the final decision.

I think they are trying it on and a solicitor's letter (or threat of action) will get him the result he wants.

Regards,

Steve

Re: What rights has a customer got?

Posted by aidan birley on February 7, 2009, 1:54 pm, in reply to "Re: What rights has a customer got?"
Aiden Birley

Hi

no expert but think that if you claim of you OWN insurance then you have NO rights over salvage.

If not your fault and claiming of other party, then you have legal rights over ownership of salvage.

cheers Aidan

Re: What rights has a customer got?

Posted by Graham Bullock on February 7, 2009, 3:55 pm, in reply to "What rights has a customer got?"
Graham Bullock

This nearly happend to me but I would not let them take the vehicle as I was told once it is in their control it is a lot harder to fight the case.
I also had a customer with a scenic, somebody brushed up against the two o/s doors, they still opened and shut ok but the assessor wrote it off as beyond economical repair. The customer thought sod it, i'll keep it as it is and not bother claiming as he did not want to spend the additional money on a new car and could not get a replacement with the money they offered and it was in quite good order. But the insurance company told them it was now theirs and as having been assessed as a write of it was now unroadworthy and could not be used.

I had suspicions that they could get more for the salvage than what they paid him so it was benificial to them to write it off and pay him less than they received.

Graham

PS - Martin, i've sent an email

Re: What rights has a customer got?

Posted by Tony Sefton on February 7, 2009, 4:06 pm, in reply to "What rights has a customer got?"
Tony Sefton

Is there Any wonder that insurance premiums are so high. ?? Perhaps the job that the body shop does may be slightly better than the average garage, But they should take into account the age and value of the car,

At That price I would assume that the chassis is bent and needs pulling straight, ?? But not on your Description.

Anyway. The following is roughly as i understand the situation,

Cat B is as you say, Cannot be put back on the Road. and has to be broken for spares, and the only Sensible reason for that is that it is Severely Damaged or will cost a lot more than the vehicle is worth to repair it, ( as in your case with the expensive price that was going to be charged by the body shop. )

The following is roughly as i understand the situation. :-

Cat D = Repairable salvage and can be put back on the road without a VIC check. ( usually light damage easy repair )

Cat C = Repairable salvage. Can be put back on the road but requires a VIC check. ( more severe damage )

cat B = Non Repairable salvage and can only be sold to someone with a breakers licence. ( Break only, Cannot be put back on the Road. )

Cat X = Unrecorded Salvage, Can be put back on the road without any checks and =is not classed as Cat D or C on the Registration Document.

Although the Above is a guide, you cannot take it that a Cat D is easier to repair than a Cat C as it all depends on vehicle values and repair costs, and some cat D's you wouldn't look twice at and some Cat C's look like Easy Repairs, Its all down to the estimator and assesors judgment as to what the result is.

H.T.H. Tony.

Re: What rights has a customer got?

Posted by Martin Stackemann on February 7, 2009, 11:00 pm, in reply to "Re: What rights has a customer got?"
Martin Stackemann

Thanks for reply Graham and attached document have replied by Email.Martin

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