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it's similar with houses though isn't it?  my french door fell off and i was told that i wasn't covered for the cost of new ones (the whole set of doors had to be replaced) because the hinges had broken, allegedly due to "wear and tear". 

it's a total rip off imo.

aj x

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 06/9/2007

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Blimey Ron, who on earth do you insure with if you don't mind me asking?

Ali

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Quote: Originally posted by billy on 06/9/2007

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Snowy---Insurance co's are as**oles---if its a grey area ie accident(with no other vehicle involved) caused by mechanical failure they will try to get out of paying by saying its just a mechanical failure therefore no claim-which is why it might have bin better to say he drove it into a ditch which tore off the wheel-there are no rules for grey areas--at the end of the line is the insurance ombudsman--it sounds a big job tho so if the caravan is a few yrs old it may be a write off anyway--in which case they should just pay out the value of the van--whatever that is will of course have to be argued out between insurance co & 'van owner--

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I work for a brokerage Billy.

Ali

Ali

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 06/9/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by billy on 06/9/2007

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Snowy---Insurance co's are as**oles---if its a grey area ie accident(with no other vehicle involved) caused by mechanical failure they will try to get out of paying by saying its just a mechanical failure therefore no claim-which is why it might have bin better to say he drove it into a ditch which tore off the wheel-there are no rules for grey areas--at the end of the line is the insurance ombudsman--it sounds a big job tho so if the caravan is a few yrs old it may be a write off anyway--in which case they should just pay out the value of the van--whatever that is will of course have to be argued out between insurance co & 'van owner--

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I work for a brokerage Billy.

Ali

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Billy you were arguing with yourself mate!

Ali

Thanks everyone for your interest -- this is proving to be a popular thread!

I do plan to name the company, but not quite yet because

1. I wanted unbiased opinion

2. I plan to go to the company with the points you folks have raised

I don't want to slate them quite yet, because when it comes to our cars, they have been the best insurance company (not saying much, I know) that I've ever come across, and their premium for adding my 17-year old both while learning and after passing was so cheap I almost bit their hand off.  It might turn out, of course, that so far I've only dealt with ignorant twits in the call-centre -- so it's perhaps a bit harsh to knock their reputation at this point.

However, when someone calls an insurance company from the side of the motorway trying to ensure he is abiding by their wishes when it comes to recovering the van, that isn't the time to tell them they aren't covered for something anyone's common sense would tell them they should be -- and I do plan to make that point very forcefully.  If this were spelled out in the prospectus, would I have signed up?  I don't think so!

Also, I don't know if this is industry-wide -- that's why I'm suggesting everyone check their policies carefully and ask for clarification if necessary.

Anyway, I shall keep you updated .... thanks again for your interest and don't forget to check your wheel bearings and tyre pressures!

Hi Billy -- valid point, and I guess I should explain that wasn't the deciding factor! 

They weren't the cheapest for caravan insurance, funnily enough -- but they were for the cars.

I have had one claim on the cars -- a total write-off of a Ford Ranger, the Polo in front of me, and the Astra in front of that -- guess who got the blame.  Unfair, or what!

<g!>

But they've also been very good when it's come to that claim, also for a common-sense approach to european cover, willingness to cover company and/or personal cars, and also that Ranger (and the Mitsubishi L200 which replaced it) -- at the time I got the Ranger, other companies didn't even know what it was.

Up to now, I've had nothing but praise for them, so I don't really want to start slamming them too much yet.  

Watch this space!

Hi Michael,

Nope, doesn't begin with "E" -- but tell us your story, I have a morbid interest ....