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 Topic: Insurance claim - options
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31/1/2012 at 12:38pm
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Swift Charisma 560 & Vauxhall Omega
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I'm new to all this insurance claim business (and don't want to experience it again!) so would like opinion, options, advice on what to do!
Our 2005 Burstner was stolen and recovered. There is damage to the caravan added to the stolen items and the quotes to repair/replace everything came to over £5,500. We were really shocked at the repair costs as to look at the van it doesn't look bad, but, for example, the damage done by a screwdriver to open the door means a new door & frame is needed to rectify it and this isn't cheap. Anyway, everything has been submitted to the insurance company, an assessor has taken a look and today I've had a letter. They are suggesting that they pay us a lump sum and take the caravan away as salvage. A form is enclosed for us to sign to agree to it. The last paragraph of the letter states '.....that this is strictly subject to Underwriter's approval as the caravan has not been deemed an actual total loss'. I think a phone call to the claims services will be needed to talk it through, but would welcome any input from others who've been faced with a similar experience before we talk to them.
We don't want to give up caravanning and this van suited our needs. It is a good strong, heavy van that still is in a very good condition, apart from the damage. Burstner no longer supply new caravans in the UK, so they are becoming harder to find. The downside to this is that there is only one authorised UK repair centre and some things we need like the bed base/table need to come from Germany. Some of the seating cushions were stolen and we can no longer get the same pattern, so need new covers for all the seats.
Are insurers open to negotiation? Do they tend to offer less if we insist on keeping the van?
It is very sad and frustrating. Ideally we'd like to keep the van, but perhaps I need to let go and start over. 
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01/2/2012 at 11:01pm
Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
Outfit: Bailey Unicorn III Valencia (LR Disco)
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Quote: Originally posted by Jafa on 01/2/2012
Thanks everyone. This is causing a lot of head scratching! I am currently writing a letter to the insurers to get answers to some questions. Although, the longer we've had time to think this through, the more we are leaning towards accepting the caravan will go (but I will not be the one to wave it off, that'll be DH's job as I'll be too sad).
The real dilemma now will be whether to get another one??? I would get one straight away, if it wasn't for the ongoing costs of keeping one - storage being the big expense. Having moved the van twice, once due to vandalism and the second time through theft, we are now on a manned site, but it costs a lot more. Insurance will no doubt go up too since we'll have had a claim.
Thanks Jasie about your comment on the insurers not being allowed to offer less - that was something we were wondering about.
If your concern is about rising insurance, it might be worth getting quotes from other companies. If it is a total loss, then your existing policy will probably finish automatically, and you would then take out a new policy for the next van. A good time to check prices.
When our caravan was stolen, we had a new van under the CC Insurance new for old part of the policy. The van was a newer van, we had just made a claim and the policy cost did not rise that much TBH. It was only a little more each month - about a couple of pounds, but they did insist on us usin a Gold Cassoa site for storeage.
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David
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02/2/2012 at 8:41am
Location: Keswick
Outfit: Bailey
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You don't say how much they have offered as "a lump sum and take the caravan away as salvage".
It sounds as though the assessor has taken a view that the van is beyond economic repair. i.e the repair exceeds the value or insured value of the van. In the alternative that, perhaps, Burstner parts cannot be secured.
If the sum offered is equal to the sum that you have insured the van for they will not go higher so negotiations may be fruitless unless you want them to pay for repiar. If they have offered less than the sum insured then their proposal may simply be an opening offer. Ask why they have not offered the sum insured. Have a really good think about getting it repaired and the apparent hassle you mention.
Check your policy, they may be able to offer less than the sum insured if the value of the van is less than that sum.
Opening offers are just that and its worth a discussion, but check your facts first. Know just where you stand with your policy.
At the end of the day, if you accept their offer then ownership of the van passes to them. You can buy it back, as suggested above, but that just eats into your insurance payout.
Then there is the shoulder shuddering moment you need to ask yourself, "Do I really want a van that someone has trashed?
All the best
Phil
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If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
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02/2/2012 at 12:08pm
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Swift Charisma 560 & Vauxhall Omega
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Thank you so much for the added comments.
Smiledmb - yes I've spotted the van on ebay and watching it!
Our van is 2005, which we bought in 2007 and has a few added extras; security door and Gaslow twin refillable gas system (which we like). With all the other associated equipment, such as security devices and awning, we insured it up to £10k, which at the time of purchase was reasonable. We haven't adjusted this as time has gone on, which we should have (lesson learned!) and we know that in total (as it isn't a new for old policy) we won't get the full amount back (the awning wasn't stolen either). We are being offered for the caravan alone (not including equipment or contents) £6995 as the retail value. They are not seen for sale very often, there is one on ebay as pointed out, which they're trying to sell for £6750, but I have seen them for sale in the past for anything up to £8000. The costs to repair the van are in the region of £5,500. The damage isn't great, but to get the van as it was requires a new door, new window and some new locks and body repair.... the door has been prised open with a screwdriver and the damage appears slight, but the repairers will replace, not repair the door - so expensive! We have only got 1 repairer in this country of Burstner vans, some repair centres wouldn't touch it. The van can actually be used, except the bed base/table needs replacing (Burstner can supply for £550!) and some seating cushions were stolen, which is a pain as we can't get the same fabric now.
Our insurers (Caravan Club - though we're dealing with the assessors) I believe have got a fair estimate for the basic van, however, we are going to go back to them and see if they can improve this figure given the costs of the added extras. We are also going to find out the price to 'buy it back', just so we know what all our options are.
Burstner are heavy vans and we need a heavy car to tow it, and ours is getting old and it will need replacing at some point! All these are considerations we have to make. With rising motoring costs, especially if you have a big heavy car, it's an added dilemma.
As to whether we'd still want the van that's been trashed - inside it's undamaged. Many contents were stolen, bedding, tea towels & dustpan & brush (of all things!), knives and forks (but not spoons!) tomato sauce (not brown sauce!). But I think with a good clean, it will look great again.
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