Morris Minor Owners Club

Hey People.
Just to let you all know i have now got my car back and it looks fantastic now its fixed.
But i have just recieved a letter from my insurance company, whom i must add have been really helpful. it turns out that because they have paid out the full amount for my car they have now valued my car at only £100 as its final valuation.
Has anyone any ideas on how to fix this because the car is now worth so much more.
Thanks
Tom

minorsrule wrote:my car at only £100 as its final valuation.

What !!!!! £100 !!!! Sorry to sound all John McEnroe on you but 'you cannot be serious !!!', that is just ridiculous.

get a valuation of the car from a garage (the one that repaired it would be ideal), and present that as proof of value

good order saloon minor should be 1k and upwards

If it was the case that the insurer wrote the vehicle off then offered the car to you with the insurance payment (with which you subsequently repaired it) then that £100 is probably the value of the car in it's damaged state and the amount you owe the insurer.

I agree - it looks like they want £100 back from you for keeping the car ! For information - is the car still insured - or have they cancelled the policy ? You need to know before you take it on the road again. And please - fit a secret petrol pump cut-off switch!

I've taken the view that insurance companies need just two departments: the
Collecting Money Department
which includes all the happy faced people on their gimmicky adverts, and the

Not Paying it Out Again Department
which is like a secret society of lawyers and jobsworths only known about by anyone who has tried to make a claim...

I tend to go with third party only as at least I know where I stand.

dp wrote:I tend to go with third party only as at least I know where I stand.

I used to think that but unfortunately third-party-only can work against you. If you have an accident and both parties blame the other, your company has to decide between arguing with the other company (which might mean going to court) or admitting liability and paying up. This decision seems to be based primarily on which option is likely to cost them less. If you have fully comprehensive insurance then it makes admitting liability more expensive for them and increases the likelihood that they will take your side in the argument over who was to blame for the accident. Legal cover is supposed to pay for your claim against the other party but unfortunately they will wash their hands of you if your insurance company decides to admit liability.

the argument over who was to blame for the accident. Legal cover

in 2003, I had an accident with a guy who came round a parked car. I was very greatful to have had fully comp insurance and legal protection as it ended up in court after nobody would agree to who's fault it was. They provided a solicitor who argued my case well.

Since then I've made sure to have fully comp and legal protection - even on the freebie (fit for scrap) Nissan I was using earlier this year. I've also worked on the premise that this gives you the best chance for the insurance company to fight your case rather than go 'nock for nock' or roll over completely.

Recently a guy at work was doing his nut. He changed insurance compaines and only then did he find out that his old insurer had paid out on a claim against him, without telling him! Some white van idiot had driven in to him, and then blamed him - the insurance company just paid it, regardless of him being innocent and having said so.

Hmm, I seem to be going through this insurance saga at the moment, after the shunt in the van. No great surprise about it being declared a write off, and I did indicate in no uncertain terms that I wish to retain the vehicle, but they insist that they will not settle the claim until I send them the V5...
I did enclosing a letter saying that I will be keeping the vehicle and will need it returning. (Don't expect they will, but point is made)
They also said that because my agreed value valuation is not up to date they will only pay 'market value'. I pointed out that 'market value' for a condition 2 Minor van is more than I had it insured for anyway so that will be most acceptable thankyou very much! Not had a reply yet....
At least they haven't got there hands on it. It went in the back of my workshop till the assesor came and saw it and is now rather dismantled with three immobile vehicles between it and the door...
Now 7 weeks since the accident (a straight forward undisputed claim) and still waiting. Quick enough to take your money, slow enough to pay etc etc grumble grumble....

Yep its insured, and legal.
but, after talking 2 the insurance company we have been told that to bring the price back up, we need a valuation. So, i was just wondering if there was any chance someone from the owners club could possibly do that or is that not possible.

Tom

There was a system in the owners club a few years back where an 'approved valuer' was appointed from each branch. Think it sort of faded out as most normal Minors don't need an independant valuation, only really top notch show cars which exceed the regular price guides.
Anyway, it may be worth contacting your local branch and see if anyone will do a valuation on official notepaper or such like. Otherwise a Minor specialist would be a good way to go. Both options may charge some nominal sum for the exercise.

I've been told with my van that I just need to get it retested after I've repaired the damage as the MOT test would prove the repairs were done to a suitable standard. I will send them photos of it to prove this when the time comes and get the agreed value in place however. I 'bought it back' from the insurer for £165 (no idea how they got that figure but it was fine by me especially compared to the settlement cheque I got in the post this morning...)

If you live in the North Worcester/ South Shropshire area I'd be happy to do it for you, but assuming you don't you should be able to find someone closer.

rayofleamington wrote:The good knews is that the Club insurance with AON offers very good rates for young drivers and AON has a very good reputation.

im with AON and there giving me greif at the moment cause my cars been stolen and thay cant confirm my agreed value which is supposed to be £1400...less that it was worth when i first got it but there still being gay about it.

apart from that though...very good insurence company...my annual premium was only £580 and im 18.

amy x

If you sent them a valuation certificate - and they issued the policy, then a contract was made and they must honour it!

then a contract was made and they must honour it!

If only, we are talking insurance companies here.
One thing Amy does it not say on your policy what the agreed value is as mine does although its not with Aon.

ummm...dont know i should probubly read it again...but AON have just valued my car at £2k so i dont know if i'll get that for it or £1400...reading time!!

amy x

Sounds good - how long are they going to make you wait before they pay out ?

Fingers crossed Amy as values have gone up a bit lately.

Maybe I should have invested my pension fund in Minors - rather than the FTSE!

bmcecosse wrote:Maybe I should have invested my pension fund in Minors - rather than the FTSE!

Not a good idea when you read the tax rules regarding classics as retirement investments. Fine if you keep them, but sell them, and you get hammered big time. Anything to do with cars, and you will get stung big time.

I was joking - I well know it's not allowed!