I understand your point about increased premiums and about how a car is just a car - but I don't see this your way. The OP has been deprived of the pleasure of using his own brand new car, through somebody else's carelessness.. If he wanted to drive round in a Mazda he would've bought a Mazda.

Why should the OP put up with an inferior car through no fault of his own?

So you will not mind it when your insurance premium increases year on year then?

So you will not mind it when your insurance premium increases year on year then?

Okay

So the man in the street who drives a 1.4 octavia pays a lot less insurance than the man with the vrs, therefore isn't the man with the vrs entitiled to a better car if his is off the road through no fault of his own?

Andy

The VRS driver pays more to reflect the increased cost of the car, claims history on this type of car etc. not to get a nicer car if something happens. It is still a simple equation that the more people claim the more we all end up paying in premiums. Now I am not saying people should not claim for genuine injuries/damage but if we are all reasonable and do not see it as a free meal ticket then we will all pay less in the long run. I would like to mention none of this is directed at th OP who imho seems to have a perfectly reasonable attitude to the matter and if everyone was like him then we would all have lower premiums.

I am so gutted for you :(

I would not letting the other insurers be taking it anywhere i'm afraid. It would be going to a repairers of my choice. The accident wasn't your fault and you have the right to choose where your car goes. Get on the phone sharpish and tell them. they will be sending it to the cheapest place they can find.

Seconded. Most 'recommended repairers' recommended by insurance companies are awful IME. Get it to a bodyshop approved by Skoda UK. It's important for warranty.

I would feel even more gutted for you if they send it to nationwide,obviously i can't judge every nationwide in the country,but the one my scoob was at they were very very bad.bad customer service bad everything..never again i would i let those bunch of monkeys near any car i own...

So you will not mind it when your insurance premium increases year on year then?

You need some salt and vinegar for that chip you appear to have on your shoulder?

Edited 11 September, 201015 yr by vectra1

You need some salt and vinegar for that chip you appear to have on your shoulder?

No chip here. Just have issues with the claim culture we have and people saying claim for this that and the other then moaning about increased premiums. Just feel we all need to be more reasonable etc. Others feel the same way so we must all have chips then!!!!

No chip here. Just have issues with the claim culture we have and people saying claim for this that and the other then moaning about increased premiums. Just feel we all need to be more reasonable etc. Others feel the same way so we must all have chips then!!!!

Nothing wrong with that, but there's a difference between frivolous claims or ambulance-chasing lawyers and claiming for a reasonable car. I've had crappy courtesy cars for commuting a few miles, but the last time I claimed I had a BMW 1 (as an equivalent for my A3), and wouldn't have wanted to drive hundreds of miles on holiday in a Matiz....

To my mind the Mazda 3 is a perfectly reasonable car as a replacement. It has similar interior space to an Octy (although not as big a boot) and it is a similar priced car when looking like for like. In fact when I bought my preFL Octy VRS a few years ago I also looked at the 3 MPS. Decided on the VRS due to cost of running , boot size and getting a good deal on he VRS but the MPS was a good car. The 1.6 is not going to be as quick as the VRS but why do you 'need' to have this. The Mazda 3 will be just as comfortable as the VRS on a long journey. Now if you need more luggage space then I see this as reasonable to ask for a bigger car but not just because it does not feel as nice as my car. When I had an accident in my Mk 1 VRS years ago I had a 1.0l Micra auto for 2 weeks while my car got fixed. This was perfectly adequate to get me where I needed to go.

Again I will reiterate that none of this is aimed at the OP who has been very reasonable in his requirements. Hope you get it all sorted out soon and the repair is as good as new (it deserves to be since it is such a new car).

No chip here. Just have issues with the claim culture we have and people saying claim for this that and the other then moaning about increased premiums. Just feel we all need to be more reasonable etc. Others feel the same way so we must all have chips then!!!!

I dont see others banging on about it like you r though.

Put it this way

Have you considered how much the OP has paid in insurance premiums all through his life??

Possibly 10's of thousands.

Now he needs to recoup some of that and all you can do is moan about how much your premium could go up..!

I wonder if it happened to you would you accept second best and be a pushover for insurance scavengers, Companies

The merc must have had a high value to have had £19k of work authorised. I doubt the insurer would cough up enough for the work.

As for arguing, there is only one person I can see arguing where people have posted their opinion on which way the insurer will go regarding writing off or repairing this vehicle. As I posted, my comments are based on a number of members posting almost identical damage or fairly new cars (certainly within the first year). A search for jigged or jigging may yield them for you to compare the damage pics.

As for insisting on a new car, almost all policies allow for a new replacement in the first year for non fault claims. As such, given the likely cost for repairs, hire of a like-for-like vehicle (again entitled to have given not your fault and 3rd parties paying) and other costs associated with the claim, I doubt you'd be far off a new car.

But like you all we can do is wait for the OP to get an answer from their insurer.

Being repaired as suspected. As i said, impossible to assess a write off from a photo ;-)

I dont see others banging on about it like you r though.

Put it this way

Have you considered how much the OP has paid in insurance premiums all through his life??

Possibly 10's of thousands.

Now he needs to recoup some of that and all you can do is moan about how much your premium could go up..!

I wonder if it happened to you would you accept second best and be a pushover for insurance scavengers, Companies

To be fair to the OP he has not moaned about having the Mazda nor requested a more expensive car. I am only posting in response to other posts from other members so hardly banging on about it. The OP is being particular on the repair to ensure it is done right which I fully agree with and by the sounds of it he has a legitimate claim for injury too (whiplash can be nasty and take along time to get better). I have not issues with these kinds of costs. What I had issue with is people saying he should demand a more expensive car because the Mazda is not as quick etc. as the VRS. I am also not moaning about my insurance premiums doing up as such but just pointing out that the more we claim the more we pay (so does that mean we should claim more since we have paid more!!!!!!!!). When I have had to claim before I have not compromised on quality of repair but as far as courtesy cars go I have had a 1l Micra auto in rpelacement of my Mk 1 VRS many years ago and did not complain. It did all I needed it to do for the time my car was being repaired. Had I needed a bigger car due to carrying people/luggage then I would have asked for a bigger car as there is a genuine need but I do not see the snobbish atitude of my car being better than this means I deserve a better car a genuine reason. In fact when a neighbour kid hit my pre FL VRS with his bike when it was parked in my drive they did not want to go through insurance. hence I got the main damage sorted (dent and scratch on wing) but did not go nuts on the repair costs. As such I did not worry about the small chip on the bumper (no worse than a stone chip). Going by some of the advice on here I should have fleeced them for a full respray of the bumper if not an entire new bumper. I felt in the nature of give and take I would leave it since I was sure to get some stone chips on the front in time so would not reallyh matter. Now you may call that a push over but I prefer to see it as a reasonable unselfish action.

Billy T - who is taking an admirably rational view of a situation which must be highly frustrating - did well to get a Mazda 3. When my vRS was stolen (and then recovered) I just got a basic courtesy car under the terms of my policy. Most insurers charge extra for anything better.

It was a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 - and if that wasn't bad enough it had a so-called 'Easytronic' semi-automatic gearbox which lurched sickeningly every time it changed gear. A design as bad as that should never have been allowed into production.

Edited 11 September, 201015 yr by Zdenek Fibich

Billy T - who is taking an admirably rational view of a situation which must be highly frustrating - did well to get a Mazda 3. When my vRS was stolen (and then recovered) I just got a basic courtesy car under the terms of my policy. Most insurers charge extra for anything better.

It was a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 - and if that wasn't bad enough it had a so-called 'Easytronic' semi-automatic gearbox which lurched sickeningly every time it changed gear. A design as bad as that should never have been allowed into production.

Sounds like the 1l Micra auto I had. The gear box sapped every bit of performance that may have been there. Push the accelerator and it kicked down lumpily and just made more noise (no discernable increase in speed thou).

Just claim for a new car as yours is only 4 days old if its repaired it will never be the same

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/173481-sick-as-a-parrot/

Feel like crying. :'( :'( :'( :'(

Aaah Man I feel your pain....thats the worst....sorry !

octojoe

Just noticed this topic. The NFU is classed one of the best Insurers in Britain, easily won this accolade in the last 3 (or was it 4?) annual surveys by Auto Express magazine, so the claim is likely to be dealt with efficiently. In my experience they use first class repairers.

Many people do not realise that Main Dealers often farm out their repairs to local Bodyshops, particularily in more rural areas. I personally prefer specialised repairers rather than Main Dealers in my own area, they have more experience in matching paint shades and often have the most modern Benches and spraying equipment.

NFU will replace a car, new for old, for up to 24 months of age, if classed as a Total Loss. This clause will not apply to a third party claimant as in this case, but if there was any doubt, his own Insurers could replace and reclaim most of their outlay from NFU.

In the main your own Insurer will only supply a very basic Courtesy Car but a Third Party Claimant can be supplied with a more appropriate car if needed.

I tend to concur with the view, only claim for injury if injured. Too many people see an accident as an excuse for getting some handy money and there are plenty of Solicitors who will only be too happy to line their own pockets by assisting. There may however be a case for claiming for depreciation following this damage. The repair should be carried out to the highest possible standard and will be undetectable but if the car was to be part exchanged in the near future, and the Salesman ask about any accident repairs, any disclosure will usually be an excuse to devalue your vehicle.

Ken.

Just noticed this topic. The NFU is classed one of the best Insurers in Britain, easily won this accolade in the last 3 (or was it 4?) annual surveys by Auto Express magazine, so the claim is likely to be dealt with efficiently. In my experience they use first class repairers.

Many people do not realise that Main Dealers often farm out their repairs to local Bodyshops, particularily in more rural areas. I personally prefer specialised repairers rather than Main Dealers in my own area, they have more experience in matching paint shades and often have the most modern Benches and spraying equipment.

NFU will replace a car, new for old, for up to 24 months of age, if classed as a Total Loss. This clause will not apply to a third party claimant as in this case, but if there was any doubt, his own Insurers could replace and reclaim most of their outlay from NFU.

In the main your own Insurer will only supply a very basic Courtesy Car but a Third Party Claimant can be supplied with a more appropriate car if needed.

I tend to concur with the view, only claim for injury if injured. Too many people see an accident as an excuse for getting some handy money and there are plenty of Solicitors who will only be too happy to line their own pockets by assisting. There may however be a case for claiming for depreciation following this damage. The repair should be carried out to the highest possible standard and will be undetectable but if the car was to be part exchanged in the near future, and the Salesman ask about any accident repairs, any disclosure will usually be an excuse to devalue your vehicle.

Ken.

Thanks for that Ken, i have heard very similair claims regarding NFU's efficiency and in this case have found them to be extremely helpful and efficient even to the point of providing me with optional FREE "rehabilitation/physiotherapy" if required, i can only agree with your comments regarding accident repair specialist's

i have discussed the car with the bodyshop and they have kept in constant contact by text and phone and i can check progress on their website via my own ID. To have insisted on sending the car to a Skoda/Vag repair/bodyshop would have entailed more delays and would have meant having to travel at least an hour to do visual checks on the progress of repairs. The place carrying out the work is only half an hour away and is within my working area , this means i can call in and check on progress as well as using the systems already in place, the place has already said "pop in when you are nearby and see our operation" so i am quite comfortable with the service i am recieving.

As regards physical injury, i recieved minor whiplash and although i started a claim for this i am considering cancelling it as now 5 days after the accident i feel fine and feel that it would be greedy and more hassle to continue with this claim.

As regards the courtesy car (Mazda 3 1.6) it is a perfectly adequate car for what i need , i bought the VRS as a personal choice rather than a necessary choice (it is my toy LOL) so although i am dissappointed not to be driving my VRS the Mazda works perfectly well and more than fulfills my driving needs.

I do find some of the opinions on here to be a little polarised on occasion as regards "non-standard" discussions which sometimes is amusing but can occasionally become annoying, but after all isnt that what forums are for.

Phil (BillyT)

Edited 12 September, 201015 yr by BillyT1903

I didn't realise you'd been given the Mazda 3 when I made my comment about a better car than the std corsa repair places give you. Either the have better cars anyway, or have given you something which is comparable in size to the octy.

As for the whiplash, yes don't claim for the sake of it. But get checked by a doc before you withdraw any claim. You don't want to be fine when you do, and wake the next day in agony and be unable to get any assistance with physio. Also remember injuries can cone and go for many years. An old back pull flairs up now and again and can be painful for a day, days or weeks.

You don't have to rush to sort everything all at once

Thanks for that Ken, i have heard very similair claims regarding NFU's efficiency and in this case have found them to be extremely helpful and efficient even to the point of providing me with optional FREE "rehabilitation/physiotherapy" if required, i can only agree with your comments regarding accident repair specialist's

i have discussed the car with the bodyshop and they have kept in constant contact by text and phone and i can check progress on their website via my own ID. To have insisted on sending the car to a Skoda/Vag repair/bodyshop would have entailed more delays and would have meant having to travel at least an hour to do visual checks on the progress of repairs. The place carrying out the work is only half an hour away and is within my working area , this means i can call in and check on progress as well as using the systems already in place, the place has already said "pop in when you are nearby and see our operation" so i am quite comfortable with the service i am recieving.

As regards physical injury, i recieved minor whiplash and although i started a claim for this i am considering cancelling it as now 5 days after the accident i feel fine and feel that it would be greedy and more hassle to continue with this claim.

As regards the courtesy car (Mazda 3 1.6) it is a perfectly adequate car for what i need , i bought the VRS as a personal choice rather than a necessary choice (it is my toy LOL) so although i am dissappointed not to be driving my VRS the Mazda works perfectly well and more than fulfills my driving needs.

I do find some of the opinions on here to be a little polarised on occasion as regards "non-standard" discussions which sometimes is amusing but can occasionally become annoying, but after all isnt that what forums are for.

Phil (BillyT)

Sounds like your a man of the real world & on top of things

Being repaired as suspected. As i said, impossible to assess a write off from a photo ;-)

Being repaired as the numbers went that way, 14 weeks del on a new car means 14 weeks rental to pay out as against 2 weeks to iron it out, had Octys been available it could have been different who knows, only the bean counter

Re impossible to asses from pictures, Ive bid succesfully at auction on just photos for a salvage car to repair & it came out within budget

Re impossible to asses from pictures, Ive bid succesfully at auction on just photos for a salvage car to repair & it came out within budget

Well guessed

lol

Thanks for that Ken, i have heard very similair claims regarding NFU's efficiency and in this case have found them to be extremely helpful and efficient even to the point of providing me with optional FREE "rehabilitation/physiotherapy" if required, i can only agree with your comments regarding accident repair specialist's

i have discussed the car with the bodyshop and they have kept in constant contact by text and phone and i can check progress on their website via my own ID. To have insisted on sending the car to a Skoda/Vag repair/bodyshop would have entailed more delays and would have meant having to travel at least an hour to do visual checks on the progress of repairs. The place carrying out the work is only half an hour away and is within my working area , this means i can call in and check on progress as well as using the systems already in place, the place has already said "pop in when you are nearby and see our operation" so i am quite comfortable with the service i am recieving.

As regards physical injury, i recieved minor whiplash and although i started a claim for this i am considering cancelling it as now 5 days after the accident i feel fine and feel that it would be greedy and more hassle to continue with this claim.

As regards the courtesy car (Mazda 3 1.6) it is a perfectly adequate car for what i need , i bought the VRS as a personal choice rather than a necessary choice (it is my toy LOL) so although i am dissappointed not to be driving my VRS the Mazda works perfectly well and more than fulfills my driving needs.

I do find some of the opinions on here to be a little polarised on occasion as regards "non-standard" discussions which sometimes is amusing but can occasionally become annoying, but after all isnt that what forums are for.

Phil (BillyT)

Going from personal experience, the results of whiplash injuries can remain dormant for years and then bite back with a vengence, when it`s too late. Your insurers should take care of the claim process, so I would stick with it + you should also be considering claiming for inconvenience and loss of use of your car. (been there too with Mercedes) It paid off in the end.

Good luck

Going from personal experience, the results of whiplash injuries can remain dormant for years and then bite back with a vengence, when it`s too late. Your insurers should take care of the claim process, so I would stick with it + you should also be considering claiming for inconvenience and loss of use of your car. (been there too with Mercedes) It paid off in the end.

Good luck

Seconded. I was in a car that crashed in 1996 and i have suffered from a bad back every since. Doc says that it will be caused by the whiplash suffered back then.

Re the argument about the car, I would not be happy about having a petrol Mazda. I and the OP have a diesel car so in my opinion the hire car should be diesel. The OP will be out of pocket on the fuel costs. I had a petrol hire car for a week when my old car went in for warranty work and on my weeks commute cost me nearly an extra £40 in fuel.

Re the argument about the car, I would not be happy about having a petrol Mazda. I and the OP have a diesel car so in my opinion the hire car should be diesel. The OP will be out of pocket on the fuel costs.

This can be handled as part of an uninsured loss claim, all you need to do is document the extra incurred cost and the third-party insurers should reimburse.

I have been watching this thread with interest as in a previous working life I handled exactly these sort of situations for a large household name insurer. Where we had clear liability our aim was to settle the third-party claim as efficiently as possible at the smallest inconvenience to the person(s) involved. Not only did this help to keep costs down, it also was a suprisingly good marketing tool.

However not all insurers are equal, while NFU have a good reputation some insurers are not so proactive dealing with third-party claims. This creates a market for the likes of Helphire (and others) who cause everybodies costs to go up which ultimately contributes to rising premiums.

Best regards

David

Edited 13 September, 201015 yr by cookdn