In disrepair

Two Mondays ago a Tesco delivery van reversed into me and smashed up the front of my Volvo estate. The driver admitted that it was his fault. He gave me a letter saying that Tesco will mend the car free of charge and give me a replacement car in the meantime.

The garage said it would cost £3,500 to repair. I brought the car in February this year and a month later put 4 new tyres and an exhaust on it. I paid £1,450 for the car and traded my old Volvo in for £250 so the forecourt price was £1,700. Tesco has messed me about.

First offer £700 and today £1,000. My husband has been dealing with it for me and Tesco says it will send a cheque for £1,000 but my husband said no we are not happy with it. The man said he was going to put the cheque in the post and then after a week they will be picking up the replacement car. Please can you help? The car is a 1996N.

Asked on 29 August 2011 by HN, Braunton, North Devon

Answered by Honest John

Unfortunately, though I fought for the right to have reasonably repairable cars repaired, case law has determined that paying the ‘market value’ of a smashed up car is the same as putting the owner back in the position he was in before the damage was done. I still disagree. But I don’t make the law.

Tags: insurance legal issues

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