Jessica, just be happy you are still mobile, A lot of people are not in similar circumstances.
1.5 months is a long time tho!
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Oh, I dont mean any legal or court proceedings or anything like that, I was just wondering if it is worth complaining to my insurers or the garage about the time it has taken to get the car repaired? I was told it would be 2 weeks, so 1.5 months is a bit of a long time? Of course I am grateful to have a courtesy car, but that is a part of my insurance package, not an 'extra' service provided for me. And the car repair is being done by a subcontractor under my insurance.
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Are you a member of a motoring organisation ?
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You were lucky to get a courtesy car at all. My mate's had to have his car in a garage due to an accident (twice) through no fault of his own. Even though he's paid on his insurance for a courtesy car, you'd be amazed how many garages' courtesy cars were "out at the minute mate. Sorry."
In other words, they didn't want the risk.
By all means complain but I'm still unsure as to what you want exactly. Don't get me wrong, I'd be pretty miffed that my car was in the garage that long but at least I'd be happy at being mobile.
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Adam
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If a courtesy car is included as part of the insurance contract, then in the absence of the garage providing a courtesy car, its perfectly reasonable to hire one without incurring excessive cost and to charge it to the insurance company.
Quite frnakly, six weeks is a disgusting length of time to repair a car. I'd have been on the phone to the insurance company after three weeks. If the courtesy car isn't of a similar standard to the car you usually drive then I'd be advising the insurance company of te need for an upgrade.
As for those who think its acceptable, its attitudes like this that perpetuate the appalling level of service in teh UK. COMPLAIN MORE!
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I read often, only post occasionally
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What courtesy car have you been provided with? They are mostly the smallest, cheapest cars that can be provided so, if you are used to driving something significantly better, you have certainly been at a disadvantage, at the very least.
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Thanks everyone for your interesting comments.
I own a VW Polo, and my courtesy car is a Nissan Micra. The difference in quality, drive and accessories is pretty marked.
I dont belong to a motoring association.
I just feel it is a pretty poor show to have to wait so long to get my car back, after being quoted 2 weeks, with no appology from the garage, also no calls from them to explain the length of time it is taking; I had to call them.
The reason I thought of asking on here is that my friends and family feel it is very poor that I have had to wait that long. Maybe I am being too pedantic, but as a new driver I have no idea what is deemed acceptable or unacceptable.
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In 1973, I crashed my NSU (totally my fault) and badly damaged the offside rear wing and suspension. It was during the 3 day week and I made the big mistake of having it repaired at the garage that provided the recovery vehicle. The location of the garage was about 50 miles from where I lived, so I couldn't keep popping in and having a look (in addition, I was working in Scotland), and it took them over 5 months to repair the car. They didn't even do a good job either and it was returned to me with a severely bent wheel hub and a not very well repaired rear wing.
Whenever I contacted them, they blamed the restrictions of the 3 day week and the difficulty of getting spares for the car. No courtesy car then, either.
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Jessica
Seeing as you say the Micra is better quality etc, you have a better deal! What you worried about?
Only joking, I see where you are coming from. Just because we have to have car insurance doesn't mean we should accept bad service, just because we have to pay council tax doesn't mean we should accept bad service etc etc. And just because you have a courtesy car doesn't mean the repair can take months.
Are you still paying for your motor through finance? I wouldn't want to be paying for something I wasn't having the use of. Even if you are not, I would doubt the capability of the repair centre.
I once had to deal with a repair delay because the repairer forgot to order airbags after my accident. Cant miss them-darn big white bag hanging out of the dash and steering wheel. The repair was sub-standard and as the insurer is paying, they want to ensure the job is of a good standard. Have words with the insurer and push them to get your car back on the road. That's what you pay them for.
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I doubt that Jessice is saying the Micra is better than the Polo! I had a Micra as a hire car the other day and while it had a/c, electric windows and mirors and a trip computer it wasn't much fun, or even comfortable, to drive!
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'Are you still paying for your motor through finance? I wouldn't want to be paying for something I wasn't having the use of.'
Ahhh, that hits the nail on the head, yes, still paying for this car I havent driven for 6 weeks, 2 be honest that is the biggest reason I feel hard done by!
'I doubt that Jessice is saying the Micra is better than the Polo! I had a Micra as a hire car the other day and while it had a/c, electric windows and mirors and a trip computer it wasn't much fun, or even comfortable, to drive! '
a/c? electric mirrors? trip computer? wow, this micra is the bottom of the range as far as I can see... whereas my polo had all those things...
Thanks everyone for your comments, I had an email from HJ saying basically that the delay is most probably due to waiting for parts. But as someone new to the world of motoring, I still am surprised what you guys put up with? If say I had ordered a table from a dept store and was told delivery was in 2 weeks, and had to wait 6, I would complain... why is a car any different?
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>I just feel it is a pretty poor show to have to wait so long to get my car back, after being quoted 2 weeks, with no apology from the garage, also no calls from them to explain the length of time it is taking; I had to call them<
Of course it is a poor show. There may be genuine reasons, such as availability of parts (from Germany perhaps). But I would suggest the treatment you are getting from the garage is fairly typical. It is an unusual garage that will pick up the phone and call you - what's in it for them?
Did you think of using your choice of repairer, or did the car go to the insurer's preferred one? That can be bad news.
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I suppose you have never considered any successful claim for compensation or the cost of hire is passed on to the consumer in the way of increased premiums. If its the Insurers approved Repairer then I agree they are dragging their heels but quite why you think anyone in some way benefits to the detrament of Jessica defies logic.
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My mate's had to have his car in a garage due to an accident (twice) through no fault of his own. Even though he's paid on his insurance for a courtesy car,
First of all, your mate needs to stand up for his 'rights' as a victim. If the accident was NOT your mate's fault then he should *insist* that the Third Party Insurers get him a car ASAP so that he can stay mobile and give them a deadline of say 48 hours. Failing which, your mate will then go and hire a car from a rental company and send the rental bill plus misc. charges back to them for paying.
Secondly, people fail to realise is that if they opt to have a courtesy car on their insurance policy, then this is 'subject to availability' and 'only available whilst your own car is being repaired' and lastly you get a crappy A size car. No good if you drive a Passat/Mondeo/Golf etc. IMHO then this 'courtesy car' option is a waste of money. I admit this cover will also provide you with a courtesy car if yours is stolen or whatever - but still I don't think it is useful.
Thirdly, your mate is entitled to a 'like for like' replacement, he should settle for nothing less.
I honestly cannot beleive that people involved in NONFAULT accidents simply feel they have to 'make do' - Hell NO! :) get tough with these insurance companies, stand up for your rights and make'em give you what you want.
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I agree with you ihpj. Fortunately, at the time of the last accident my other mate had just bought a new car so lent him his old one.
Not the point though. If I pay for a courtesy car, then I want a courtesy car!
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Adam
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I agree with you ihpj. Fortunately, at the time of the last accident my other mate had just bought a new car so lent him his old one.
I personally don't think that's appropriate. but had it been me then I would have pencilled in a daily cost for borrowing my mates car - jsut like if I were renting a car from a car rental place. It's the inconvenience of it all and the other insurance company has a _duty_ to keep you mobile - or compensate you at an agree drate of (I think) £15 per day. the fact that you cna borrow Santa's slay is irrelevant - the obligation is on the Third Party Insurance company to compensate you or keep you mobile at THEIR expense and inconvenience. He shouldn't have had to borrow or go without.
Not the point though. If I pay for a courtesy car, then I want a courtesy car!
Small print me ol' mucker - it's all there. Most companies I know have those usual caveats - there is no garuntee that you will get one sicne it isn't the insurance company that provide you with a car, but rather the repairing garage - who bill your insurnace company direct. I know there are some who will garuntee you a courtesy car - but even then it is ONLY whilst yours is being repaired.
Take my Mother for example. She has an automatic ONLY licence. there is NO POINT in her shelling out for courtesy car cover - since NO garage has automatic loaner cars :) Extremem example maybe, but I can't justify paying these people extra for a benefit I might not use effectively or at all.
Hope your mate was OK though and has better luck motoring! :)
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Insurance is so expensive for me I just remove every single extra. I'm glad I have now - I may be naive but paying all that money, you'd think insurers would want to help!
My mate was fine - they were low speed but did a surprising amount of damage.
Thanks
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Adam
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