Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on July 07, 2023, 08:15:59 pm
-
So. On my way to work this morning. Teenaged lad pulls across my path.
Bang!
No one hurt.
Radiator punctured, Aircon pipes gone, as is the front grill and a headlight. Bonnet buckled. One front wing creased a bit.
Hey ho.
Fully comp with A plan. Being treated as not my fault, a good witness on scene and Police in attendance.
Only half a mile from home so cut away grille etc, nursed it back and emptied it on my drive.
Got a hire van - tank, pumps and battery from old van strapped into cargo points. It has a full bulkhead too. All working and ready to go. Will restrict myself to 400L.
Will tidy it up over the weekend.
Onward and upward!
-
Good man for getting yourself up and running again 👍
I did the same when my transit was out of action. Benefits of simplicity with the system are the ease with which you can pull everything out and whack it in another van.
-
That's annoying.
At least you're ok - result.
Yes, that's why I always keep a spare Ranger handy.
Hope it gets sorted painlessly and quickly.
-
Good man for getting yourself up and running again 👍
I did the same when my transit was out of action. Benefits of simplicity with the system are the ease with which you can pull everything out and whack it in another van.
I got everything out and then my son in law took me to get the hire van and helped me move the tank, pump board and battery across. All working.
-
Good job Malc!
-
Not great but a big positive that it hasn’t led to any down time👍🏻
-
Well done.
Glad nobody was injured.
-
I’m toying with the idea of putting a 350 litre trailer system together, and a tow bar with electrics on the family car. Accidents do happen, and so do breakdowns! It would all pay for its self over time, and I have the space to store the trailer. I’m insured with A plan, and my policy provides me with a fully equipped window cleaning van if I’m in a no fault accident…
-
I’m toying with the idea of putting a 350 litre trailer system together, and a tow bar with electrics on the family car. Accidents do happen, and so do breakdowns! It would all pay for its self over time, and I have the space to store the trailer. I’m insured with A plan, and my policy provides me with a fully equipped window cleaning van if I’m in a no fault accident…
That would have been my second option. I have a trailer and my wife's car has a towbar.
In summer it would be fine as no freezing issues. However I would have to have bought a 250L tank as it only had a 400kg payload.
-
I've got everything insured with AS so a replacement fully equipped vehicle would be supplied in this situation, can't be doing down time.
Well done for getting sorted Gold, hope claim handling goes well
-
I've got everything insured with AS so a replacement fully equipped vehicle would be supplied in this situation, can't be doing down time.
Well done for getting sorted Gold, hope claim handling goes well
I did think of that option. Dan the man has it but it took a few days for the van to become available. As I'm DiY it was about a two half days work for me to do.
-
So. On my way to work this morning. Teenaged lad pulls across my path.
Bang!
No one hurt.
Radiator punctured, Aircon pipes gone, as is the front grill and a headlight. Bonnet buckled. One front wing creased a bit.
Hey ho.
Fully comp with A plan. Being treated as not my fault, a good witness on scene and Police in attendance.
Only half a mile from home so cut away grille etc, nursed it back and emptied it on my drive.
Got a hire van - tank, pumps and battery from old van strapped into cargo points. It has a full bulkhead too. All working and ready to go. Will restrict myself to 400L.
Will tidy it up over the weekend.
Onward and upward!
Well done for living in the solution Malc and getting yourself up and running again in a short time.hopefully your van can be fixed or is it a write off?
I would use my backpack and 4 barrels in my car if that happened to me(ive had to do this once before).not ideal but it would keep me going for a few weeks if need be.
-
So. On my way to work this morning. Teenaged lad pulls across my path.
Bang!
No one hurt.
Radiator punctured, Aircon pipes gone, as is the front grill and a headlight. Bonnet buckled. One front wing creased a bit.
Hey ho.
Fully comp with A plan. Being treated as not my fault, a good witness on scene and Police in attendance.
Only half a mile from home so cut away grille etc, nursed it back and emptied it on my drive.
Got a hire van - tank, pumps and battery from old van strapped into cargo points. It has a full bulkhead too. All working and ready to go. Will restrict myself to 400L.
Will tidy it up over the weekend.
Onward and upward!
Well done for living in the solution Malc and getting yourself up and running again in a short time.hopefully your van can be fixed or is it a write off?
I would use my backpack and 4 barrels in my car if that happened to me(ive had to do this once before).not ideal but it would keep me going for a few weeks if need be.
At the moment it is assumed it is not a write off. Similar vans go for a ridiculously high 9 or 10K in Autotrader. However it hasn't been collected for assessment yet and I know the radiator and aircon have failed since the crash so it might depend on whether that is pipework, condenser etc. or even geometry. At the moment I would guess 90% not a write off.
And I would like the van back if possible.
-
At the moment it is assumed it is not a write off. Similar vans go for a ridiculously high 9 or 10K in Autotrader. However it hasn't been collected for assessment yet and I know the radiator and aircon have failed since the crash so it might depend on whether that is pipework, condenser etc. or even geometry. At the moment I would guess 90% not a write off.
And I would like the van back if possible.
I'm pretty much certain that you can always get the van back. Have a look at some of the specialist forums as they'll tell you how to do it.
One of our guys was told his van was being written off and all he did was keep telling them that it was his van so they didn't have the power to do anything to it. At one point they tried to get him to collect what gear was his in the van as it was going to be scrapped but he told them to get stuffed - it wasn't their van to scrap. Eventually they gave up.
You have rights in this but don't expect the insurers to tell you. They'll act like it's all a done deal.
Now, prepare for a barrage of advice (probably telling you I'm wrong) but, as ever, remember we're window cleaners not insurance experts.
Tort law is on your side: "Tort law allows individuals who have had a wrong committed against them to claim damages against the person who has committed the wrong. It encompasses a vast amount of different types of legal issues.
Tort a civil law that aims to return individuals back in the position they were in before the wrong was committed against them to ensure they do not suffer any unnecessary loss." Taking a hit when an insurer decides to write off your vehicle is far from ensuring you do not suffer any unnecessary loss.
Don't let your insurers steamroll you. Remember that their motivation is to settle this business as cheaply as possible for them. They may be your insurers but they are not on your side in any way, shape or form. Prepare yourself by reading up on the subject. Treat your insurer as the enemy, not helpful friends. Their and your interests in this matter are opposed.
Vin
-
At the moment it is assumed it is not a write off. Similar vans go for a ridiculously high 9 or 10K in Autotrader. However it hasn't been collected for assessment yet and I know the radiator and aircon have failed since the crash so it might depend on whether that is pipework, condenser etc. or even geometry. At the moment I would guess 90% not a write off.
And I would like the van back if possible.
I'm pretty much certain that you can always get the van back. Have a look at some of the specialist forums as they'll tell you how to do it.
One of our guys was told his van was being written off and all he did was keep telling them that it was his van so they didn't have the power to do anything to it. At one point they tried to get him to collect what gear was his in the van as it was going to be scrapped but he told them to get stuffed - it wasn't their van to scrap. Eventually they gave up.
You have rights in this but don't expect the insurers to tell you. They'll act like it's all a done deal.
Now, prepare for a barrage of advice (probably telling you I'm wrong) but, as ever, remember we're window cleaners not insurance experts.
Tort law is on your side: "Tort law allows individuals who have had a wrong committed against them to claim damages against the person who has committed the wrong. It encompasses a vast amount of different types of legal issues.
Tort a civil law that aims to return individuals back in the position they were in before the wrong was committed against them to ensure they do not suffer any unnecessary loss." Taking a hit when an insurer decides to write off your vehicle is far from ensuring you do not suffer any unnecessary loss.
Don't let your insurers steamroll you. Remember that their motivation is to settle this business as cheaply as possible for them. They may be your insurers but they are not on your side in any way, shape or form. Prepare yourself by reading up on the subject. Treat your insurer as the enemy, not helpful friends. Their and your interests in this matter are opposed.
Vin
Insurance companies work on the cost to repair the vehicle if it’s deemed to be beyond economic repair then they right it off ,it’s cheaper for them to do this and either pay out or supply another vehicle , not saying it’s right but that’s how it works in a nut shell .
-
Anyone had discussions with insurers about value of vehicle against write off value when the amounts are close?
Ever asked for a breakdown of the cost to repair?
How about extras on the vehicle? I have a reversing camera, a relay charger and a towbar as extras.
And condition/mileage etc.
-
Anyone had discussions with insurers about value of vehicle against write off value when the amounts are close?
Ever asked for a breakdown of the cost to repair?
How about extras on the vehicle? I have a reversing camera, a relay charger and a towbar as extras.
And condition/mileage etc.
I had a van written off and was prepared to battle them over the value of it, in the end they offered me a very fair pay-out then I bought it back for about £600 and continued using it. I was quids in, in the end!
Keep track of similar examples up for sale with evidence, they have a little room to manoeuvre but don't expect miracles.
-
Anyone had discussions with insurers about value of vehicle against write off value when the amounts are close?
Ever asked for a breakdown of the cost to repair?
How about extras on the vehicle? I have a reversing camera, a relay charger and a towbar as extras.
And condition/mileage etc.
I had a van written off and was prepared to battle them over the value of it, in the end they offered me a very fair pay-out then I bought it back for about £600 and continued using it. I was quids in, in the end!
Keep track of similar examples up for sale with evidence, they have a little room to manoeuvre but don't expect miracles.
Thanks for this.
How did you get the needed repairs done? Was it damaged beyond bodywork?
-
So. On my way to work this morning. Teenaged lad pulls across my path.
Bang!
No one hurt.
Radiator punctured, Aircon pipes gone, as is the front grill and a headlight. Bonnet buckled. One front wing creased a bit.
Hey ho.
Fully comp with A plan. Being treated as not my fault, a good witness on scene and Police in attendance.
Only half a mile from home so cut away grille etc, nursed it back and emptied it on my drive.
Got a hire van - tank, pumps and battery from old van strapped into cargo points. It has a full bulkhead too. All working and ready to go. Will restrict myself to 400L.
Will tidy it up over the weekend.
Onward and upward!
I would use my backpack and 4 barrels in my car if that happened to me(ive had to do this once before).not ideal but it would keep me going for a few weeks if need be.
Four barrels will earn you a ton max. Bugger that. I'd go to the holiday home for a week or fall back on my many thousands of pounds I have in the bank that's saved for a rainy day. Or live on beans for a week :D
-
Unless you claim against the other driver for your increased renewable premiums , your insurance will go up on renewal. You need to check this with your insurance company and ask them specifically ( will my insurance increase because of this accident) they will fob you off with what you been told so far.
-
I had a new vehicle wrote off within 12hours of ownership, Insurance company tried to rip me off, refused their first and second offers but excepted their third offer with all incurred costs like storage, ferries, hotel accommodation and other inconveniences were accepted and also bought the vehicle back from them after getting my claim for an agreed price after haggling with them.
-
I had a new vehicle wrote off within 12hours of ownership, Insurance company tried to rip me off, refused their first and second offers but excepted their third offer with all incurred costs like storage, ferries, hotel accommodation and other inconveniences were accepted and also bought the vehicle back from them after getting my claim for an agreed price after haggling with them.
Tell me more!
When you bought the vehicle back what did you do with it?
How much better was offer two and three over offer one and how did you support your request for a better offer please?
-
Thanks for this.
How did you get the needed repairs done? Was it damaged beyond bodywork?
It was just body work in my case, drivers door and lower half of the side panel, both would have been replaced with new by the insurer. A good body shop had them sorted without replacement.
-
I had a new vehicle wrote off within 12hours of ownership, Insurance company tried to rip me off, refused their first and second offers but excepted their third offer with all incurred costs like storage, ferries, hotel accommodation and other inconveniences were accepted and also bought the vehicle back from them after getting my claim for an agreed price after haggling with them.
Tell me more!
When you bought the vehicle back what did you do with it?
How much better was offer two and three over offer one and how did you support your request for a better offer please?
My vehicle was in a 29 vehicle pile up on the Motorway after just getting into Dover from France . It was thick fog but I managed to stop without hitting the vehicle in front by squeezing alongside the vehicle in front and the crash barrier but the other 28 vehicles all ploughed into the back of mine and ended up squeezing my car down to half it's size. It got towed away to a storage place outside London on a Saturday afternoon and incurred expensive storage charges. I was on my way to London to go on a university course. Ended up going back to France to pick up another vehicle I had to run around in for Uni. Nightmare trying to get everything sorted with insurance whilst tryin g to study .
Insurance company tried to offer a very low compensation which I declined, second offer was much better but didn't include all the extra costs I incurred. Emailed all my extra charges and manged to get full refund of vehicle plus all expenses I claimed for with threatening them with a solicitor to get my full entitlement. Lot of paperwork involved and countless hours chasing it but got there in the end. Failure can't live with persistency.
I bought the vehicle back at a stupid low price, stripped and sold a lot of parts and scrapped the rest.
-
Update. After missed phone calls each way from the Wednesday and Thursday after the accident I finally got back to the insurer's engineering department AFTER receiving a voicemail telling me that the van was being valued at £5250 and repairs being £6500. AND payment being sent!
I finally got through and told them I wasn't impressed/they were having a laugh etc. and told them I had looked at vans on line, and that Parker's valued it at £7295. (70,000 miles in good nick)
There was bluster on both sides but at the end of last Friday his offer was £6250.
I said no and looking in Autotrader I could see similar vans (age and mileage fairly close) in the £6000/£8000 range. A couple of outliers were north of 10k and as low as 5k.
To be continued...
-
What does we buy any van value it at?
Keep pushing them though.
As it's the other insurance company paying out, in my opinion they should be paying loss of earnings plus your extra time to sort the claim out.
Are you interesting in buying it back as that might influence things.
-
What does we buy any van value it at?
Keep pushing them though.
As it's the other insurance company paying out, in my opinion they should be paying loss of earnings plus your extra time to sort the claim out.
Are you interesting in buying it back as that might influence things.
Yes I'm putting uninsured losses together and am buying the van back with the intention to repair and use. I'll detail the deal on the van side of things in this thread over the weekend.
-
What does we buy any van value it at?
Keep pushing them though.
As it's the other insurance company paying out, in my opinion they should be paying loss of earnings plus your extra time to sort the claim out.
Are you interesting in buying it back as that might influence things.
Yes I'm putting uninsured losses together and am buying the van back with the intention to repair and use. I'll detail the deal on the van side of things in this thread over the weekend.
Bare in mind insuring a written off vehicle will be more expensive and if you sell it it will be worth considerably less as it will be a cat whatever on the log book
-
So on Thursday they raised their offer to £7,000. I quoted the £7295 I from Parker's and stuck to it. The guy countered with his view that Glass's and some other one I can't recall valued it at less so they would offer £7,000. I countered with examples in Autotrader that were similar and higher.
We settled on £7295.00
Then he said the salvage would be Cat-S and £1,600 if I wanted it and at the end of the repairs it would need to pass an MOT before it could be reinsured.
I was quite humorous (I thought) and said I needed a strong cup of tea and a lie down to consider it and its implications vis a vis notifying DVLA, arranging to have it delivered back and possible future higher insurance premiums.
On the Friday we settled on the following (not including a few hundred quid's uninsured losses which are a separate issue with a different department.)
£7295 agreed.
I buy back for £1400, not £1600 - van delivered back F-O-C. early next week.
AND (I didn't ask for this) - if within 30 days I decide I've bitten off more than I can chew in repairing etc. they will let me reconsider and get my £1400 back less my cost of delivering it to their chosen local (to me) breakers.
So although it has been a bit long and tortuous I'm okay with this.
The hire van goes back Monday as the insurer has written off the vehicle and given me an interim payment (£5250) already so it is deemed I have resources to buy another van or hire something myself.
Now I shall attend to uninsured losses ...
-
Well done for negotiating a better deal. I do hate it that when claiming from a 3rd parties insurance company your own company will try and keep the payout as low as they can! It shouldn't work that way - you should not be out of pocket at all or inconvenienced by an accident that's not your fault!
Hopefully you can get it back on the road for a good price.
I'm not sure future premiums will be higher due to it being a cat S (probably will be higher due to claim). Obviously it's value will be lower but why should a cat vehicle be more of a risk to other vehicles? I can't remember an insurance quote form asking if a vehicle was a cat one but I could be wrong there.
Good luck and thanks for the update.
-
The reason they offer low is there is an “agreement” between all insurance companies to keep their costs/claims as low as poss within the trade
If it’s registered as cat “whatever” does this not automatically flag up?
Darran
-
Ive had cat d and cat s vans before.
Insurance dont check when you take out a policy on them but if you had an accident your insurance obvioulsly wouldnt pay up.
Ive risked all sorts with insurance in my younger years, undeclared mods to ourtright lies like parked on a driveway when its not.
Touch wood ive never needed to claim
More sensible these days and proud to say my current policy is truthfull and valid. ;D
-
The reason they offer low is there is an “agreement” between all insurance companies to keep their costs/claims as low as poss within the trade
If it’s registered as cat “whatever” does this not automatically flag up?
Darran
The simple answer is yes it should have a flag against it that it’s been declared as a total loss , if you sell a vehicle in this category. You have to declare it as such quite often on auto trader you will see vehicles advertise as cat s d or what ever , but once again it’s your responsibility to declare that it’s a cat xx when insuring it .
-
Well here we are coming up two years since the prang. Van still going strong and been through two MOT's since repair.
My outstanding losses have finally been paid!
The judgement against the other driver (uncontested) happened in December 23.
At that point the case was closed in my favour in regards to it being an 'open' claim. This meant when insuring vehicles it didn't weigh against me premium wise.
The other insurer had the judgement put aside 'as to quantum' on the whole claim in June 2024 saying my insurance company hadn't kept costs down and they weren't going to pay any uninsured losses.
I would have let it go as I was only £500 down but my insurance company wasn't prepared to have its settlement to me reduced by the other insurer and asked me if I was prepared to go to court and they would pay my legal fees if the judgement went against them.
So I said I would happily go to court.
This got the other company to agree settlement and have the court hearing set aside. That was in December 2024.
No payment and after 60 days my insurers solicitors started enforcement proceedings.
The other insurer finally paid up but the solicitor sent all the money to my insurer Liverpool Victoria including my £500!
Anyway in fairness to LV within a day of the solicitors telling them they raised payment to me.
So Dan the Man gets £250 for swapping my system twice into and from the hire van, My daughter gets £100 for her lost day working and I get £150 for my lost day too. (I started with my solicitor suggesting £300 but was advised that the other side might successfully argue that it was too much to pay a window cleaner!)
For some reason interest wasn't added because it was settled out of court.
-
I would have thought your daily rate would have been determined by whatever you could prove was your average based on your tax returns. Not what someone thinks a window cleaner should earn....
A win is a win however
-
I would have thought your daily rate would have been determined by whatever you could prove was your average based on your tax returns. Not what someone thinks a window cleaner should earn....
A win is a win however
That's true. However as a part timer, although I can earn £300 in a working day that isn't done 5 days a week. I also have to take off running costs too. And my other income wasn't affected.
And as I pay my wife to do my books that reduces my taxable earnings too.
So I thought £150 seemed fair for the day I lost.
-
I would have thought your daily rate would have been determined by whatever you could prove was your average based on your tax returns. Not what someone thinks a window cleaner should earn....
A win is a win however
That's true. However as a part timer, although I can earn £300 in a working day that isn't done 5 days a week. I also have to take off running costs too. And my other income wasn't affected.
And as I pay my wife to do my books that reduces my taxable earnings too.
So I thought £150 seemed fair for the day I lost.
I was going to do this too as my wife is taking early retirement from her work…..however my accountant told me I would need to set up a workplace pension for her so has instead advised me to introduce her as a partner in the business.