What can my aunt do to fight the car insurance company that sold her a dud policy?

Question

she is a pensioner and bought a 5star warranty valued for 3 years, after 18 months the automatic gear box failed on her fiesta and it is going to now cost £1375.37 to repair. The Insurance company has said that in the small print if a component is bolted outside the gearbox casing it is not covered therefore the labour cost is also not covered.

When she purchased the car she was assured everything would be covered. The car is now 5 years old with only 34,000 on the clock. Her garage said even a mechanical engineer wouldn't be familiar with component when reading the policy never mind an old lady. The saleroom where she purchased the car from are not interested.

Answer 1

For car insurance the best way to get a low quote is do a policy comparison on auto policies. Make certain that you choose similar options with the same limits, auto model, zip code, etc so that all things are a good comparison.



What I usually recommend is an online comparison quote at http://www.lowratetoday.com since they have lots of insurers and will give multiple prices on car insurance polices.

Answer 2

Sounds as if you are in the UK.  Here is the USA, I would contact the insurance comissioners office and/or the office of consumer protection.  I'm thinking you are out of luck though because the contact was signed and obviously the "fine print" wasn't read.  Who sold her the policy ?

Answer 3

Insurance sucks. Unless it is a legal requirement or is for something that would break you if you have to claim.

Cover your own risks, if you can afford it. That way you make the profit that the insurer would otherwise make.

Answer 4

Contact the local councils trading standards dept or consumer direct.

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

Answer 5

Since when is an auto box "outside the gearbox casing"?

If they sold a warranty on an automatic car then the gearbox is included, unless it was damaged by an accident.

Answer 6

Hi

This is a big problem with most after market warranties and they hate to pay out .

Usually a warranty will cover transmission faults and especially if they car has been made immobile through the fault .

Write to the warranty company and state that you will be going to trading standards with a complaint about the warranty and would they please supply you with the engineers report that they must have had from their assessor looking at the problem .

I do independent inspections for just these circumstances and i also do reports in anticipation for any legal proceedings that may follow .

I am sorry but i could not take up your case but i will give you advice on how to proceed if you wish to go forward with this .

Don't let them get away with it most of them think you will just get it repaired and not bother with pursuing it but if you are prepared to stick it out you will win i assure you .

Hope this helps

mail me if you need more advice