Stillo potential WRITE OFF help ! questions / Advice

[Crazy Horses]

Hi all. My 2005 1.4 yellow Stillo has been declared a write off. For all my years driving ( I'm 37 ) I've never made a claim so please help me out as this all seems a little odd.
It was vandalised and badly scratched along one entire side, deeply. The scratch pretty much runs the entire passenger side of the car. Just for good measure they've also dented the drivers side roof.
Now I've just been informed that the car's repairs exceed the value of the car ( which they say is £1,100 ), but if I was to just let them do the scratch the insurance would cover the damage and the car would not be written off.
I'm a bit pissed because the bloody dent wasn't there before. But I only bought the car 6 months ago for £2,000 and obviously I'm going to be out of pocket if I let them write it off as they'll probably only offer me £800.

 

[dozer]

They've already said it's worth £1100 so that's a start. Could you get a few quotes and maybe a secondhand door. Or let them write it off and but it back from them and get it done yourself??

 

[Crazy Horses]

They don't give you the option of buying it back, which is a shame. £1,100 seems okish, but that's the value. They'll offer me lower. Pretty sure I'm just gonna have to let them do the scratch. The damage is across 4 panels, front wing, door, rear quarter and bumper.

 

[dave]

i'd cancel the claim and just get a back street body shop to fix it, if you claim its going to put your insurance up for 5 years

 

[Crazy Horses]

My no claims is protected and shouldn't be affected. I do have to pay the excess though. It just sounds a little odd getting a call from Nationwide ( Whom I'm not with ) asking me the value of my car and then telling me the dent in the roof pushes the car over the value. Is this the norm' ?

 

[dave]

ah can see you havent claimed before. you insurance will still go up because you have made a claim, your ncd then comes off the new price.

 

[Crazy Horses]

You're joking ? Seems I'm out of pocket whichever way I choose.

 

[dave]

nope not joking, they got us by the balls and wont let go.
either way you are out of pocket you just have to work out what way is cheaper.

put some photos up of the work that needs doing.

ive sent a link to this thread to a member who paints cars cheap but i'm not sure how far they are from you

 

[Crazy Horses]

It's down to the metal on all panels. To be honest I just don't have the cash to get it done privately. A mates offered to do the paintwork for £480 + vat and that's bloody cheap. What's the process if I take the loss and let them write it off ?

 

[Crazy Horses]

They've valued my car at £1,100 so I'll probably see £850, lol. I could use that cash towards a 1.9 or 2.4 Stilo, just had a quick look on Ebay.
OR
If I let them fix it I've gotta put nearly £200 down for excess. But I get the car back and fixed.
Arrrgghhh. It's a pickle.

 

[Crazy Horses]

Ok, so was thinking about letting them write it off, but after speaking to 1 of the guys in the call centre. It goes like this, they'll send an estimater round to look at the car. He'll come up with a figure prior accident ( Usually Parker related ), the insurance company will take out any monthly debits owing and my excess and offer me what remains.
Doesn't really leave me a choice.

 

[dave]

A mates offered to do the paintwork for £480 + vat and that's bloody cheap. What's the process if I take the loss and let them write it off ?

how much will he charge if you do all the prep?

 

[Crazy Horses]

Thanks to all who've responded to my post's. Had only until end of play today to give an answer on what to do. Initially I think I would have liked to take the cash and get something new, but after finding out the excess and remaining debits would be taken out on top, it would barely leave me with £500 to get something else. So no real choice but to let them do the work and get the dent pulled later on. Just gotta hope Karma deals a cruel hand to the little scum bag / bags who did it and my insurance doesn't doesn't spank me too hard when I renew.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

My no claims is protected and shouldn't be affected.

Thats exactly what it is, a NCD protection, not a premium protection

you insurance will still go up because you have made a claim, your ncd then comes off the new price.

:yeahthat:

You're joking?

Nope, how it has always worked.

Who you insured with. They sound like a crap insurance company not allowing you to buy back the salvage, and taking your remaining payments if written off. Sounds like one of the budget special insurance companies

 

[Crazy Horses]

Accepted it as a life lesson. Hastings. It's booked in for the end of the month. Won't be staying with them come renewal.

 

[Crazy Horses]

The estimator valued the car at £1,100 book price. The insurance company told me to expect a lower offer minus the voluntary and mandatory excess and also any instalments reamining. It's a jolly world.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

The estimator valued the car at £1,100 book price. The insurance company told me to expect a lower offer

Why

The market value is the market value, this is what they're obliged to pay out