Would i be in my rights to screw my insurance company?

[cuffy]

As some of you know i wrote the bike off in mid September, my insurance company paid up very quick after i had sent off all the documents and keys, they then said they'd arrange for someone to pick the bike up.
Now after 50 days and numerous phone calls the bike is still in my garage taking up space that i need.
Do i:
A) Refuse to release the bike until they pay me a storage fee. (Legal point of view please Ed :D)

B) Take anything that's of any value off the bike then leave it outside, saying the local chav's must've stripped it down.

C) Leave it outside then phone the police and tell them someone has dumped a bike outside my house.

Cuffy

[pookie]

i think written communication with a signed for timestamp to their head quarters would help your case if you needed proof that you notified them.

[plowsie]

I like option B cuffster. Be the best way to go. Of course, write to them one last time and notify them of your planned actions, I can guarantee someone will come over and get it for them.

EDIT: Make sure you send a guaranteed signed for aswell, you have confirmation that they have got the letter then :)

[Dappa D]

personally id go with B, but call the insurance and tell them you no longer have space and that it will be moved outside, that way they have the option of removing it. then strip it of the nice bits.

edit..yes write sorry not call!!!

[Ceri JC]

How badly written off is it? Might be worth making them an insultingly low offer to keep it and see if they bite, then break it for parts. Even a couple of hundred quid may work out cheaper for them than salvage value after sending someone out to pick it up.

[cuffy]

How badly written off is it? Might be worth making them an insultingly low offer to keep it and see if they bite, then break it for parts. Even a couple of hundred quid may work out cheaper for them than salvage value after sending someone out to pick it up.
It's mainly cosmetic, all plastics, twisted sub frame.

[kwak zzr]

i'd go "A" send them a letter just saying from such a date you will be charging storage fees, or you will kindly take it off there hands for nothing then ebay the parts.

[Daimo]

Keep hold of it.

My dad had the same issue with a GSXR600. Bike shop (was a friend) kept hold of it for 6 months and no-one collected it.

So my dad took it home, replaired it, done all the legal stuff, then sold it for aobut £3k.

Never heard anything again. But he did send them letters and such stating if no-one picked it up from the garage withing x time it would be removed. Heard nothing back ever, so took it home again.

[squirrel_hunter]

I'll give you £4.76 for it?

[cuffy]

Yet more phone calls and false promises have been made.
Patience is running thin now, sarcastic e mail time :D


Dear Sir/Madam.
I am writing to you in a faint hope that you might reply to this e mail quicker than it takes you to answer your phones.
I have called on numerous occasions trying to sort out the collection of my motorbike (CN06DFL)
This was written off by yourselves on the 20/09/08, you have received all my documents and keys which were signed for on the 26/09/08.
I was told that you would be in touch to as and when you would be relieving me of my vehicle.
I have yet to receive any instruction as to when your salvage company are coming to pick the bike up.
Although I have been told. More than once. That the matter is “In hand”

The said vehicle has now been sat in my garage for 50 days, if this isn’t resolved within the next 24hours I will be charging you £10 a day storage fee from the day I received payment and will not release the bike until all fees are settled.
And unfortunately for yourselves I will be out of the country from the 19/11/08 and return 05/12/08 so this will mean you will incur further storages fees.

I wait with anticipation for your rapid response.
Regards
Rob Turner

Lets see what happens :rolleyes:

[New Leaf]

hmm - a bit rude innit?

You'd be more likely to get a helpful response if you are polite but firm.

[cuffy]

hmm - a bit rude innit?

You'd be more likely to get a helpful response if you are polite but firm.
After umpteen phone calls,e mails and being passed from pillar to post the polite stage has gone out the window.
They've even admitted themselves that they're not the worlds best at picking up the phone at that their helpdesk is hard too reach.

[plowsie]

I think it is perfectly viable. I've sent worse to product providers for work :)

[TSM]

ahh, you did a problem, you cant retroactivly apply storage costs as they were not aware of the costs at the start, so at most, they are possably liable from the point you told them.

[Lozzo]

hmm - a bit rude innit?

You'd be more likely to get a helpful response if you are polite but firm.

It's an insurance company, they don't understand polite. If they did they wouldn't insult you at every turn with their premiums and paltry offers when you need to claim.

[Lozzo]

After umpteen phone calls,e mails and being passed from pillar to post the polite stage has gone out the window.
They've even admitted themselves that they're not the worlds best at picking up the phone at that their helpdesk is hard too reach.

I'd send them a simple letter stating you require the bike collecting and send it by recorded delivery - don't give them a time frame within which to collect it. I'm pretty sure that if they don't collect within 26 weeks of the letter being issued it automatically reverts back to your ownership.

If you have no desire to keep the bike then just dump it outside, why waste valuable storage space on some bent bike you'll never use again. If the insco don't collect it then that's their lookout, not yours.

[SV-net]

Cuffy we are all interested in the outcome of this situation. Dont forget the updates please.
By the way I dont think your email was rude at all. It was factual (I assume) and to the point, at the end of the day these people are not your mates now are they. But you should have written a letter by recorded post.

I would suggest a closure on the letter with an offer of a few hundred quid.

[natcar]

B then A then C
Sell the useful parts then charge them storage for the bent frame lying next to the bins?