An update on team Army Landrovers

We seem to be getting one kicking after another! Been told today that the car will be a cat b write off and won't be allowed back on the road because of abi guidelines:-(
What is really soul destroying is that the assessor who inspected the vehicle was happy to recommend a cat c but was overruled by his team leader.

I am incensed we have failed not because of a lack of effort or engineering ability but because of arse covering industry codes of practice that, as far as I can tell, have no legal standing.
That the claims handler didn't tell me this a week ago when they verbally agreed for us to undertake repair work has resulted in us putting another £400 and two man weeks of work into the vehicle for no reason at all...they have admitted the mistake and will pay for the materials used but they cannot give us back the wasted time.

I have been trying throughout to keep any claim to a minimum but I am now going to go through the vehicle and claim everything covered by the policy as a matter of principle now.

What all this does mean is that my initial unease over accepting any of the hugely generous offers of loan vehicles has been confirmed. It is bad enough dealing with this for our own vehicle. If it was someone elses I don't know how I would cope!

So it's back to looking for a vehicle! The quality will depend on the amount the insurance agrees on Monday but watch this space!

OUTRAGEOUS

Can you appeal?

Words (unusually) fail me on this. Gutted for you guys. I'll say no more at this stage.

Unashamably stolen from another forum (Pistonheads):

Quote :

Hmmm interesting THIS is a document I look at a lot, but I guess I've always skipped over the A/B categories -
"Salvage disposers should use their best endeavours that Category A and B vehicle's do not go back on the road."

The insurers will use a member organisation which WILL crush A cat vehicles, and will break B class vehicles, but the private individual is under no obligation to - merely that they should have a VIC done.

Still, as others have said, the resale value of a Cat B vehicle will more than likely be nil.

Highly recommend you speak to the Customer Relations/ team manager/area motor engineer as you shouldn't accept it's classification as Cat B if he's already said that if the insurer were keeping it it would be C or D!

Don't give up - water damage IS NOT enough to warrant a CAT B unless it's severely damaged or of low value.

I like the bit about "the private individual is under no obligation to - merely that they should have a VIC done" - this could be your get out.

Yes but not in time to do anything with the car before the rally. There are still two days work needed on it and we are both working full time from Monday right up to the rally so it is now too late.

Gutted....again.

Sorry for the double post, but we crossed in hyperspace !!!!

nickburt wrote:

Unashamably stolen from another forum (Pistonheads):

Quote :

Hmmm interesting THIS is a document I look at a lot, but I guess I've always skipped over the A/B categories -
"Salvage disposers should use their best endeavours that Category A and B vehicle's do not go back on the road."

The insurers will use a member organisation which WILL crush A cat vehicles, and will break B class vehicles, but the private individual is under no obligation to - merely that they should have a VIC done.

Still, as others have said, the resale value of a Cat B vehicle will more than likely be nil.

Highly recommend you speak to the Customer Relations/ team manager/area motor engineer as you shouldn't accept it's classification as Cat B if he's already said that if the insurer were keeping it it would be C or D!

Don't give up - water damage IS NOT enough to warrant a CAT B unless it's severely damaged or of low value.

I like the bit about "the private individual is under no obligation to - merely that they should have a VIC done" - this could be your get out.

Let them know its OK we will go with the rental till its sorted out dont forget the Like for like and that you will out of the country for a couple of weeks on a road run across Europe. A nice new shiney Disco 4 winch equiped etc will cost them a fair few quid for a couple of weeks

Nick,
You are indeed right...I was reading that very post myself this morning. While the guidelines have no legal standing we have been told that we will not be given insurance on the vehicle. It is crazy, I can build a vehicle out of a pile of bits and get insurance on just an MOT but because of the intertwined structure of the insurance industry 'club' they can get away with whatever they like.

Tony / Helen,
I wish....the great thing about a motor trade policy is I can drive what I like. The downside is that they won't even pay up for tools etc in the truck and hire cars etc are a definite no no.

Garethep wrote:

Tony / Helen,
I wish....the great thing about a motor trade policy is I can drive what I like. The downside is that they won't even pay up for tools etc in the truck and hire cars etc are a definite no no.

Shame Just get a standard Disco with Leather and Aircon change the oil and filters and it will be good to go Dont worry about all the Bulb kits etc it will be fine. A couple of spares wouldnt go amiss though

Gareth,
if need be the offer of my 90 is still available! It should MOT with no issues! Let me know n I'll get it through a test if your interested!

D

99claydond wrote:

Gareth,
if need be the offer of my 90 is still available! It should MOT with no issues! Let me know n I'll get it through a test if your interested!

D

Same too here I have a ex mil 90, ex mil lt/wt( (you will not have time to get this one ready ), ex mil ffr 110 and an ex mill 110 if you need one pm me.

Stuart here

My hands are clamped to the side of my head and I am rocking back and forth in the corner. Mumbling "I will go on the rally, I will go on the rally" (Surely this delirium has started early as I've been told it's not supposed to kick in till the second or third night). We shall overcome. Adapt, improvise and overcome. Inveritate religious confido. Nisi dominus frustra. Serve to lead Ect ect (did I start talking in tongues or am I regressing to previous insanities)

Good news and bad news is we raised a bit less than we expected last Saturday but it is still just a few pence shy of £500 for the pot.

A double strike on local telco stores tomorrow.

Guys, your determination should be a life lesson to us all.

I wish I could offer more than a few words on here.

BUT

Where there's a will, there's a way.

See ya at the start.

Have you thought of going to a solicitor who's "into" motor insurance and get an appeal off the ground. Two weeks is a short time, but a lot can be made to happen.

Guys,
Thanks for all the support, both on here and via email. Having had a day to think about it and had another look at the car we are all convinced there is no genuine reason the disco shouldn't do the rally. However, we are out of our depth when it comes to the legalities of all this and with no time to catch up. If we haven't won the argument by Tuesday then we will have to look for a replacement vehicle. So, if anyone has any good hard information....particularly the full Abi technical guidance notes, that could help we would be very glad to hear from you. Failing that if anyone has a cheap mot'ed vehicle for sale then again please let us know.

While I am fairly certain we could win the argument, I don't think we could do it it time without some "insider information".

Yesterday I had completely given up on the truck and had started to look for alternatives but we have quickly come to the conclusion that there are extremely few suitable vehicles even within 100 miles and none that are anywhere near as good as the disco. So I've extended the decision point till Tuesday while simultaneously searching for a replacement. We have nothing to lose now but could do with advice on how to take on "the collective"


Cheers

Gareth

£348 raised in Tesco Dumfries by Helen Gareth and Tom from team Galloway

Also £517 raised by my bag packing cadets at Tesco Lockerbie so a good day had by all.

Guess you've probably already got these.

ABI homepage.

Probably not being much help here, but ..........

Thanks nick,

Yes I had seen those but thanks for the help. What I really need is someone who has the whole document that has an extract shown on the other thread you linked to the other day. Unfortunately it is the kind of document that those in possession will want to keep to themselves I suspect!

I honestly don't know our chances in the short term but as I said.....nothing to lose!

Cheers

Gareth

Guys,
There is a guy i know who has a 200tdi disco sat on his drive! I dont know how much for/if with mot but i'll have a chat with him tomorrow and let u know!
i'd be willing to drive it to ya as well!
if not - then loan of the 90 (which is for sale) is there too! but as per usual defenders shes a lot more expensive than a disco!

Fantastic on the fundraising too! its so unfair this has happened to you guys!

Dan

Stuart - That's a great result re Tescos; well done and of course our thanks to all those who helped you and the generosity of Tescos' customers.

Let's hope for some good news for you re the/a vehicle.

Dan,
You sir are a gentleman! Please do let us know about the disco.

Many thanks

Gareth

gareth.

cant get hold of my mate andy at the moment,

I'll pop over n see him tomorrow and see what the score is!

D

Guys, well done on the fund raising, can't believe what I have been reading, words fail me, keep the faith, you have been through so much, you will be a the start line, good luck Dee x

keeping all crossed for you guys!!!!!!!!

see u at the start!!
xx

Well after a bit of treading water and loads of thinking, soul searching and not to mention eBay searching we have come up with two vehicles we like as the disco replacements.

EBay listing numbers 270758850566 and 290573094678. The first one is in Farnham, Surrey the second is Oldham, manchester ish. Is there anybody close who could give a quick once over of either car. Yes they are both discoveries so even a general look from a fellow Mitsubishi owner would be great fully received.

The Farnham one has a day and a half left to run so it might be a quick look literally.

Stuart