Melbourne D2 recommend smash repairer please ?

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Originally Posted by johntins

Right there is the problem. This is precisely the issue I fought with the RAA about my sister's car. The people you deal with at first level are robots. They follow what's on the screen. My sister had had her Golf for 14 years, and she had got it originally from my mother, who bought it new. Irrelevant, I know, but a statement of process. The damage was assessed as more than 80% of the value: determination, write off. Car goes on to the register, and can not be re registered, so no point in buying the wreck. This is precisely where they play the not RW card. Crap. Your insurer has no authority over RWC, that is the authority of VicRoads.

My 74 year old sister was devastated, especially as the car was actually driveable. I fought them on the phone for about a day, which isn't actually hard if you keep your temper. She wound up with a cheque, the panel shop wound up with a job, the car is better than it was before ( it needed a new radiator, which it now has ) and she has found a better insurer. That last one is tough, as there are really only about 5 underwriters, and all the advertising is just that; crap.

Matt, their purpose is to wear you down. I don't understand it, unless there is some conspiracy to get older cars off the road. Fight them. Why on earth do you pay insurance if it isn't to preserve the things that are important to you? Prepare to not enjoy yourself though. It isn't fun. Demand to speak to the assessor. Explain your attachment to your car. Point out that the quote you have quotes for new parts, and that you have people who can help with SH parts.

Once again, I wish you luck. If you fail, please let me know where your car gets sent, as I know it has a good auto and T/C.

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Oh, and if it gets to auction, it will be deemed as a SRW. Bet they didn't tell you that. It means that the VIN will not be registrable, due to the anti rebirthing laws. Talk about unintended consequences. Who would bother to rebirth a 2000 VW Golf, let alone a D2?

My view is it will be classed as a repairable write off (limitation is 15 years I believe) so worth checking the compliance plate date.

edit: do they have two levels of write off in your state, repairable and statutory write off.

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Originally Posted by thai_tiger

My view is it will be classed as a repairable write off (limitation is 15 years I believe) so worth checking the compliance plate date.

edit: do they have two levels of write off in your state, repairable and statutory write off.

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Victoria used to be good on this, unlike NSW. Now, it's harder. No reason not to fight though. Lie down and die.

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Originally Posted by johntins

Victoria used to be good on this, unlike NSW. Now, it's harder. No reason not to fight though. Lie down and die.

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My eldest son's old Pulsar was 15 years and 1 week old at time of an accident and was put written off, even though it was only a few panels to replace. Vic roads was good they said it was ridiculous and took it off the repairable write off when I phoned and I repaired it myself. It was an over zealous other parties insurance company that did this to us.

Great comments and an interesting topic it has become. My day job is underwriting aircraft in Asia, I love it, trying to pick the good risks, and usually it is all about the pilots, but talk to the assessors and they are usually now of the opinion that a computer flying an aircraft is a safer bet.

One claim I had in Papua, we got a bill for the slaughtering of 50 pigs to bless the search party before they headed out to hunt for the missing plane !! Associated costs ! I love a good fight with an insurance company, if you know your rights, and stick to them and say you are willing to take it all the way to the ombudsman, you usually get their wholehearted attention. The assessor I am talking to was ok and said it’s good to keep cars on the road when you can. The previous owner of my car was an airline pilot, there was not one crinkle on any invoice, totally anal, FSH and hence it got my money. Some insurers do try it on, we as an industry sadly have earned ourselves a bad rap, but always stick to your guns and say you will keep going as far as it takes. At this point I think I should be ok, and yes Johntins it has a lovely TC in it that I want to keep !!! I know I have said it before but every owner of a TD5 auto should get one if budget permits. Over and out for now. Matt.

Quick Update, Truck still in repair shop, but repairer has been great. He has told me Land Rovers need a lot of love and time, so another week to go. The repair cost was $8k, insurers budget was $7,200, but we made it work. Gerard the repairer has done nothing else in life other than panel beat, worked previously for RR, Bentley and Aston Martin, loves to,repair Land Rovers but kept stressing they need love and it takes longer than other cars, most repairers don’t want to touch them.

I was told it was a certain write off if I had chosen a LR dealer as their cost would have been nearer $15k, just new parts for everything, no repairs. So continue to catch the bus and train which I am totally over and cannot wait to get my baby back, after over a month and getting a car back with zero dents and scratches for first time ever is very exciting, like a new car, but this is a special Land Rover, modified exactly how I want it, and they are built to last forever, unlike most cars we see on the road today. Tick tock........

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Originally Posted by surfingooner

Quick Update, Truck still in repair shop, but repairer has been great. He has told me Land Rovers need a lot of love and time, so another week to go. The repair cost was $8k, insurers budget was $7,200, but we made it work. Gerard the repairer has done nothing else in life other than panel beat, worked previously for RR, Bentley and Aston Martin, loves to,repair Land Rovers but kept stressing they need love and it takes longer than other cars, most repairers don’t want to touch them.

I was told it was a certain write off if I had chosen a LR dealer as their cost would have been nearer $15k, just new parts for everything, no repairs. So continue to catch the bus and train which I am totally over and cannot wait to get my baby back, after over a month and getting a car back with zero dents and scratches for first time ever is very exciting, like a new car, but this is a special Land Rover, modified exactly how I want it, and they are built to last forever, unlike most cars we see on the road today. Tick tock........

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Good to hear mate [thumbsupbig]
Im surprised it worked out but still a good outcome for you any way[wink11]

Bit late updating, but I got her back last weekend. It has taken 8 weeks, but looks better than ever has. I got a dent in the rear panel done also, the front all straight, first time ever, bull bar was repaired and welded and now everything fits like it should, even put me LED bulbs back in.

So all in all a very happy ending, and a big shout to Gerard at Perfect Panels, he refuses to be rushed, but he does a grand job. He said it really should have been written off, the amount of hours he had to pout in, and in the end there was no profit in it for him.

So to finish my tale with thanks for the Perfect Panels recommendation, if you do have a dink, choose a repairer carefully if you want to get your car back. LR parts are expensive, and insurers now very quick to write our beloved vehicles off, it doesn't take much.

If you use a repairer who will just buy new and replace everything, you will have a write-off on your hands very quickly. If you want to get your car back, try and find an established LR repair specialist.

Thanks for all the comments along the way, and a happy ending to this story.

Matt.