The fact that you got a car means that blame has been admitted. When I was on the receiving end of exactly the same accident (Same damage too!) helphire did bugger all for me. So did my insurance company. Nothing at all. I had to get solicitors involved to fight.
Accident – is wife’s car a write off?
- Thread starter Five_Star
- Start date
Just an update, we have been told that the 3rd party has admitted fault and her insurer is going to pay up.
Also the Direct Line engineer has said they will repair the Focus and might even have it done by the end of the week!
That does seem rather fast to be honest (I’m actually enjoying the Golf HelpHire provided a bit too much) Is there anything I should look out for when receiving the Focus back? I assume we’ll have to sign for the car confirming the work is to a good standard and we are happy. What if we aren’t?
Also the Direct Line engineer has said they will repair the Focus and might even have it done by the end of the week!
That does seem rather fast to be honest (I’m actually enjoying the Golf HelpHire provided a bit too much) Is there anything I should look out for when receiving the Focus back? I assume we’ll have to sign for the car confirming the work is to a good standard and we are happy. What if we aren’t?
Good luck getting this all sorted. I know from experience what a nightmare these situations can be. If in doubt, or if you start getting messed about, contact a no win no fee claims solicitor. No, not just for your wife's newly developed 'whiplash'...
They're actually super to have around for the insurance side. After my accident (non fault
) my insurer were pants. They left me sat by the roadside, injured, for four hours waiting for a recovery truck, and then told me I was "too young" (23 at the time) for a courtesy/hire car 
Eventually after speaking to a manager I got offered a Ford Ka (haha) that was wet through inside (seriously!) and stunk of mould, and had a bent rim on the nearside wheel so bad my (mechanic) brother in law said VOSA would impound it if they saw it!The hour after I hired a claims solicitor I had a brand new Mondeo estate delivered to my door at the other side's expense, and everything I needed was done ASAP by phone
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Well it's been sorted, quite quick as well I think.
They have repaired the Focus, seem to have done a good job, new front wheel, front wing, bumper bonnet, passenger door and new lights. Haven’t had chance to look under the bonnet, I suspect they have also replaced the radiator as on the morning it was supposed to be returned they called to cancel as all the water fell out of the cooling system
It drives just like it did, ride feels harder, but I suspect it's just the difference coming from the Golf.
Helphire have also been awesome with the hire car, it's just a shame it's got to go back.
They have repaired the Focus, seem to have done a good job, new front wheel, front wing, bumper bonnet, passenger door and new lights. Haven’t had chance to look under the bonnet, I suspect they have also replaced the radiator as on the morning it was supposed to be returned they called to cancel as all the water fell out of the cooling system
It drives just like it did, ride feels harder, but I suspect it's just the difference coming from the Golf.
Helphire have also been awesome with the hire car, it's just a shame it's got to go back.
Soldato
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Just noticed this. I work around there and the amount close calls I've seen on the roads around that areas is unreal. It was only a matter of time before someone got hit, am sorry that it was your wife 
They really need to sort out the roads around there as there are loads of new businesses popping up and it is starting to cause major problems I find getting in and out of the area.
They really need to sort out the roads around there as there are loads of new businesses popping up and it is starting to cause major problems I find getting in and out of the area.
Just noticed this. I work around there and the amount close calls I've seen on the roads around that areas is unreal. It was only a matter of time before someone got hit, am sorry that it was your wife
They really need to sort out the roads around there as there are loads of new businesses popping up and it is starting to cause major problems I find getting in and out of the area.
Slightly off topic and rather Middlesbrough specific but I have noticed that since the new college opened the traffic flow has gone up massively and all the free parking has gone. The road alterations they are doing are well behind schedule. Trying to leave at 5pm is impossible, it's quicker to leave at 6pm and get the hours overtime in!
It was actually better when people didn't venture 'over the border' as it was quieter and you just ignored the pro’s and drunks, progress I guess
Soldato
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I don't thankfully have to venture that far down near the college, but quite a few people at work have complained about it since it has opened. The problem I have is the bottelneck at Metz Bridge coming off the industrial estate 
My biggest gripe was I was just starting to enjoy a nice trouble free drive home and they have started doing more work on the A66 (the 30zone just by the A19) and now has it goes back to national it instantly is back to 50 from where practically all the way to Darlington is being worked on
My biggest gripe was I was just starting to enjoy a nice trouble free drive home and they have started doing more work on the A66 (the 30zone just by the A19) and now has it goes back to national it instantly is back to 50 from where practically all the way to Darlington is being worked on
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Soldato
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I don't thankfully have to venture that far down near the college, but quite a few people at work have complained about it since it has opened. The problem I have is the bottelneck at Metz Bridge coming off the industrial estate
My biggest gripe was I was just starting to enjoy a nice trouble free drive home and they have started doing more work on the A66 (the 30zone just by the A19) and now has it goes back to national it instantly is back to 50 from where practically all the way to Darlington is being worked on
I have to travel down the A66 to our other office and it's absolute nightmare.
I find myself using the parkway more often because of it! Even though it add 10/15 minutes onto the journey.
Just a shame that they will invoice the other persons insurance some ridiculously high ammount for their "services", including extortionate hire car rates, which in turn pushes our premiums up.
To elborate, i bumped into the back of somebody. It had a slight scratch to which i offered to pay cash for. I just had a cracked numberplate which cost £10 to replace
What did they claim off my insurance company ? nearly 4 and a half grand !!
They replaced the bumper at cost of £1500, then hire car costs on top of over £3000.
vs my £10 ...
yah right.
In your case common sense would have been the better alternative, but in our case as through no fault of my wife’s our car was made un-driveable I don't see any problem with it, this is what we all pay insurance for.
Besides it was the other drivers fault, their mistake and they should pay for it. They have inconvenienced me and my wife and even with the hire car and the free repair of our car (which isn't as it should have been but that’s another thread) it’s still an inconvenience we could have done without.
Plus if you want to talk about insurance going up now we've been involved in an accident through no fault other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time our insurance will also go up.
Besides it was the other drivers fault, their mistake and they should pay for it. They have inconvenienced me and my wife and even with the hire car and the free repair of our car (which isn't as it should have been but that’s another thread) it’s still an inconvenience we could have done without.
Plus if you want to talk about insurance going up now we've been involved in an accident through no fault other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time our insurance will also go up.
my grieviance is not that you've had a hire car
more at the extortionate prices helphire so gleefully pass on to the insurers. Afterall, helphire are a business and such need to make a profit. Therein lies the problem, they're making a profit, which in turn pushes our premiums up.
more at the extortionate prices helphire so gleefully pass on to the insurers. Afterall, helphire are a business and such need to make a profit. Therein lies the problem, they're making a profit, which in turn pushes our premiums up.
Soldato
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I am not sure how much the car is worth - but for the damage of a steering rack, front wing + a new bumper, a new light plus touching up of the door, blend paint into bonnet and door, you'd be looking at no more than £2500 I think. The door is fine it just won't open because the wing is deformed. I doubt there is any damage to the engine bay, wings are designed to take a hit from the side.