Auxillis / Principia

[StonedPenguin]

Hi there,

I could really use some advice if anyone can help...

In May 2023 someone crashed into my empty parked car outside my house and wrote it off, the police attended the scene and had both cars recovered.

That day when I got home I spoke to my insurers and they said ''It's clear cut that the other driver is 100% at fault, would you like a hire car from Auxillis that will be paid for by the 3rd party insurance company?'' I agreed as I needed a car to get to work,kids etc etc.

They put me through to Auxillis who say they will supply a car like-for-like until either my car is repaired or I get paid out, they supplied a Merc. About 4 weeks later I get told my car is a write off and offered a payout which I accepted, Auxillis notify me that I have the car for 1 more week after the insurance payout.. I get paid out and they collect the car, I had the car for a total of 5 weeks.

I read some paperwork they left with me stating the cost for the hire is £19,150, for 5 weeks!!!

Fast forward about 6 months and I start getting Emails from Principia law firm, telling me they're representing me to get Auxillis's hire car costs back from the 3rd party insurer who was disputing the costs (Principia are owned by the same company Auxillis are owned by!!) stating that essentially I have to do everything they say, may have to attend court, answer many many questions regarding whether I actually needed the hire car at all or I will be liable for the costs if I didn't do everything requested Supply 8 months of Bank statements from 1 month before accident to 7 months after to prove if I could've afforded to hire a car myself!

They also want to know when I purchased my replacement car, what make/model it is and registration.. Frankly I believe this is none of thier business what I did with the payout from the insurance (I bought a motorhome if its any relevance)

After sending them the requested bank statements last August and hearing nothing since, they've popped up again today informing me whoever was handling my case has left the company and someone new is handling it and asking me to answer all the original questions I've already answered, plus more questions such as:
9) If you had been given a less prestigious or smaller vehicle, would you have accepted this? - I didn't request a specific vehicle, they said we're giving you like-for-like and I said ok.. (it was a BMW M4 that was written off)
10) Was the Mercedes-Benz E Class suitable for your needs?

They're picking things out from my bank statements for example, payments to my credit card.. and then requesting my credit card statements.. Why would I use my credit card and be charged interest to hire a car after my insurers offered me a hire car from Auxillis on the basis they would claim it back from the 3rd party insurers?

Should I just keep doing what they request as it's really starting to **** me off now? or should I go see a solicitor?

 

[tom_e]

Go and see a solicitor.

 

[radderfire]

I'm not a legal expert but here's my view.

Your insurance company told you that the hire car would be paid for by the other insurance company, so they are at fault.

What has happened obviously is that the other insurance company thinks it's being ripped off, which it is really, and it's legally challenging Auxillis. Auxillis now needs your help to fight their legal case against the other insurance company. However, is this something you agreed to do? No you didn't, because you were just advised by your insurance company that it would be paid. Therefore, I'm not sure whether you have any obligation to help them, you probably don't, but they need your help otherwise they will lose their case.

It really depends who is liable for the hire bill, but that should not be you if your insurance company told you it would be paid.

I'm not a solicitor though ... so you may need professional advice.

 

[pastymuncher]

Go and see a solicitor because I believe that in a worst case scenario you can be held liable for the cost of the hire car. Is it not a conflict of interests that the two companies have the same owner?

 

[radderfire]

What paperwork did you sign to get the hire car? Have you checked it to see what it says about the liability for cost of hire?

 

[jpaul]

[ a continuation of comments/issue in earlier thread https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/auxillis-experience.18987388/ that had links on the issue ]

bit surprised you'd contend sending them your bank statements & other info - without some compulsion, following posts in earlier thread

 

[Dandle]

I had almost the same experience. My wifes car was hit in a swimming pool by someone who drove into her. I took the car to BMW who said that if it was non fault then they could go through their accisent management and it wouldnt effect our no claims. They saw the dashcam footage and agreed to process the claim. They gave me an M240i while her car was in for repair(the only petrol car that BMW had). The car was repaired and returned about two to three weeks later and we didnt hear anything for about a year and half.
Then we get a letter from a solicitor acting for Auxillis (Principa law) asking for bank statements and credit card statements. I replied refusing to give them those documents as my ability to hire a replacement car was irrelivant, they offered me the car after taking on the case. The hire costs were something like £350 a day they were claiming for, this was hidden in the small print at the time of signing.
It bounced backwards and forwards a few times with different info and I even replied at one point that what they were doing was morally wrong and i could understand the claimant disputing the costs. In the end it got settled at a lesser amount and I heard no more.