Anyone used A plan insurance for a claim??

[jase k]

Right, Had a shunt with a telegraph pole on mon 22 jan 07 damaging drivers door and cill, both drivers side wheels and any possible suspension damage as well?? I own a 2001 chameleon blue tuscan and have given the car to a local specialist to sort out the damage! (company well known on here so will not discredit them at the moment) My insurance company A plan (brokers) Groupama insurance co who have been great phoning me up asking where my garages estimate is? so they can authorise the work to be carried out! they seem to be really on the ball. They have recommended a repairer called "National crash repair centre".... which are a national co who deal with a lot of groupamas claims. The problem i have is wether this company will be capable of carrying out the repair work to my car to a high standard??? Or do i leave it with the company who have the car now but have failed to even send an estimate to my insurance company and therefore prolonging the length that i will be without the car, and not having any idea as to when i will get the car back?? Has anyone had a repair done by National craah repair centre? And if so was it any good?? Any help re A plan would be of assistance to me, and i will keep you all informed as to how it all turns out!!
Cheers for any replys

Edited by jase k on Wednesday 31st January 21:49

[zippee]

You can insist on having your car repaired at a garage of your choice - obviously insurers have to agree quotes though.
You want to find out if the 'National Crash repair' centre specialises in fibreglass (I bet they don't).
When my car needed some work in 05 my insurers tried to insist I use their authorised repair centre - on phoning them they stated they'd never touch GRP. Insurers still tried to insist otherwise though.

Would be interested to hear if this goes well for you as I'm with A-Plan myself. Where abouts in the coutry are you - are there any other reputable TVR body specialists you can use?

[gazzab]

You have to be patient with a TVR repair particularly if they need parts over and above filler and paint. Can take many weeks !

[350wedge]

Its a shame you're not further down this way. I'm with A Plan and Groupama on my Griff. When i needed some work doing their national repair centre wouldnt even look at the griff because its fibreglass.

They just told me to find someone who could do the job properly, to which i picked the V8 Centre in High Wycombe. They just sent an assessor out to the car after the V8 Centre provided a quote to do the work. They approved the quote and the V8 centre just got on with it. All went very smoothly from start to finish really.

[jase k]

Cheers for that 350 wedge... Its encouraging that all went smoothly with the insurance co, the problem i have at the moment is that my local tvr specialist has not provided an estimate for the work (even though i have been in nearly every day to check this) so they will not send an assesor to look at the work req!!(its just been sat there for getting on for 2 weeks now) My current MOT runs out on 7th feb 07 and i have private reg on my car, the garage says it may be a write off?? but without a decision from the insurance co cannot be sure. But if the car is written off and my mot expires will i loose my plate?? I am not prepared for this to happen as the reg was a gift from the wife!! So i either need to move the car to another garage who will do estimate immediatly and therefore get a decision quicker or waste e few quid and time transfering plate onto retention, which could be a waste of time and money if car is repaired... I have heard of a SORN which declares the car off the road? dont know anything about this and am wondering wether this will give me more time and allow me to tranfer the plate to another car if its written off? NOTHING IS EVER EASY!!

[Griffter]

Get checking that plate issue NOW. I may be wrong but I think you can't transfer a plate unless a vehicle is MOT'd. And you won't get an MOT on a write-off...
You could stick it on retention - which will cost you - but at least if the car gets written off you've got the plate.

As I say I may be wrong - or the DVLA may make allowances for situations like yours. But I'd check soon as if I were you.

[jase k]

Have phoned DVLA who say that i can transfer the plate after the mot has expired for up to 12 months after or whilst the car is still taxed (end nov 07). The SORN document is for cars that are off road and not taxed (apparently) so does not apply to my situation, according to DVLA. I asked her 3 times "are you sure i can transfer the plate if the insurance co write the vehicle off" which she kept repeating.. yes for up to 12 months after your MOT runs out! So it looks like i am going to have to put my faith into some women in preston dvla office that she is correct?? anyone had a similar experience??