At fault claim through AAMI - Booked at Capital Smart - What are my options?

I will probably have to call AAMI to ask some of these questions but I thought I would see if any ozbargainers had some experience that might help me.

I had an accident and I hit another car with my bumper on the passenger side. We exchanged details, I called AAMI and told them the story and gave the other driver my claim number.

AAMI told me I had been booked in at Capital Smart in a couple weeks time where my car would be assessed and repaired on the same day. I thought this meant that I would meet an AAMI assessor at a local garage and arrangements would be made for repairs. After looking into it, Capital Smart is owned or controlled by Suncorp who owns or controls AAMI who sends all their repairs there. Also Capital Smart do not have the best reputation for doing a good job the first time.

My car is insured for about 6.5k, though I probably could not have sold it for that before the accident. At least four panels need work (passenger guard, bonnet, bumper and drivers side guard) and the car is making weird vibrations, groans and knocks when accelerating in gear. I suspect that these repairs may added up to a significant portion of insured value so it may be a write off for economical purposes. This would suit me as I am worried that the repair job might be poor and that mechanical issues might be ignored in favour of a quick cosmetic fix.

My questions are:

-will the assessor have the authority to write off my vehicle? I am currently unsure if the assessor works for AAMI or Capital Smart or someone else.

-Can I negotiate with my assessor? I would even take less than the insured value to write the car off, or I would take the value of the repair in cash and perhaps wreck the car myself.

-If the assessor at capital smart is only authorised to initiate repairs, can I ask that I be sent to an AAMI assessment centre? There is also one nearby.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

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Comments

  • My car is insured for about 6.5k, though I probably could not have sold it for that before the accident. At least four panels need work (passenger guard, bonnet, bumper and drivers side guard) and the car is making weird vibrations, groans and knocks when accelerating in gear. I suspect that these repairs may added up to a significant portion of insured value so it may be a write off for economical purposes. This would suit me as I am worried that the repair job might be poor and that mechanical issues might be ignored in favour of a quick cosmetic fix.

    Does AAMI know about all this damage? if you've answered "no", then good luck getting them to do any panel work on your car. If you've answered "yes", then keep reading.

    The damage on your car doesn't form a value in terms of the writing off of the vehicle. It sounds like it only needs minor work as a result of the accident, not in general. This will result in the car getting the bumper fixed etc, but nothing done to the rest of the car, and certainly not written off unless the damage is more than ~$5,000. Which it won't be if it was just a minor bingle, it'll likely just be a front bumper etc.

    So I think your hopes will be dashed if you expect the car to be written off as a result of your minor bingle, just because it's already pretty damaged.

    And your hopes will be really dashed if it's already a bucket of shit, and AAMI don't know that.

    • Thanks for your reply.

      I may not have made it clear but the damage described is as a result of the accident I am claiming on. The statement about not being able to sell the car for the insured amount is not based on existing damage, but based on advertised prices of cars with similar age/mileage being closer to 5k.

      AAMI did ask for a description of the damage and I told them:

      • bumper is damaged
      • front passenger guard is damaged
      • bonnet is damaged
      • car is making new noise when accelerating
      • driver door is making new noise when opening

      I have since realised that the drivers side door is making a new noise when opened because it is rubbing against the front drivers side guard which must have got knocked about by the collision.

      With four panels damaged I thought the work may add up to several thousand. I have no idea about the new noise when accelerating.

      • From that it sound like it they would be likely to take your car off you and hand you a wad of cash.

        • That's my feeling.

          Unless they do some really cheap patchy work I don't see how it would be economical to fix.

          Thanks for the reply.

  • you are required to get your car assessed by the AAMI assessor

    you are NOT required to use their repair shop

    simply call AAMI and tell them "the 3 week wait is too long and I want to use XXX panel shop. please get your assessor to assess my car this week so i can get XXX panel shop to start work on it asap"

    • I will see how that goes but my PDS actually gives AAMI the choice of repair shop.

      Thanks.

  • Sorry I don't know which options you can have, however if you have to use Capital Smart, make sure that you check your car carefully before leaving their workshop.

    • I certainly will. They don't have the best reputation.

      Thanks.

      • Normally insurances give a lifetime guarantee on repairs they performed.

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