Feels Like My Car Is Being Held Hostage Now

vvvv on 17/06/2022 - 14:07
Last edited 17/06/2022 - 14:08

So I had an accident where I was not at fault and my side bumper and door were damaged as a result.

I was with Youi insurance and they did an assessment with a local repairer who seemed nice when doing the assessment. I could still drive the car without any issues though. They tell me to wait 1.5 months for the parts required. The repairer mentioned it would take 7 business days to repair the damage after the wait for parts. Things looking good so far!

Now after the part arrives and submitting my car for repair after the seventh day I get a call saying they are still waiting on a part which would take a month to arrive. I was like wth! The part was the plastic grill which seems like mostly for decorative purposes on the bumper. So I asked them if I could drive the car till then, to that their answer was no since apparently the car was in still in repair and it needs to be at the garage till the part arrives which really seems shady to me.

I tried fighting with my insurer and they are not prepared to help me out. It really feels fishy to me now. Can fellow OzBargainers please advice me on what I could do ahead?

I didn't have a replacement car in my insurance and now it feels like I am handicapped without a car.

Automotive

Comments

  • SBOB on 17/06/2022 - 14:09
    +8

    where I was not at fault

    contact 'at fault' parties insurance and request/demand the supply of a rental/loan vehicle for this period

    needs to be at the garage till the part arrives

    because they likely charging the insurance 'holding/parking/floor space' costs to have your vehicle sitting in the corner

    though no idea why you would drop off a car to a repairer to fix a cosmetic part, if they didnt actually have the cosmetic part in stock yet

    • ozhunter on 17/06/2022 - 14:14
      +7

      though no idea why you would drop off a car to a repairer to fix a cosmetic part, if they didnt actually have the cosmetic part in stock yet

      He didn't know that at the time.

      Now after the part arrives and submitting my car for repair after the seventh day I get a call saying they are still waiting on a part which would take a month to arrive.

    • vvvv on 17/06/2022 - 14:43
      +1

      I feel like its a scam the Insurance and the Repairer might be running to inflate repair costs looking at the way things are going. Are there chances that it could affect my future insurance costs?

      • brendanm on 17/06/2022 - 16:56
        +1

        Haha, why on earth would the insurer want to inflate repair costs? They don't have the part mate, tell them you are taking the car.

        • USER DC on 17/06/2022 - 17:19
          +1

          So that they can inflate the premium being charged to customer?

          • brendanm on 17/06/2022 - 17:40
            +4

            @USER DC: They can do that without any justification if they want to. They can quadruple the premium for no reason, if that's what they choose.

        • Milou on 18/06/2022 - 08:47
          +2

          The insurer might want to inflate the repair costs so they can demand a higher price from the at-fault driver's insurance company.

          • brendanm on 18/06/2022 - 13:04

            @Milou: Then they just get back the amount they had to spend. Far out, what weird conspiracy theories.

        • ensanguined on 18/06/2022 - 12:05

          Is this guy taking the piss lol?

      • USER DC on 17/06/2022 - 17:18
        +4

        The whole world of insurances is a scam in my personal opinion.

  • highon2str on 17/06/2022 - 14:11
    +2

    Did you ask specifically why you can't have the car back? Maybe they have the car in bits, and it would take too long to put it back together again. In any case 90 days is a long time to be without a car. Have a chat with them, you might be able to negotiate a loan car from the repairer.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 17/06/2022 - 14:36
      +2

      I was about to say its probably disassembled.

      • Euphemistic on 17/06/2022 - 15:17

        It wouldn’t be entirely unusual for a grill to need to be attached to the bumper prior to installing the bumper.

        • BewareOfThe Dog on 17/06/2022 - 15:22

          Maybe the original grill was damaged in the process of disassembling the car, and allparts need to be joined to operate safely etc?

    • DazMon on 18/06/2022 - 19:56

      Wasn't it 37 days?

  • MS Paint on 17/06/2022 - 14:13
    +7

    Tell Youi to charge the at fault party for a rental car for the next month or so.

    • jv on 17/06/2022 - 14:17

      that is not one of the options on the chat bot.

  • jv on 17/06/2022 - 14:16
    -4

    Just go and pick up your car, you own it so they can't stop you.

    • Baysew on 17/06/2022 - 14:27
      +4

      Yes, but the car may have acquired Stockholm Syndrome.

      • jv on 17/06/2022 - 14:28
        +15

        acquired Stockholm Syndrome

        Is it a Volvo ?

      • BartholemewH on 23/06/2022 - 20:05

        I think with cars it's called 'Getaway in stockholm' syndrome.

  • brendanm on 17/06/2022 - 14:18
    +4

    As you are not at fault, you can hire a car, and pass the cost on to the at fault party. Youi should be able to help you with this.

  • AndyC1 on 17/06/2022 - 14:23
    +6

    Call https://www.right2drive.com.au and ask them about what can be done in order for you to get a car.

    Or ask the repairer if they deal with right2drive or other equivalent companies and if they do how do you go about getting a car while yours is being fixed.

    Just make sure that no mater what happens you do not have to pay for the car hire, even if the other parties insurance company does not pay. Been there and done this with right2drive. I just had to fill out paperwork a few times and send back as they sued the other insurance company who eventually settled. The original bill was for $900, but in the end with costs etc it was $3.5K the other insurance company paid right2drive and 18 months later.

    • vvvv on 17/06/2022 - 15:37

      Thanks I didnt know about this. Will check out the link.

    • Milou on 18/06/2022 - 08:51
      +1

      And there's a good chance right2drive made some nice profits off the whole transaction which then get passed on via the insurance company through higher premiums. You're better off trying to get the insurance company to sort it out before involving third parties who will charge ridiculously inflated rates.

  • Fredfloresjr on 17/06/2022 - 15:14
    +10

    Wait outside and you'l see the repairer driving it going to and from work.

    • vvvv on 17/06/2022 - 15:36

      I really have that feeling now. Can I take action if I see more kms on the car than usual?

      • Domicron on 17/06/2022 - 16:48

        Bikies or lawyer, your pick?

        Alternatively, Fair Trading eqv in your state/territory. Facebook online review can help too.

        Can try AFCA too on claim against youi.

      • USER DC on 17/06/2022 - 17:21

        How about if the car was never driven but left turned on, only to drain fuel ???

  • kipps on 17/06/2022 - 15:29
    +1

    Have you read the PDS for this insurance? It’s always first point of call to ascertain what your insurer agreed to do.

  • HelpMeiCantSee on 18/06/2022 - 08:10
    +2

    Youi. Enough said. If I were you I would change insurer asap. They’re dodgy as and simply not worth the trouble.

  • Mechz on 18/06/2022 - 10:37

    Complain loudly on their public social media if they don't help with a rental car.

  • 82norm on 18/06/2022 - 10:50
    +1

    That’s why you don’t go with YOUI, crap cheap ass insurers.

  • DragoBoyz on 18/06/2022 - 10:56

    Sounds bizarre. Do you mean then grill on the front bumper bar or does your car maybe have something on the side? The grill is relatively important it does stop things from damaging your radiator.
    It is usually a part that can be separated from the bumper and the front guards. They may have damaged it when removing it? They may have looked over the grill when ordering the parts and are just not communicating this with you to save face.

    Most importantly was it damaged before you took it in?

  • windale on 18/06/2022 - 12:30
    +1

    You usually get a hire car if you are not at fault. The other parties insurance pays for it

  • Azzy on 18/06/2022 - 12:48
    +1

    It may have been an omission when the repairer ordered parts. There’s no way I would tolerate that kind of wait on a no fault of mine accident. A cheap insurance company like Youi should still help you resolve car rental at the other parties cost.

    It is likely the repair shop is avoiding some work they’ll have to do twice to have your car, also storage fees are a possibility. The problem is Youi will tender the repair, the repair will be won by a tenderer who really under quoted, then fights to save costs.

    You deserve to have your inconvenience compensated; Re car rental.

  • Janm311 on 18/06/2022 - 18:06
    +2

    In a past life, I worked for a vehicle repairer. Your car might have started the repair process, but has most certainly been booked in for the work. Insurers will not pay out until the repair has been fully completed and signed off. The moral of this story is, if a repair is cosmetic, wait until the repairer confirms they have all parts in stock. As for a rental, or loan car, try to get Youi to come to the party. Good luck, and hopefully the missing parts will turn up quickly for you.

  • CauseNEffect on 20/06/2022 - 23:37

    Your car is in bits waiting to be repaired. This scam is how repairers work to ensure payment from insurers. Your car can't be moved until repaired.

    You likely won't see your car for months.. make sure you have a rental paid by the insurer in the interim.

    Once repaired insure your car elsewhere. Hint stay away from the IAG group.

  • ItchyBallsack on 21/06/2022 - 05:57

    This is why I have more than 1 car….. for times like these

    • Domicron on 21/06/2022 - 08:29
      +2

      Must be an accident magnet to have such permanent arrangement.

      • ItchyBallsack on 21/06/2022 - 18:25

        Never had an at fault accident lol but had cars attracted to me. Also being a mechanic it’s normal for me to have 5+ cars at once

        • Domicron on 21/06/2022 - 18:47

          Haha. You win.

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