Bike stolen and recovered...insurance...help required!

[Luthien]

I recently had my GP100 stolen, probably by some kids. I had just got it back from its MOT and forgot to lock it It was gone by morning, wheeled around the corner where they attempted and failed miserably to burn it. They didn't even seem to have ridden it.

Anyway, the day after that there's a knock at my door and a policeman saying he had found my bike (well a guy getting nicked for something mentioned that there was a bike being messed with in an alley near his house.) And kindly enough said i could wheel her home so I wouldn't have to pay recovery

I call the insurance company and say it has been found but badly damaged etc. They said that with the age of the bike it would probably be a write off and offered to take it to surrey for assessment. As I'm based in Cheltenham and this seemed quite far and random I said I could get it assessed for the work here. They agreed and I took it to my usual garage.

The estimates came in at a whopping £620 for repairs (mainly cosmetic things like the burned seat and smashed off bits) as mechanically it still runs!) and £550 for a respray. The bike is only insured at £700 The estimates have gone to the insurer and they called me and said the bill it so high that it would be a write off but they have to get their people from surrey to collect it to assess it and make me an offer? T
hey are also telling me I have to pay the charge for getting the estimate from my guys who have charged £24 for looking it very thoroughly

is this right or normal? Should I let them take it?
I have no idea what's going on. I only spoke to them about 20 minutes ago. What should I do? Please help!!!
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1979 Suzuki GP100
a.k.a Missus Killa

[GF-91]

Should have just let them take it to wherever they wanted it to go mate. They'd have had it done very quickly. You've just cost them time so they will want you to pay for the estimate that you chose to get.

Tell them to do what they need to do, if it is a write off, get it back, it's not like the bike has structural damage, (has it?), you could probably repair it for pennies. A re-spray can wait a little while, right?
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One dream, one soul, one prize, one goal.

[P.]

Don't write it off, its a claim on your history and quite a pain when it comes to insurance.

You are probably far better off sourcing used parts for the burnt ones, seat/tank and possibly some wiring loom/fuel hoses if these were damaged.

Probably get all parts for £100 or less

[Pol Anorl]

expect about £300 offer from insurance for the bike.

welcome to the world of being raped for being a good citizen and getting insured.
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Jewlio Iglesias: You live in Liverpool - Chances are, the front door has already been kicked off the hinges

[Luthien]

[killa]

Personally i think it’s wrong to have agreed with you that the local assessment is the way to go. They should have mentioned this before.
You shouldn’t be the one losing out after having it pinched, if they write it off, does anyone know if it then becomes their property or something? I can’t see the bike coming back if they take it and that’s not on.
As it’s usually scripted their end I’d be asking the following over the phone.

Why was this not explained to me in the first place when a local assessment was mentioned?
Will i get the bike back after the assessment in Surrey?
Why can’t you send someone out to do the estimate?

If it is going to be taken you want everything in writing or something, so you can go back to what they said.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Luthien]

[Teflon-Mike]

It's your bike. - But thier money!

IF you let them collect it, then that is an incurred expense in consequence of the theft attempt and THEIR COST, they cannot charge you MORE than your policy excess.

BUT, yes, they will write it off, and you will have to accept settlement, if they take the bike away.

Question is DO you want to keep it?

Chances are on bike that value, they will make rise able offer of settlement, less your excess & loss of NCB & loading next year will mean long term you loose.

PERSONALLY I wouldn't let them have it; I would get another mechanic to offer a quote for repair, 'for comparison' and then do a quick DIY estimate of how much YOU could fix it for....

2nd hand bits & Halfrauds rattle-cans....

£550 for a respray is rather taking the proverbial... its reasonable 'quote' for a pro-re-spray, but ISTR that when you got the bike, it was not a factory paint-job, but an amateur rattle can job....

Insurance wouldn't accept that, its called 'betterment'.... like dropping a McDonalds Burger ---- calling it a 'restaurant-meal' and expecting them to buy you a Steak-Dinner in a posh-nosh-pala to replace it!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[killa]

I have the paint ready to spray it.
I can do all the work myself for less than £100
At this stage in the claim, can we just tell the insurance we want the bike as is and do the work ourselves?
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Suntan Sid]

[Polarbear]

as has been said, the amount of money you are talking about means it isn't worth claiming. Yes it sucks, yes you are getting raped. At the end of the day you are better keeping your no claims.

Although all my vehicles are fully comp, I would have to have a serious accident that was my fault before I started claiming on my insurance as the resultant premiums when up for renewal would be horrendous.

I dread to think what we pay for vehicle insurance in my house per year, 3 cars and 4 motorbikes so I really couldn't afford to lose my no claims.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Luthien]

[Suntan Sid]

IMO if there's any way you can cut the insurers out of the loop, i'd do it asap. I think it'll save you money in the end.
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[woo]

Luthien!!

My advice to you is this

Give me back those bloody damn Simarils and I will get your bike fixed for you!

And if you dare sing to me again I swear Carcharoth will be the last of your worries!!!

lol!!
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Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[Luthien]

[DMCpro]

Since its not your fault, you wont lose your NCB.

They will pay any fees for example inspection.

When they send you a check for a "written off" vehicle you can ALWAYS buy it back off of them.
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Honda CB-1, TS125X
VW Golf Estate

[Teflon-Mike]

[Rogerborg]

Hindsight is 20:20, but... I wouldn't have had a £700 bike insured for F&T in the first place and nor would I have told them that it was stolen. At most, I'd have cancelled the (TPO) insurance on it, and the reason is none of their business. "Because I no longer have the bike" would also be an entirely accurate answer.

Sorry, you shouldn't have to be a victim twice, but that's how the system is set up.
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