ONE LESS CALIBRA TURBO ON THE ROAD! :'(

[Minx]

Surprised they rated it Cat B, if it's only the superficial damage you described.

Cat B means it can be used for parts only, and can't ever go back on the road!

Yes I know this and yes I was EXTREMELY suprised!! Believe me, I checked my car inside out and that was all!!! And that was me being picky!! Passenger seat burnt/door card & centre console SLIGHTLY burnt and my roof liner black!! I thought cat b, could only be something that was structually unsafe/chaSsis etc?! Hey-ho my insurance have proven to be quite pants through out this entire process!! So...

TBH Im sick as f**k of it all...starting to drag me down! From my personal items only covered up to £100 (the bairnes pushchair cost £240) to my no claims dropping from 8years down to 3years!! And yes I should have read my policy thoroughly, rather than think oooh thats cheap al'have that'un!! Ya get what ya pay for and learn the hard way eh?!

As for buying back I have told them twice I intend to, to strip for parts. As I know they will offer me nothing, so might aswell make some moneys up!!

Ah POSTIVIE MENTAL ATTITUDE!

[v6 steve]

can you buy cat B back ? i thought they had to be broken by an authorized dismantler

[Minx]

can you buy cat B back ? i thought they had to be broken by an authorized dismantler

Do u know what it is, it just gets better and better? Do you know this for FACT? Can anyone else comment?...I have been informed today and Friday. When I asked what percent it is to buy car back....'you cannot buy back as its a cat b and it cannot be put back on the road, it has to be broken for spares' I said yes and thats what i intend to do with it' To get the reply 'oh well thats ok then, so long as its not going to be put back on the road' she then went on to tell me its usually 10% of the offer they give you'

Today I spoke to another 'female' who when she said my car was at a salvage yard. I said 'they are not touching my car, are they? As i intend to purchase back' she began the exact same shpeel...untill i cut her off and said 'im not putting back on road, im breaking up for parts' she again never said i couldnt and said 'that was ok' SO...Im confused are these WOMEN speaking out of their rears?!!

They did sound firm at start about going back on road, but VERY ok and allowing/accepting about buying back to break up. I even on Friday said I wanted it on my notes Im buying back!! So im hoping, its not a authorizes dismantler

[v6 steve]

i could be wroung just my understanding of it,

[Minx]

Ive just been googling it, and i think ur right! Why oh why, did those 2 women, say I could?! Noone use MORETHAN!!!!!!!!!!

[Fraz]

Your car is coming shown as requiring a Vehicle Identity Check (VIC)

a Cat B is usually only to have parts removed and the shell crushed...but you can get it back on the road if you apply to have it go through a VIC test

not sure if you though can do the removing of the parts or it has to be a salvage firm, suggest you call the DVLA to confirm that one

though I still cant see why it would be a cat B for the damage you describe, but a VIC is only for a A B or C write off

have a read
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Bu ... DG_4022107

[§torm]

Today I spoke to another 'female' who when she said my car was at a salvage yard. I said 'they are not touching my car, are they? As i intend to purchase back' she began the exact same shpeel...untill i cut her off and said 'im not putting back on road, im breaking up for parts' she again never said i couldnt and said 'that was ok' SO...Im confused are these WOMEN speaking out of their rears?!!

It's the same with all companies, speak to the wrong monkey on the phone, and you get gibberish info.

Well on reading a bit further, it seems that its perfectly legal for Category B cars to go back on the road provided they have a V.I.C. test, and an MOT. The suggestion that they can't appears to only be guidance, under a voluntary code agreed between the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and salvage dealers. It certainly isn't law.

See this site, section 16 which covers some of this;
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-valuation.html

and have a read of this thread where someone has had this confirmed in person by the DVLA
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=85787

and this thread (post 4)
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?151379-Van-unjustly-quot-written-off-quot-as-Category-B

The bad news is that it looks like you might not have right to buy back your Category B car in this case. If the insurance company have paid out, then THEY own the car, and based on their own guidance, they don't HAVE to sell it back to you, as they would with a Category C car. They then sell the car for salvage, and it is the salvage company who can then strip the car for spares.

If its already at salvage though, you might already be too late. You'll have to be quick. If i were you, I'd escalate this to a manager, then state you want to formally appeal the classification as the guy did in the thread above, and for them to put a hold on the car at the salvage company until its sorted out.

I hope i'm wrong, but I fear that's the only way you'll ever see it again.

HTH

[v6 steve]

nice one Mark hope you get it sorted Minx

[Minx]

Thanks SO much guys. The above info has been usefull! I will be on the phone to DVLA first thing.

As for it being a cat b, I have since been informed 'apparently' because of police incident?!!

I havnt been given any settlement figures as yet. And at pressent my case is with TCF a company who check the claim and require documents?! they then either give the OK to the insurers to go ahead with arranging a pay out or NOT! This apparently takes one week from today....so I will keep all posted.

[matty0785]

you CAN buy a cat b wright of back to break as when my astra GTE was stolen and used to raid a local shop i bought it back and broke it for parts made more breaking it than the insurance company gave me

when i bought my astra GTE back it was at a rate of 8% of the payout value

as for putting a cat b back on the road im un sure as mine was to badly damaged to even try and repair so didnt look into it

[C411BRAnut]

Ive just been googling it, and i think ur right! Why oh why, did those 2 women, say I could?! Noone use MORETHAN!!!!!!!!!!

My Cally was with MoreThan until Jan 2008, when their underwriting criteria and the car grouping changed. They needed to check the security on the car. I couldn't be ar5ed and went elsewhere.

[Phantom]

well Caroline as our discussion on FB the other day I'd be buying the car back and either stripping it or putting it back in the road.

I would also be questioning the Cat B status as well, that's way off the mark for the damage you're describing, a Cat C would be far more accurate

when my turbo was written off I bought it back for £900

[v6 steve]

i even think a cat c is a bit over the top

[Minx]

Been back onto insurance and asked for them to state on notes, that I am to buy the car back and under no circumstances am I to be removed from being the registered owner (altho Im not sure if i will be as its a total loss). She said she placed this on notes and I asked again about buying a cat b back. She said they usually ask for a certificte of distruction and that its usually at a rate of 10% of settlement figure. Ive written her full name and even at the start of the call said 'this call IS being recorded isnt it?' Ive got exact location of car and asked what its doing there (apparently just being stored) I also said that if anyone is to remove any part of the car, that would be theft and Id have to make a new claim! Hehehe She must of thought I was a right cheeky mare! Anyhows feel slightly better, altho I still think it will be some time before this is over with!!

Thanks Again for all the advice! Really do appreciate it!!

[§torm]

Good stuff, stick with it. Sometimes you have to be firm with these people, so they don't just fob you off.

You should appeal the classification as well if you havn't already. When you were told it was rated as Cat B because of 'police incident' sounds like a load of rubbish to me, from someone who has no idea as to the real reason why it was classified a Cat B. They just made that up as something to fob you off with, in my opinion.

The car's classification is rated only on its roadworthiness based on an insurer's engineer assessment of the level of damage of the vehicle. Nowhere does it say the classification should be amended based on whether the police were called or not, what a load of cobblers lol. If they argue the point, ask them to clarify where it states this in their guidance or anywhere else for that matter.

Most importantly, ask them to confirm all the important stuff in writing for your records. If its in writing, they have to make sure what they say is factually correct.

If they continue mucking you about, inform them if they don't sort it out properly, you will be taking it to the financial ombudsmen, as you are unsatisfied with their poor handling of the claim (and yes, you really can do this - see my link above). It might make them get their act together, if they know you mean business.