Dodgy Insurance Company

[kurnell]

My wife was recently involved in a car accident, badly damaging our Fortuner. We made a claim to our 'local' insurance company, which boasts that it has been around since 1951, is trustworthy etc. and when we took the car to the Toyota service centre to repair, the insurance company said we had to take the car to a local garage as according to their records, the Toyota service centre was not listed on the insurance contract. The missus checked our contract and it clearly listed the Toyota service centre for any and all repairs. The dodgy insurance company then stated that one of their staff mistakenly wrote the wrong information on their database so; again we had to use a local garage. We knew this was absolute <deleted> so reported them to the Thai insurance consumer affairs and they quickly decided that we were in the right and ordered the insurance company to honour their contract. The car is now being repaired properly and obviously we will not renew with this company, none of our company cars will ever use this company again, and none of our fleet of trucks will use this company. What a complete joke! I expect this from a fitness organisation, but certainly not from what I understood to be a reputable insurance company with a long history. Fact is, TIT and ethics are nonexistent.

[stevenl]

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

[transam]

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

Insurance using a Toyota main agent is more expensive cos higher labour costs and genuine parts are used.

An insurance agent l used ''asked'' me that in the case of an accident do you want it repaired at Toyota or use our repair shop. The difference in premium was l think 2000bht.

[kurnell]

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

Insurance using a Toyota main agent is more expensive cos higher labour costs and genuine parts are used.

An insurance agent l used ''asked'' me that in the case of an accident do you want it repaired at Toyota or use our repair shop. The difference in premium was l think 2000bht.

Yes, we specifically asked for the Toyota service centre. They tried to fob us off to the cheaper option, even though the Toyota agent was clearly in our contract. Basically they refused to honour the contract and had to be forced to do so. I definately call that dodgy.

[VocalNeal]

A friend had some mirrors stolen off his Merc. He bought some new ones and made a claim. He was told "You cannot go to Mercedes Main Dealer"

He said he had this before with Volvo. New Volvo, insurance from Volvo but cannot use Volvo main dealer for accident repairs.

Sounds like they are all the same.

[WarpSpeed]

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

[kurnell]

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

Darn tootin! I will also advise all and sundry not to use this company. And since I live here and plan to stay for the rest of my life, I am sure I can express my feelings to hundreds of people who may in turn do the same etc etc starting with the 40+ people in my company.

[stevenl]

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

Could have been easily an updated list of 'preferred repairers', while the policy stated the old one. Of course the police is valid and they should honor it. But calling a company dodgy over that is IMO way over the top.

[Will27]

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

Could have been easily an updated list of 'preferred repairers', while the policy stated the old one. Of course the police is valid and they should honor it. But calling a company dodgy over that is IMO way over the top.

They tried to screw him and he had to go to Comsumer Affairs to get the right outcome.

I guess your definition of "dodgy" and mine differ.

Regards

Will

[WarpSpeed]

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

Could have been easily an updated list of 'preferred repairers', while the policy stated the old one. Of course the police is valid and they should honor it. But calling a company dodgy over that is IMO way over the top.

They tried to screw him and he had to go to Comsumer Affairs to get the right outcome.

I guess your definition of "dodgy" and mine differ.

Regards

Will

I'd have to agree in this case Will, I'm not sure what would define "dodgy" to you Steve?

[stevenl]

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

Could have been easily an updated list of 'preferred repairers', while the policy stated the old one. Of course the police is valid and they should honor it. But calling a company dodgy over that is IMO way over the top.

They tried to screw him and he had to go to Comsumer Affairs to get the right outcome.

I guess your definition of "dodgy" and mine differ.

Regards

Will

I'd have to agree in this case Will, I'm not sure what would define "dodgy" to you Steve?

Dodgy would IMO be if e.g. what happened here is company policy. And maybe it is, but it could also simply have been an mistake.

[David006]

A bit off topic but when we were building our house a two week old 6 wheeler backed into our truck giving it rather a big dent.

Well the driver owner dealt with our insurance company and all seemed fine.

Later heard that 6 wheeler dealership took his 20 odd grand insurance money and never forwarded the cash to the insurers.( think it was someone in the office at the dealership who was guilty) I guess it was all sorted in the end but geesh cannot trust anybody it seems...

We are insured through what was called AIG ...forget the new name....they directed us to a private body shop not Mazda ...makes sense if the costs are that much higher in the dealerships ..there is no reason to believe alternatives are any less skilled....personal choice though I guess..so long as it gets fixed to the owners satisfaction...

[transam]

A bit off topic but when we were building our house a two week old 6 wheeler backed into our truck giving it rather a big dent.

Well the driver owner dealt with our insurance company and all seemed fine.

Later heard that 6 wheeler dealership took his 20 odd grand insurance money and never forwarded the cash to the insurers.( think it was someone in the office at the dealership who was guilty) I guess it was all sorted in the end but geesh cannot trust anybody it seems...

We are insured through what was called AIG ...forget the new name....they directed us to a private body shop not Mazda ...makes sense if the costs are that much higher in the dealerships ..there is no reason to believe alternatives are any less skilled....personal choice though I guess..so long as it gets fixed to the owners satisfaction...

Some non main dealer repairers use parts from right offs or pattern parts where as the main dealer ''should'' be using new genuine parts.

[stevenl]

A bit off topic but when we were building our house a two week old 6 wheeler backed into our truck giving it rather a big dent.

Well the driver owner dealt with our insurance company and all seemed fine.

Later heard that 6 wheeler dealership took his 20 odd grand insurance money and never forwarded the cash to the insurers.( think it was someone in the office at the dealership who was guilty) I guess it was all sorted in the end but geesh cannot trust anybody it seems...

We are insured through what was called AIG ...forget the new name....they directed us to a private body shop not Mazda ...makes sense if the costs are that much higher in the dealerships ..there is no reason to believe alternatives are any less skilled....personal choice though I guess..so long as it gets fixed to the owners satisfaction...

Some non main dealer repairers use parts from right offs or pattern parts where as the main dealer ''should'' be using new genuine parts.

The main dealer charges more for the same service/quality because they can get away with it, the clients will come because they prefer to be serviced by a main dealer, looks/feels better. The non genuine parts is just a story from the main dealer to justify their higher prices.

[transam]

A bit off topic but when we were building our house a two week old 6 wheeler backed into our truck giving it rather a big dent.

Well the driver owner dealt with our insurance company and all seemed fine.

Later heard that 6 wheeler dealership took his 20 odd grand insurance money and never forwarded the cash to the insurers.( think it was someone in the office at the dealership who was guilty) I guess it was all sorted in the end but geesh cannot trust anybody it seems...

We are insured through what was called AIG ...forget the new name....they directed us to a private body shop not Mazda ...makes sense if the costs are that much higher in the dealerships ..there is no reason to believe alternatives are any less skilled....personal choice though I guess..so long as it gets fixed to the owners satisfaction...

Some non main dealer repairers use parts from right offs or pattern parts where as the main dealer ''should'' be using new genuine parts.

The main dealer charges more for the same service/quality because they can get away with it, the clients will come because they prefer to be serviced by a main dealer, looks/feels better. The non genuine parts is just a story from the main dealer to justify their higher prices.

Do you know what a ''pattern part'' is ?

Do you know what happens to salvageable parts from wrecks ?

Cos l do.

[stevenl]

A bit off topic but when we were building our house a two week old 6 wheeler backed into our truck giving it rather a big dent.

Well the driver owner dealt with our insurance company and all seemed fine.

Later heard that 6 wheeler dealership took his 20 odd grand insurance money and never forwarded the cash to the insurers.( think it was someone in the office at the dealership who was guilty) I guess it was all sorted in the end but geesh cannot trust anybody it seems...

We are insured through what was called AIG ...forget the new name....they directed us to a private body shop not Mazda ...makes sense if the costs are that much higher in the dealerships ..there is no reason to believe alternatives are any less skilled....personal choice though I guess..so long as it gets fixed to the owners satisfaction...

Some non main dealer repairers use parts from right offs or pattern parts where as the main dealer ''should'' be using new genuine parts.

The main dealer charges more for the same service/quality because they can get away with it, the clients will come because they prefer to be serviced by a main dealer, looks/feels better. The non genuine parts is just a story from the main dealer to justify their higher prices.

Do you know what a ''pattern part'' is ?

Do you know what happens to salvageable parts from wrecks ?

Cos l do.

So do I.

I set up a system of preferred repairers back home for an insurance company. So I know exactly what I'm talking about, in contrast to some others on here.

[transam]

Your in LOS now.

[stevenl]

Your in LOS now.

Does not change the principle at all.

Insurance company likes to save some money and be guaranteed of good quality by sending insured to preferred repairers. Main dealers don't like that because they are no part of that 'chain', because they are too expensive. At the same time insured likes to go to main dealer because a. he knows them; and b. perceived higher quality.

Therein lies the tension.

[transam]

Your in LOS now.

Does not change the principle at all.

Insurance company likes to save some money and be guaranteed of good quality by sending insured to preferred repairers. Main dealers don't like that because they are no part of that 'chain', because they are too expensive. At the same time insured likes to go to main dealer because a. he knows them; and b. perceived higher quality.

Therein lies the tension.

You obviously have not been to a ''Brokers'' repairer, l have and l ''know'' where/how they save money.

Not going to argue the point as long as readers read stuff here..

[stevenl]

Your in LOS now.

Does not change the principle at all.

Insurance company likes to save some money and be guaranteed of good quality by sending insured to preferred repairers. Main dealers don't like that because they are no part of that 'chain', because they are too expensive. At the same time insured likes to go to main dealer because a. he knows them; and b. perceived higher quality.

Therein lies the tension.

Not going to argue the point <snip>

Bit late for that, isn't it.

Easy way out, 'you obviously don't know ...'.

[transam]

Your in LOS now.

Does not change the principle at all.

Insurance company likes to save some money and be guaranteed of good quality by sending insured to preferred repairers. Main dealers don't like that because they are no part of that 'chain', because they are too expensive. At the same time insured likes to go to main dealer because a. he knows them; and b. perceived higher quality.

Therein lies the tension.

Not going to argue the point <snip>

Bit late for that, isn't it.

Easy way out, 'you obviously don't know ...'.

Please don't edit my posts, let the reader read all. Please.

If you want me to continue about what l know and have seen, l will, but it seems you don't like other folks posts, just your own.

[stevenl]

Please don't edit my posts, let the reader read all. Please.

If you want me to continue about what l know and have seen, l will, but it seems you don't like other folks posts, just your own.

I

Looks like we don't agree on this and some other things

[WarpSpeed]

Could have been easily an updated list of 'preferred repairers', while the policy stated the old one. Of course the police is valid and they should honor it. But calling a company dodgy over that is IMO way over the top.

They tried to screw him and he had to go to Comsumer Affairs to get the right outcome.

I guess your definition of "dodgy" and mine differ.

Regards

Will

I'd have to agree in this case Will, I'm not sure what would define "dodgy" to you Steve?

Dodgy would IMO be if e.g. what happened here is company policy. And maybe it is, but it could also simply have been an mistake.

If it was a mistake then why did he have to go to consumer affairs to get it resolved?? If it was a mistake, they felt it was in their favor, tried to play dumb still tried to go along with it assuming the customer was ignorant and weak minded and would just give into them, that defines dodgy to me..

A reputable, upstanding company that recognizes and accepts their error doesn't operate that way..

[WarpSpeed]

Your in LOS now.

Does not change the principle at all.

Insurance company likes to save some money and be guaranteed of good quality by sending insured to preferred repairers. Main dealers don't like that because they are no part of that 'chain', because they are too expensive. At the same time insured likes to go to main dealer because a. he knows them; and b. perceived higher quality.

Therein lies the tension.

I'm not going to argue your point about local shops versus dealers as you have some valid points but not in all cases, there is very often a difference in parts quality coming from local shops over the dealers including often times a much thinner metal being used and not even rust proofed for just 2 small examples as well as fit. If mechanical parts are involved the quality can really be a significant difference.

I've sourced and bought countless parts for "stock" based race cars from both dealers and aftermarket and have also installed them as of course when racing, accidents are a large part of the game so repairing goes along with it and when budgetarily restrained you get the one that looks the same but costs less and frankly is also much lighter which is what you often get with aftermarket parts and lighter gauge steel, I have a full roll cage for protection the skin is just that, a skin..

[stevenl]

If it was a mistake then why did he have to go to consumer affairs to get it resolved?? If it was a mistake, they felt it was in their favor, tried to play dumb still tried to go along with it assuming the customer was ignorant and weak minded and would just give into them, that defines dodgy to me..

A reputable, upstanding company that recognizes and accepts their error doesn't operate that way..

With cases like this I think it is very simple: based on one story, without having looked at policy, I reserve judgement. So that is why IMO it too early to judge. They make have acted dodgy in this case, they may have made a mistake in this case, they may simply have given in because it was not worth the hassle, or it may be a dodgy company.

All seems to be possible, and I'm sure there are more options possible as well.

[stevenl]

Your in LOS now.

Does not change the principle at all.

Insurance company likes to save some money and be guaranteed of good quality by sending insured to preferred repairers. Main dealers don't like that because they are no part of that 'chain', because they are too expensive. At the same time insured likes to go to main dealer because a. he knows them; and b. perceived higher quality.

Therein lies the tension.

I'm not going to argue your point about local shops versus dealers as you have some valid points but not in all cases, there is very often a difference in parts quality coming from local shops over the dealers including often times a much thinner metal being used and not even rust proofed for just 2 small examples as well as fit. If mechanical parts are involved the quality can really be a significant difference.

I've sourced and bought countless parts for "stock" based race cars from both dealers and aftermarket and have also installed them as of course when racing, accidents are large part of game so repairing goes along with it and when budgetarily restrained you get the one that looks the same but costs less and frankly is also much lighter which is what you often get with aftermarket parts and lighter gauge steel, I have a full roll cage for protection the skin is just that, a skin..

Yes, and often times the dealer does not do his own bodywork but commissions somebody else (the insurance company pays, easy commission for the dealer so who cares this is costing more money), sometimes the dealer gets his parts aftermarket because that is cheaper for him than buying from Toyota etc., and many more things happen in this process.

But whatever happens, in the end the consumer pays. So we all have an interest to keep the costs as low as possible and services as good as possible while keeping the quality up or even improving on it.

[PattayaParent]

Your in LOS now.

Does not change the principle at all.

Insurance company likes to save some money and be guaranteed of good quality by sending insured to preferred repairers. Main dealers don't like that because they are no part of that 'chain', because they are too expensive. At the same time insured likes to go to main dealer because a. he knows them; and b. perceived higher quality.

Therein lies the tension.

Who just happen to be their wife's brother or a friend who will give them a commission.

[transam]

My local Toyota dealer has a repair shop that looks like soething from NASA. A couple of chassis/body straightening jigs a THREE paint shops. VERY impressed, and had a walk round to see how they tackled stuff.

My chum's Izusu truck was repaired at a ''Brokers'' own repair shop, some of his bling was stolen, shop said hard luck, broker said hard luck. The radiator was replaced, second hand, but the bottom was painted to look new. Something ''l'' pointed out after collection, he shrugged and said it all runs fine, and in LOS this is probably the attitude.