This may be of interest.
It does deal with an electric car but interesting.
There are a few things in the video that don't quite add up.
"Hit whilst parked" claims often attract a degree of scepticism from insurers. My guess is that the repairer / assessor has suggested the damage is inconsistent with the circumstances as described on the lodged claim and they have decided to reject the claim. The customer is entitled to an explanation of the basis for the rejection. They are possibly holding the excess pending an expected escalation.
Based on the video details it is a matter that should be referred to AFCA (the ombudsman). Costs nothing for the customer but the insurer has to pay significantly whether they win or lose. They can also be hit with punitive costs for things like customer inconvenience etc. The outcome is binding on the insurer but the customer still retains legal rights ie court.
Rowlie
Quote from: Rowlie on May 11, 2026, 07:53:29 PMThere are a few things in the video that don't quite add up.
"Hit whilst parked" claims often attract a degree of scepticism from insurers. My guess is that the repairer / assessor has suggested the damage is inconsistent with the circumstances as described on the lodged claim and they have decided to reject the claim. The customer is entitled to an explanation of the basis for the rejection. They are possibly holding the excess pending an expected escalation.
Based on the video details it is a matter that should be referred to AFCA (the ombudsman). Costs nothing for the customer but the insurer has to pay significantly whether they win or lose. They can also be hit with punitive costs for things like customer inconvenience etc. The outcome is binding on the insurer but the customer still retains legal rights ie court.
Rowlie
I'd want you on my side!!!! Great info!
I've used Budgetdirect over the years as has my son and found them no problem with take it to any repairer although to be fair they have involved claims where the other party was at fault. They do offer mature drivers a good deal on premiums for specific PDS terms. eg I can specify nobody under 40 or anyone living with my wife and I are covered and enjoy the premium accordingly. So now you can see why our EV friend might have aroused their suspicions particularly if he didn't report the accident damage ASAP as per his agreed PDS terms and without identifying an at fault driver he's up for the excess.
What was the delay in reporting the collision damage until after they'd notified him they would no longer be renewing his insurance policy at the 12 month expiry presumably? In that respect pioneers of Chinese EVs and cars in general are facing some ugly realities from car insurers and a general lack of automotive technicians to boot-
https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/brutal-chinese-car-market-reality-revealed/ar-AA289nl0 (https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/brutal-chinese-car-market-reality-revealed/ar-AA289nl0)
https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/ev-repair-time-reality-exposed/ar-AA28kOuF (https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/ev-repair-time-reality-exposed/ar-AA28kOuF)
You got a lot of car cheap there boyoh but it comes with a sting in the tail and no doubt why when those diesel prices caused a flurry of EV buyers a lot of them bought Tesla ModelYs in record numbers in June :cup: