What most people neither know nor care is that this government, which is right in the pockets of the motor insurers, is on the brink of effectively removing the ability of most innocent victims of accidents to claim, unless they pay. The insurers of course are rubbing their hands, and they repeatedly insist that you can TRUST THEM to settle up fair and square with every person, every time, why involve independent legal advice, you don't need it.

They say this with a straight face. It is a pity that basically nobody in the country gives a sh?t about the proposed decimation of the present arrangements, but what baffles me is how anybody would think that the paying party (the insurer you're claimin against) can be trusted to offer you the best deal immediately, when (a) "don't accept the first offer" has become part of the language and lore for a reason and (b) they have a legal duty to their shareholders to pay out as little as possible.

There was an interesting program on C4 Dispatches, which just opened a tiny window on some of the scams insurers use on an endemic basis. Think it's repeated this Friday.

Yes, plus the fact that most companies ask you for a car value when you request a quote. They use that value in their premium calculations but then disregard it when dealing with claims. Effectively they are charging people to insure for a value that they do not acknowledge which is another nice little scam for them.

Except if you'd valued your car at £1,500, but later it was written off and their engineer valued it for them at £2,000, what do you think they'd pay you?

Eh?

cod'ead isn't nearly as confused as you appear to be. This is my first post on this thread

But I know what you would have said, and anyway, I have proof I'm mad