HELP. My insurance company are thieves.

**firefighter** · 4th March 2009, 12:04

Originally Posted by Hailwood

If you read the proposed letter, it says who the company is in it....

No word of a fucken lie, I did'nt see that down the bottom, as I did'nt read it until now.

Looks like a company to stay clear of.....AMI that is....

I had a claim a while back and they dicked me over big time....exact same story, claiming something different, same outcome....fucken pricks.

Good luck dude, although from my very same experience, A.M.I will not budge......sorry....

I probably don't need to say it, but i'd reccommend to everyone, if they want to be covered, stay the hell away from them, they are'nt worth your money.

**MarkH** · 4th March 2009, 12:09

Originally Posted by kave

The insurance company has just had another valuation done, and the new one is half of their first one, I have also had a valuation done and it is three times their second valuation. I am concerned that because valuers get a lot of business from the insurance companies that they favour the insurance companies by pushing the values down. I don't see how three different valuations can come up with such substantially different results. Fuck.... it's looking like I will have to chase them through the courts, so I will be stuck on public transport for months.

Go get 3 different valuations that YOU are happy with and present them to the insurance company. Also ask for details on the 2 quotes they have sourced and talk to the people that gave those quotes. Also complain to the insurance company about the quotes saying you believe them to be VERY suspect and advise them that you are considering making a complaint to the insurance ombudsman.

If you don't want to be walked all over then don't let that happen! Whatever you do, just don't take this shit!

I have heard horror stories about insurance companies fucking over their clients, the stories cover pretty much every insurance company around - they are all arseholes and they will all look to fuck you over if they can, stand up for yourself and make it clear you will not be cheated out of what you are due!

**portokiwi** · 4th March 2009, 12:12

Thats why I like SWANN

They have a motorcycle assessor who rides a motorcycle to value your bike.
Done stright there and then

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 4th March 2009, 12:13

HELP. My insurance company are thieves.

Nothing new to see here... move along

**kave** · 4th March 2009, 13:50

I am really starting to get sick of dealing with AMI

I am thinking about involving the ombudsman, but then everything will drag on. My bike is my only transport, and it is going to cost me more than they are shafting me for if I have to take public transport for the next 6 months. I really want to stick to my principals but I don't think I am in a position financially where I can afford to be without transport for that period of time.

**vgcspares** · 4th March 2009, 14:12

just as a matter of record, Market Value should be an average of retail prices as advised to the assessor by licensed vehicle dealers (usually main dealers in the brand concerned)

so Market Value is what a dealer could have sold it for the day before the accident - which I'd argue is higher than anyone would pay privately on Trademe

... but then again I've seen @#@#heads listing bikes on Trademe at astronomic prices so they can be negotiated down big time (bit like the Briscoes' philosophy really)

... and of course I've come up against Herberts who cite these anomalous prices to try and prove the "market value" is off

... the same people who forget to reduce the sum insured each year and finish up with a bike insured for its new price 3 years back, whereas it's actually only worth 60% of that and even then only if sold by a dealer

**MarkH** · 4th March 2009, 14:53

Originally Posted by kave

I am really starting to get sick of dealing with AMI

I am thinking about involving the ombudsman, but then everything will drag on. My bike is my only transport, and it is going to cost me more than they are shafting me for if I have to take public transport for the next 6 months. I really want to stick to my principals but I don't think I am in a position financially where I can afford to be without transport for that period of time.

Go to different dealers, get 3 quotes that YOU are happy with, take them to AMI and tell them that you believe these quotes that you have are realistic and that theirs are not. Tell them you don't want to take this case to the Ombudsman or to court, but you do want what is fair. Hopefully they will see that you are serious and not going to let them screw you and you wont have to go to any further effort to get paid out.

Personally I'd rather borrow some money and even buy a cheapie temporary bike than give in to some arseholes that are trying to cheat me. I don't like letting the cheaters win.

**shafty** · 4th March 2009, 15:01

I'm not sure if there is an Insurance Industry Ombudsman, but I had a hassle with a wanker in a Bank I USED to deal with.

I rang him and said if the matter wasn't sorted by midday, my next call was to be to the Banking Ombudsman. The problem was fixed inside 30 minutes.

Good luck Mate - remember YOU ARE RIGHT.

**firefighter** · 4th March 2009, 15:02

Originally Posted by vgcspares

just as a matter of record, Market Value should be an average of retail prices as advised to the assessor by licensed vehicle dealers (usually main dealers in the brand concerned)

so Market Value is what a dealer could have sold it for the day before the accident - which I'd argue is higher than anyone would pay privately on Trademe

is this, straight up, no bullshit fact? Do you have any references?

I'm not digging at ya I genuinely want to know-as I went through something similar and would definately like to copy this down should I need it.....
(I had this same issue with AMI myself, in which they ALSO used tardeme as a means of finding market value, and ripped me off pretty bad I feel)

**Max Preload** · 4th March 2009, 15:16

Originally Posted by shafty

I'm not sure if there is an Insurance Industry Ombudsman, but I had a hassle with a wanker in a Bank I USED to deal with.

*ahem*

**Oscar** · 4th March 2009, 15:23

Originally Posted by firefighter

is this, straight up, no bullshit fact? Do you have any references?

I'm not digging at ya I genuinely want to know-as I went through something similar and would definately like to copy this down should I need it.....
(I had this same issue with AMI myself, in which they ALSO used tardeme as a means of finding market value, and ripped me off pretty bad I feel)

Standard practice was for the assessor to get up to three valuations, the customer the same, and then average them. I doubt if Trade Me could be used to determine market value by an insurers definition as the prices paid could hardly be defined as "retail".

The Disputes Tribunal would be my first stop in your case...

**vgcspares** · 4th March 2009, 15:39

Originally Posted by firefighter

is this, straight up, no bullshit fact? Do you have any references?

Well it's how I and my predecessors do it in the company I work with - I can't speak for other insurance companies, but would think it obvious that Trademe Classifieds can't be used as they are often "hopeful" and don't indicate what a bike actually sold for (if it sold at all) - similarly, Trademe auctions at best reflect a Private sale level which isn't the same as what you would have to pay to replace your bike from a dealer.

Incidentally we usually pay $s for our PAVs because we believe they have to come from a truly independent trade source which can withstand scrutiny.

All of this doesn't mean we don't have disagreements from time to time (see prior post)

**barty5** · 4th March 2009, 17:08

I had the same prob when mine was stolen insurace co went to a suzuki/ harley dealer in wellington for a price for a yamaha not guessing an RMZ450 being way cheaper bike went from $12500 to $9000 in 3 days policy writern up friday claim went in on the monday (was back dated policy which is another looooong story) ended up with 3 prices from yamaha dealers and they payed out $11000 $1000 was excess.
secondly dont send leter saying your happy to meet them half way and split the difference. You will also have the same problem i had that they wont give you a letter of reaching deadlock so onbudsman wont help till you do.
I ended up giving them a dead line to pay out or ill hand it over to our lawyer they agreed with 2 hours to spare.

**KiwiKat** · 4th March 2009, 17:19

Market Value is resale price not trade or discounted. AMI have always been good for me but they like cheap valuations. If you are on good terms with your Dealer and bike has been serviced etc. they will want you to replace from them. Talk purchase, Get quote. then sort the agent at AMI.