Dealing with Famous Car Insurance

[kazbah]

Hi Everyone,

I think it is a good thing when other members recount their experiences with suppliers, whether it be parts or services. In that vein I thought I would outline my experiences with Famous Car Insurance as it is a bit of an obscure insurance company based in WA and underwritten by a company in Gurnsey (the Channel Isles off the coast of UK).

For anyone who isnt aware, I was recently involved in a car accident - I was rear ended by another car. Now keep in mind my dealings with the insurance company is based upon a totally NOT AT FAULT claim, so I cant advise how you would be treated if you were at fault.

The accident happend in the evening of Thusday 13th May. I downloaded the claim form from the Famous web site that night. I rang Famous on Friday morning their time (around midday here) to report the accident, I was told that since I had all the details of the accident I would not loose my NCD or have to pay an excess. Unlike the more mainstream insurance companies they do not have people there 24/7 but at least you get to talk to a REAL person! All was fine and the paperwork was filled out and faxed back to them on the Friday.

It took exactly 1 week for an assessor to look at the car. I rang Famous on Monday of the following week to see if they had received the assessors report - but they hadnt as yet (it got there on the Tuesday). Anyway here is a very important point. When I rang on the Monday I was told that they were about to send me a letter requesting a copy of my driving history from the RTA. Now I have never come across this before. I was not at fault in this accident but before Famous would approve repairs I had to supply the report (the $16 it cost me I will claim back from Famous). So be careful - if you do decide to go with Famous dont make the mistake of telling porkies when they ask about your driving history, if you do you run the risk of them declining your claim whether you are at fault or not!!!!

Anyway I faxed my history to them on the Tuesday and by that afternoon the repairs had be authorised and parts ordered (it will still take about six weeks to fix cos the parts have to come from Japan). All in all there was around $10,000 damage. Oh and another thing - I had to get my personal plates remade and Famous are adding the $50 it cost to the claim, so keep that in mind if this happens to you.

So at this present time it is now up to the panel shop to do the right thing and fix the car to at least the standard it was before, and as I have photos of the car prior to the accident I'll make sure it is!!!

I hope this information helps anyone thinking of insuring with Famous.

By the way have a great Launching Party - wish I could have made it but with family committments and now no car it was not to be!!

Regards
Karen

[G1]

i am also going through a not-at-fault claim with famous classic car insurance (you should edit the subject as you got the name wrong) as wes speak and repairs commenced this week.

they have proven to be hassle free, and yes i had to provide my driving history, and i didnt bother to claim the cost of that back... but like you i had a rear-end accident so it's a good point you made about the rego plate, i should look into getting that included in the claim.

btw if you havent already, and do require your car for employment and can prove it, you can claim car hire back from insurance as well which is what i am doing. there are companies that organise all this for you - you just need to provide the paperwork/letters etc. this only works if you are not at fault

[GPXXX]

well i can safely say that my driving history has been unblemished ever since i got my licence (except for one stupid parking fine)....

good luck with all the repairs - hope all goes well!

[G1]

parking fines are not included in the driving history, only traffic infringements like speeing and red light camera.

man if i count all the money ive used on fixing my 2 ftos i could have turbo charged the damn thing, yes im also getting about $1300 worth of private work done to it...

[Redboost]

This is certainly news to me as I'm insured with Famous as well and I made a not-at-fault claim last October. All I did was was fill in the form and fax it to them and they took care of the rest. No driving history checks at all. Must be a new thing for 2004 then. Then again, I also supplied them with the other party's insurance claim number as well so maybe that has something to do with it as well....

[kazbah]

Then again, I also supplied them with the other party's insurance claim number as well so maybe that has something to do with it as well....

yeah I had all that info including a Police Incident Number, their insurance company, their name, address etc, and a withness details - so it must be a new thing then.

btw if you havent already, and do require your car for employment and can prove it, you can claim car hire back from insurance as well which is what i am doing. there are companies that organise all this for you - you just need to provide the paperwork/letters etc. this only works if you are not at fault

I got a courtsey car from the smash reparers for the duration of the repair - but its a beaten up old duel cap toyota hilux ute - with a canopy mind you - talk about coming back to earth with a crash!!!!

[FTO338]

I think is also depends on the person on the other side of the phone (eg how strict is the person following the "Text Book"). I had an experience where i get 5 different answer from 5 different people in the same call center within the same company.

[GPXXX]

I had an experience where i get 5 different answer from 5 different people in the same call center within the same company.

that is soooo true, you'd be surprised to know that when you call the same company several times you will get different quotes (if you speak to different consultants)...

[PoRKroLL]

im with the same insurance and my car has been in repairs for about a month and a half. I crashed up at old windsor rd into the back of jeep grand cheeroke (where i did little or no damage too it haha), i think i had a microsleep so i guess its my fault. Damages assessed was to be around $13,000.. my god!! and i dont even know when im going to get my car back! and i gota pay $2200 in excess, freakin hell! everyones nightmare.. bloody sports car..

[HEX093]

I had a really positive experience with Famous. (www.famousinsurance.com.au) (1300886029)

I'm in the process of purchasing a FTO GPX, I've put a deposit on it, and I should get it in the next week or so, once the roadworthy goes through.

I’m female, I'll be 22 this month, I live in the city (Melbourne), and I've got my full license.. with only one speeding fine (that’s in my name). RACV gave me a rating 2 with my previous car, I was with them for 2 years, no claims or accidents.

Anyway, RACV quoted me 3,782.94 per year for the FTO (pfft) so I called Famous, and Unique.. (and torque, (over 25's only) and young and cool (really expensive)) Unique said $1382 but they would only give me a rating 2 if I could prove that many years of independent insurance, and for my 2 years, it would end up being $1580. To cut a long story short, I called Famous, talked to a real person, then the underwriter, they were BOTH very nice, and they agreed to give me comprehensive insurance for 1400! (On the condition I paid by the month, but I went over budget on my FTO, so that’s all I can afford right now anyway.) Also, unlike Unique, which sent me snail mail with forms to fill in a snail mail back, Famous got me to fill in forms online, then they called me, I emailed them to clarify some exact details.. And now I’m insured. ($300 up front payment though).

Thanks to everyone who posted about their insurance, hopefully I’ll never need it! I thought I’d share my experience for anyone else who is looking.

--Heather

[kazbah]

im with the same insurance and my car has been in repairs for about a month and a half. I crashed up at old windsor rd into the back of jeep grand cheeroke (where i did little or no damage too it haha), i think i had a microsleep so i guess its my fault. Damages assessed was to be around $13,000.. my god!! and i dont even know when im going to get my car back! and i gota pay $2200 in excess, freakin hell! everyones nightmare.. bloody sports car..

I hate to break the news to you but it took 10 weeks to get my car back on the road!!!!!! They sea freighted the parts from Japan.. Who is your repairer? Let me know how you go.