46 replies to this topic

[Ouija Board]

I'm insured with Bell, VXT Stage One, and Milltek. TD 1.2, I got a letter from Thorney, stating the power increase (20BHP iaw his website ). I laboured the fact that the mods are from an official VX franchise, and fully warranted. No probs at all!!. By comparison Ad Flux were pants. I pay 500 odd, AF wanted over 1200 . I know it's very subjective, but just y experience!! Rob

[james141]

Would be worth putting it in writing and fully explaining the 2 and that they are essentially the same, you might get a better resopnse than someone simply working the computer over the phone

Edited by james141, 27 September 2007 - 08:55 PM.

[Spindoctor]

superchips used to be a chip replacement, now they can do it on modern cars by flashing a map on. same thing, newer method.

Well this is what I told them, but they seemed to be in 'computer says no' mode, and as they seem to know nothing about cars, they say that a remap is not covered, but a 'chip' is (even though the guy couldn't explain to me what they meant by a chip!)

They've essentially declined to cover me for next year, so what I'm saying overall is that those of us with remaps declared with them as a 'chip' may have trouble in the event of a claim if they're being tight.

I've asked them to consider it further, so you never know, they may get hold of someone who knows waht they're talking about! I'll update here with anything further they say!

Their stance is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of re-maps. If the call centre operative continues to say no, its surely worth escalating this by going direct to someone in management authority. Always a good idea to start with the CEO.

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

What about HID head lamps these must be an upgrade or mod or something non standard what happens when you crash into a bus stop full of blind kids and old ladies. you better get your lamps out and change them back to the ones that came with the car ........ or else they could say you had an undeclared upgrade /mod on your car I'm gonna phone my insurer and tell them about my "type 116 speedster " sunstrip that could possible be blocking my view. Come on guys some things aren't worth talking about !

[james141]

Their stance is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of re-maps. If the call centre operative continues to say no, its surely worth escalating this by going direct to someone in management authority. Always a good idea to start with the CEO.

This is exactly it, during their training they are probably told if its not on this list it is definatly a no

This is probably done for simplicity and to avoid any missunderstanding and to take any dissisions away from them.

Edited by james141, 27 September 2007 - 09:03 PM.

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

Their stance is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of re-maps. If the call centre operative continues to say no, its surely worth escalating this by going direct to someone in management authority. Always a good idea to start with the CEO.

This is exactly it, during their training they are probably told if its not on this list it is definatly a no

This is probably done for simplicity and to avoid any missunderstanding and to take any dissisions away from them.

this makes sense

[Shortstrip]

Iwas with elephant and when I bought the VXT (stage2) they said they wouldn't insure mods ina ny shape or form?!

Any way switched to a broker reccommended on here (can't remember the name?) and listed all mods in full = no problem.

Strange....I've just renewed my NA with Elephant with remap, Miltek and Nitrons all declared and listed on the paperwork, no problem.

[Spindoctor]

Their stance is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of re-maps. If the call centre operative continues to say no, its surely worth escalating this by going direct to someone in management authority. Always a good idea to start with the CEO.

This is exactly it, during their training they are probably told if its not on this list it is definatly a no

This is probably done for simplicity and to avoid any missunderstanding and to take any dissisions away from them.

It would be worth pointing out to the CEO that their approach is leading, or wil lead, to them losing 'good' insureds. People like us (whether we mod our cars or not) are enthusiasts. Enthusiasts tend to look after their cars. The thought of unnecessarily losing decent policyholders to more enlightened competitors might just motivate senior managers.

Sounds like an intelligent bloke:
Henry Engelhardt (48) is the Chief Executive of the Company. He is a founder director of Admiral and was recruited by the Brockbank Group in 1991 to set up the Admiral business, and was part of the management team that led the MBO in 1999. Prior to joining Admiral, he was Marketing and Sales Manager for Churchill Insurance. He has experience in direct response financial services in the United Kingdom, United States and France. He has an MBA from Insead.

Edited by Spindoctor, 27 September 2007 - 09:16 PM.

[jules_s]

Lets face it, if the call centre staff dont understand a mod its either:- 'Lets fleece the fokka for as much £££ as possible' or 'no' Ive got my re-map listed as IIRC a 'chip enhancement/replacement' with Elephant, and i wont be losing any sleep or contacting them. I'd love to see the legal argument if they welshed on the basis of the difference between a performance enhancing replacement chip or a performance enhancing re written existing chip.

[james141]

Ive got my re-map listed as IIRC a 'chip enhancement/replacement' with Elephant, and i wont be losing any sleep or contacting them.

I'd love to see the legal argument if they welshed on the basis of the difference between a performance enhancing replacement chip or a performance enhancing re written existing chip.

DING

I am almost at stage 2 bar the remap and this wont be putting me off getting it done and putting it down as a chip on my bell policy

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

and my last what about all of us that are using non standard rubber on our wheels . would some loss adjuster void your claim if you were sporting the latest Toyo's or yoko's or what ever ! fcuk it I'm gonna lock the Scubawagen up in the garage and just polish it on sunny dayz. as a point .Insurance was started by two blokes who's names escape as a con and they did so well out of it they continued to insure as many people as possible for as many different things as possible at the moment I have a policy running on my mum to protect me from inheritance tax if she dies how fcuking mad is that !!!! Carry on .

Edited by scubadaddy, 27 September 2007 - 09:40 PM.

[ratboiler]

I use Adrian Flux Limited mileage of 5000, Stage 4 (remap), Milltex, VXR Astra turbo (fitted as part of stage 4), charge cooler, lowered suspension, all declared £515 be warned age is on my side

[Stevoraith]

I claimed with Admiral earlier in the year for a new front clam. Remap was declared as a 'chip', exhaust was declared, turbo lights, splitters and spoiler were not. Had zero problems with the claim. There's not a chance they checked the map and they had no clue that the turbo bits were not standard. Don't sweat it- if the worst comes to the worst you could claim you didn't know the difference between a remap and a chip.

[theotherjonnymac]

I wrote my NA off about eighteen months ago. It did not have any mods but the damage was assessed remotely. The car was in Sussex somewhere and the assessor viewed photos the salvage yard had taken via his computer. I was told that this is pretty common practice these days and therefore had I had a remap it would not have been spotted in a million years and I doubt the assessor would know the difference between a Milltek and a standard exhaust from a photo.

[Stuey]

would some loss adjuster
void your claim
if you were sporting the latest Toyo's or yoko's or what ever !

I doubt it but if you have aftermarket wheels they'll definitely want to know! Apparently you should even declare if you have uprated your brakes.... whether they're better or not they'll still bump up your premiuim because they aren't standard.....

[DJ_SL]

as with any service where u chat to a bod at a call centre u r speaking to a robot. Bet if you call back and speak to somebody else u get a diff story (as other ppl on here have). I've been with Elephant for some yrs now (6yrs i think) with 2 diff cars and made a couple none fault claims without an issue. one on my old car about £1500 and one on VXT (rear clam + one light cluster + 4 weeks Z4 3.0 SE hire) approx £8000-1000K. Neither had any body visit. However they were not serious accidents and I used a dealer to do the repair. I suspect the dodgier the repair center and the more serious the accident the more they look into it. I dont think i would bother telling then about a remap unless the extra charge was well under £100. but i dont have a any mods Elephant is the cheapest for me and have had a fairly decent experience with them. I still hate bloody insurance companies!!!!!!

[chuno]

I was with Admiral (same as elephant) last year. Had my remap declared as an 'engine chip'. Not a problem when i came to claim for a substantial amount after an accident. Inspector came out a few days after if happened, had a 2 minute look around the car, and just said, yep, that's fine mate. The only reason for the visit seemed to be to inspect what needed replacing, wasn't even bothered about mods.

[TonyKL]

I was with Admiral (same as elephant) last year. Had my remap declared as an 'engine chip'. Not a problem when i came to claim for a substantial amount after an accident. Inspector came out a few days after if happened, had a 2 minute look around the car, and just said, yep, that's fine mate. The only reason for the visit seemed to be to inspect what needed replacing, wasn't even bothered about mods.

[Stuey]

Am I right in saying that insurance companies, whilst happy to allow modifications (at a price), will not actually insure them. So if you get rear ended and your sparkly new Larini exhaust gets binned they won't pay out for the value of the modification....? Although I think Adrian Flux are the only people I know who actually insure the for the value of mods as well.... but they'll want you to have owned the car for a year or so.

[Winstar]

Am I right in saying that insurance companies, whilst happy to allow modifications (at a price), will not actually insure them. So if you get rear ended and your sparkly new Larini exhaust gets binned they won't pay out for the value of the modification....? Although I think Adrian Flux are the only people I know who actually insure the for the value of mods as well.... but they'll want you to have owned the car for a year or so.

yep spot on.

Also elephant don't insure none std shocks, when on their site it says modified suspension they only cover lowering springs.

For what it's worth if you've had the car a year Flux will normally price match or beat your best quote.

Rob