Aami = Bad!

[arm79]

Nope, no work at all for me. And zero cost for me. I don't have to fork out a cent.

I just have to fill out a claim form in the same manner as dealing with my insurance company and sit back and wait for things to happen.

Just for me to be assured everything was legit, I spoke to a few people and the lawyers about how it all worked. Otherwise I wouldn't have to speak to anyone at all. Just the panel beater when I make the claim, drop off my car and pickup the waiting hire car and when I go back to pickup my fixed car.

In my case, AAMI apparently have a special department which deals with lawyer based claims like mine. The lawyer looks at my claim, makes sure its straight down the line. Quote on the car is makde and an independant assesor ensures the quote is valid. The lawyer then sends paperwork and letters of demand to AAMI.

Again, in my case because its a simple case of "your customer a$$ ended my customer, you must pay (plus the at fault driver has been charged by cops)", AAMI have no choice but to say yes, go ahead. And when the repair is done, my lawyer sends the final bill to AAMI and they disperse cheques to the lawyer, my panel beater and car rental agency.

There have been a half dozen court cases that have made this type of claim a legal precedent, so there is no way of insurance companies running away from it. Insurance companies don't like it because it costs them more, so they actually argue less and make things happen very quickly.

You'll even find alot of panel beaters now who advertise this kind of service for the not at fault party.

And they can't really contest. The car is insured for $43,000. Unfortunately FPV parts are stupidly expensive ($5000 for the rear bumper alone). This is an economical repair for any insurance company, so its just the cost of doing business for AAMI.

Edited 08/04/11 03:35 AM by arm79

[Worm]

The guys insurance company is the same as mine! So I'm f*cked either way...

[arm79]

I think it would be different. AAMI wont be acting on your behalf, someone else will be. So you wouldn't fall under all of their crap policies and timelines.

Its essentially you sueing the other guys policy. Not policy vs policy.

You said you're going to move when the renewal is due. What have you got to loose, apart from 4 weeks of waiting for approval, taking it to a repairer you know and trust and a free hire car while yours is out of action.

http://www.kenyons.com.au/motor-vehicle-property-damage.html is the mob that my panel beater uses and I'm going through if its of interest.

Teach the silly mofos a lesson for turning their previously excellent repair process into something akin to a Ford Warranty claim.

[SuckSqueezeBangBlow]

I wish I had known this a few months ago!

all good for next time though I'll use them for sure.

[arm79]

I know I'm glad I found out about the concept and how it all works.

Accidents happen and cars get fixed. My problem, like most, is not having a car while mines in for repairs. As soon as I got shunted the first thing I thought of what "how am I going to get to all my doctors appointments and stuff". I've been a bit sick over the past 3 months, and I'm finally on the mend, but not having a car to get into the city to see doctors would cause me no end of problems.

So it was more of a search to find a way to make this idiot pay for a car in the meantime that lead me to all this. Couldn't care more if its a Jazz or an Audi (but an Audi would be nice), but a car is a car at the moment.

My panel beater says its should only be gone for 2 to 3 weeks. I have a feeling it might be more like 2 or so months, knowing what Ford and FPV are like with the rarer spare parts.

[Corzza]

This is interesting.

I have never had an issue with AAMI however the stories are becoming consistantly poor.

I wonder is it is certain states that they are worse in

[arm79]

They must run in cycles. I was a AAMI customer in the past. Had 1 at fault and 1 not at fault claim. Both were cleared up in less than a week, the not at fault claim in 3 days actually. Hardly had to wait on the line for someone, they were frankly excellent.

Unfortunately they wanted to bump me to Just Car for my Force 6 insurance, so I went elsewhere.

But when I had to contact them for information about the other drivers claim details, the first call I was on hold for 45 mins and when someone answered, I told him what I wanted, and he goes "Oh, OK..." And hung up on me.

Rang the next day, waited for 53 mins... And luckily the lady was excellent with her assistance, so it saved her from a blasting.. lol... But then, I still wasn't happy about wasting almost 2 hours with a phone to my ear.

Shannons don't seem all that better anymore. On the night of the accident, I rang them to inform them of the accident and was told that the claims office is closed after 5. Call back in the morning. All I got was their preferred after hours tow truck service. So much for Glenn Ridge's promise of Shannon's "always being there for you"!

[Corzza]

Yeah I agree with you on Shannons. I dont have much time for them.

I have been lucky with AAMI they have by far been the best

[hawlass]

Wonder if AAMI is in with AMI insurance here in NZ?, as the government has just announced it is bailing them out before they go tits up over here.

[dre]

I don't get why you have told aami anything. I think this is where it has all gone wrong for you. I never told aami about my door. It was 3800 for a simple door repair, no major damage but mr gloss handled the repair I just parked it and gave the other guys details.

No need for aami to know anything about me.

That said may look for another insurer next year.