Extensive hail damage

[nicandlance]

Thanks everyone for your help.....

When they send someone out to assess the damage I will be letting them know (politely of course), that I would prefer for them to write it off.
I'm hoping that doing that and selling it at auction will be more viable to them (weighed up against the cost of repair).

If they decide to repair it, (and considering it's only 4 weeks old), I will be absolutely pedantic about the finish, and am prepared to send it back again and again if the paint finish and colour is not as it was before this happened. (Or if there are rattles, bog or other rubbish going on that weren't there before).

I'm not looking forward to what lies ahead if I have to go down that track.... I'd much rather wait 6 months for a replacement

[Pauly]

I feel for you nicandlance

My dad is going through the same thing with his 2 month old Tiguan. There are about 50 dints all over the car from all the hail.

Hes hoping its a write off too.

[nicandlance]

Please let me know how he goes.... is he with AAMI too?

[Pauly]

Please let me know how he goes.... is he with AAMI too?

Nah he is with GIO from memory.

He also has a Honda that is also in the same boat. So he is tossing up wether to do them at the same time or in intervals.

Because its all good and well to declare it a write off, but that means you are without a car.

And a Golf/Tiguan has waits of 4+ months.

So its going to stuff alot of people up.

Sure you can get a rental car, but thats for a max of 2 - 3 weeks from memory?

[G-rig]

It's probably too late now but the cheapest premium isn't always the best (could be worth changing insurance for next time). Hopefully the AAMI repairs go well if they do repair it, and let us know how you get on.

[deuce]

Best way if they do repair your car is to inspect the repair and measure paint thickness in microns, this can be done before the car goes in for repair and after it comes back to make sure it has not been over loaded with filler etc. The best way to get the test done is at chisholm tafe etc at the auto paint department, the guage is costly. if they keep getting it wrong , keep sending it back..in the end, they will right it off..is best to state in the beginning your intentions..you want the car in as new condition..and will be having it tested to be sure it is..then they know to do it right the first time.

[roy]

hope it can be fixed in a short time...

[Allegiance]

When I had my company car repaired due to an accident, I had to grab some gear out of it whilst is was being repaired.

Car really smelled like cigarette smoke. Whilst I couldn't smell it when I picked it up, I wasn't happy that someone had been smoking in it.

[Coaster]

Best of luck nicandlance. I'd hate for my slippery new car to be damaged out of the blue (or grey as is the case).

Some relatives in Melbourne had their ~1 year old Mazda MX5 damaged by the hail. Apparently it was written off.

[Corey_R]

Best way if they do repair your car is to inspect the repair and measure paint thickness in microns, this can be done before the car goes in for repair and after it comes back to make sure it has not been over loaded with filler etc. The best way to get the test done is at chisholm tafe etc at the auto paint department, the guage is costly. if they keep getting it wrong , keep sending it back..in the end, they will right it off..is best to state in the beginning your intentions..you want the car in as new condition..and will be having it tested to be sure it is..then they know to do it right the first time.

That's not a bad idea if you have access to the equipment... give AAMI fair warning that you have the equipment and the measurements, so they better be damn confident that they can fix it properly first time! hehe

[Spook]

This on GoAuto today. Helps to visualise the damage I suppose.

Dealers face damage bill in the millions after hail smashes car stocks in Victoria
8 March 2010

By RON HAMMERTON

DOZENS of Melbourne car dealers are counting the cost of Saturday’s massive hailstorm which damaged hundreds of new and used cars on forecourts across the eastern suburbs.

The damage bill to cars alone is expected to run into millions of dollars, with dealers already signaling plans to hold “hail damage” sales at discounts of up to $15,000 to clear away the mess.

Hail stones as big as tennis balls dented panels and smashed windows as the storm – a remnant of the same tropical system that inundated areas of Queensland and New South Wales last week – cut a swathe across the middle of the Melbourne metropolitan area in what has been described as a one-in-100-year hail storm.

One of the worst-hit areas was the outer eastern suburb of Ferntree Gully, where the largest hail scored a bull’s-eye on about 12 dealerships lined up in a popular car shopping strip on Burwood Highway.

In scenes reminiscent of Sydney’s Parramatta Rd disaster some years ago, almost every vehicle parked in the open suffered some damage. Broken rear windows also let torrential rain flow into the cars, compounding the problem.

Toyota dealer Gavin Werner, of Graham Werner Toyota, told the Herald Sun that only 40 or 50 of his stock of 230 new cars and 110 used cars had escaped damage in the storm.

Mr Werner, who valued his stock at $8 million, said he had watched helplessly from the showroom on Saturday afternoon as the hail hammered the cars, some of which he believed would have to be written off.

He said the dealership had been preparing for a grand opening of its new Burwood Highway facility.

“Now we are going to have a hail sale instead of a grand opening,” he was quoted as saying.

Thousands of private cars were also pummeled, showing evidence of glass damage and dimpled panels over a wide area, from Nunawading to Belgrave in the Dandenong Ranges.

In inner areas of the city, more damage was caused when dozens of cars were trapped in flooded streets. In many cases, the hail was so thick on the ground that it blocked storm water drains. Shredded leaves brought down by the hail also contributed to the problem.

Some of the more minor hail damage to car panels will be repaired using suction techniques, but others hit by the biggest hail stones are being assessed to see if they are worth repairing.

Unlike many car dealers in the northern states where hard lessons have been learned about hail damage, few Melbourne dealers have hail netting to protect vehicles stored in the open air, as hail in the southern state is rarely sufficiently big to cause panel damage.

Most manufacturers, however, pay to store wholesale new-vehicle stocks under protective netting at storage facilities such as ManheimFowles and Prixcar, just in case.

[Spook]

Hope you get the car written-off Nicandlance. I had gone through AAMI for smash repairs and hail damage before, and in that instance, the repair was well done.

I was just in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, and had a Jetta as a hire car. Glad we missed this hailstorm or we would have to fork out the ridiculous $$$ excess.

[Dubya]

Thanks everyone for your help.....

When they send someone out to assess the damage I will be letting them know (politely of course), that I would prefer for them to write it off.
I'm hoping that doing that and selling it at auction will be more viable to them (weighed up against the cost of repair).

If they decide to repair it, (and considering it's only 4 weeks old), I will be absolutely pedantic about the finish, and am prepared to send it back again and again if the paint finish and colour is not as it was before this happened. (Or if there are rattles, bog or other rubbish going on that weren't there before).

I'm not looking forward to what lies ahead if I have to go down that track.... I'd much rather wait 6 months for a replacement

Really sorry to hear your upsetting news - I was caught up in your excitement and anticipation for your new car too!

Looking ahead however, your approach is right, but to confirm and set out some more steps and options:

- try and get on the assessor's good side, as I am sure you are intending to and will do;

- express your concern about having such a new car turned into a much less valuable (ie hail-damaged) vehicle (however this is economic loss and not what MV insurance policies cover; they cover damage, but convey the "vibe" of what is going down;

- if AAMI refuses to write it off and replace it, don't take "no" for an answer without doing the maths yourself - ie find out the cost to AAMI of repairing it, what AAMI might get at auction (the market will be flooded) and see what it will cost AAMI to put you in a new TSI (eg $32k - $15,000 salvage = $17k vs say, $13k in repairs).

So, say it was a $4k difference - put pressure on AAMI not to have a most dissatisfied customer instead of a delighted customer for the sake of, in this example, $4k difference in claim cost. Use any examples of family and friends who have policies with AAMI or other policies that you have or have had with AAMI (eg long-standing/loyal customer).

If this does not work, as a last resort, try and negotiate a deal by offering to contribute a portion (say 20% to start) of the difference between the two options. Escalate to the regional manger (sales) if necessary. The claims manager will be motivated to drive claims costs down.

This may not be an option for you but you really have to explore all options if you are gong to come out of this in reasonable shape.

Bear in mind too that your car will be off the road for 6 weeks minimum - maybe a lot longer as there will be a backlog of repairs.

Presuming AAMI elects to repair the car (my 2yo V40 was extensively damaged and repaired after Sydney's 1999 event and the more valuable the car the less likely a write-off I am afraid):

- call the top repairers and find out how such damage to Golfs is repaired and what method is best;

- ask the assessor how such damage will be repaired and insist on the best approach;

- ditto with the actual repairer;

- only agree to leave the car if the repair time is acceptable and the repairer agrees to provide a rental/loan car if they miss their deadline

- get the arrangement in writing. This will ensure they do not take your car too soon - it is not intended to get you a loaner!

- inspect the work in progress regularly to confirm that it is being repaired as agreed (also in writing).

I hope you can get your way with AAMI - - - they sound like sharks who deserve all your no-doubt-considerable charms can extract!

Good luck - and PM me if AAMI is not cooperative upfront.

[nicandlance]

AAMI want to send out someone to replace the windscreen so I can drive the car around until it's assessed.

Not sure whether getting the new window in before the assessment will hamper my chances of having it written off (after they have gone to the expense of putting a new window in).
Is it worth holding off and waiting till someone comes out to look at it, or won't it make any difference? (I guess they have to have a window in it to sell it at auction anyway......)

And thanks Dubya for all that info... I will definitely use all those tips! Wish I had you (or someone who can roll all this stuff off the tongue like you) here to do the talking for me!!

[Dubya]

AAMI want to send out someone to replace the windscreen so I can drive the car around until it's assessed.

Not sure whether getting the new window in before the assessment will hamper my chances of having it written off (after they have gone to the expense of putting a new window in).
Is it worth holding off and waiting till someone comes out to look at it, or won't it make any difference? (I guess they have to have a window in it to sell it at auction anyway......)

And thanks Dubya for all that info... I will definitely use all those tips! Wish I had you (or someone who can roll all this stuff off the tongue like you) here to do the talking for me!!

You're most welcome, Nic (further suggestions below).

An assessor could be a long time coming and if the 'screen tilts it one way over the other (not likely) you can negotiate.