Extensive hail damage

[nicandlance]

How much water entered the car and where did it get in? Windscreen / side windows etc.

Take a couple of photo's of the broken glass if you can & post them up.

I deal with insurance companies & assessors all the time (repairer), I may have a couple of suggestions for you.

Thanks Macdoc,
As far as I can see, no water has entered the car.... except perhaps through the side mirror which had its cover smashed right off. The electricals were all exposed there - we have just popped the cover back on but its still broken. The windscreen although broken was covered in star smashes but still holding together.

[hoi polloi]

Good luck with everything...

- Anthony.

[Tigger]

Hi Nic,

Firstly...very sorry for you guys. I'm sure it is very painful.

Well you sure got the "works" from everyone's replies...

I agree with the dignity and composure of the posts from Dubya. Just keep your cool and dignity if possible and show that you are mild and keen to get this resolved as soon as possible in order to get on with the important things in life.

I have found that the key sometimes is "less is more" ie not saying too much, and therefore letting your initial request to get this written off taken seriously. Dont get too worked up "against" the assesor or company (keep that up your sleeve if nec for later)

Kepp them "on-side" if possible. Remember, that often at the crunch time, it is just one or two people's signatures on some paperwork that can finalise a matter....try and find the right person...

Document everything!!!! Every call, Every repairer consulted, your mechanic, dealership etc.. every AAMI person's name and position etc. etc. and take plenty of pics for your records.....

Hope it all goes well!

Does this make sense? or am I just waffling?

Best of luck!

[nicandlance]

Thanks Tigger, I intend on keeping my cool.... but we have waited a long time to get a car like this and to have it destroyed like this hurts like hell. I don't intend to go in and jump and down, but I will ask if they would consider leaning towards replacing it. Although no water went into the car through the windscreen, it did get into the side mirror when it was blown clear off... don't know how much got in through there or what damage (if any) it did.
I certainly won't be happy if they try and tell me that they have to replace the roof (like the guy down the road that had his $90,000 work truck damaged), particularly if the safety factor of laser welding is not accessible here.
Been on to VW about how they would recommend fixing the damage.... nothing concrete back yet....

Can only wait and see... very nervous!

[decksla]

just wanna say good luck with it all.

im in rowville too (gimme a wave if you see a silver relli tearing around) and my wifes car got hit, though not too badly.

shes with allianz and they are organising a huge assessment centre where we'll have to drive the car into to get checked. Its an 04 Euro and has around 20-30 dents. There's a chance of a write off.

Anyway, i wouldn't really worry about panel damage if they decide to fix it. there's most likely no structural damage and so once the dents are repaired, it will be like new (possibly better than new if you arc up enough about orange peel in the paint ).

Most new cars off the line don't have a super great paint job to begin with and so if you can score a top notch cut and polish, could be looking better than new.

[soogs]

Just to cheer you up Nic, our pergola fell down in the storm on the w/e and we are insured with AAMI. After Mav's dire warnings, I thought I'll get the third degree when I rang to lodge the claim. I couldn't be more wrong. The operator was the most pleasant person I had encountered. He said, just get it fixed and send us the bill, no assessors, no 20 questions and claim lodged in under 5 mins.

So good luck for Sun.

[Tigger]

Hi guys,

Yep, i know things will work out well for you. Please keep us informed how it all goes, and dont feel bad about wanting things to go your way. After all, this is what insurance companies are here for. You pay them to represent your wishes...

I would only stress that in the end you just want to get on with life, so can they pls make this whole experience as smooth as possible.

Chat soon!

[nicandlance]

Hooray!!!!!!

Good luck has shone on me today!

After a shocking start to 2010 (first a woman backs into me after I've had my tsi one week, then the hail storm blows apart half my house and 2 of our cars, then my uncle dies of cancer and it's only March....)

CAR WRITTEN OFF, NEW ONE ON THE WAY!!!!!!! (Hopefully soon)

Thank you to everyone for your help...

Had my notes in case I needed to argue the point, but had a lovely assessor who barely even looked at the car. He hadn't even walked up to us and was saying 'this one's going to heaven'. We'll replace it new for new... think about whether you want the same colour or not.....

Best thing I've heard in weeks.....

Now, to start thinking about whether I'll go for the same colour..... black, grey, white again? I don't know....

[Highlander]

Great news

Good luck has shone on me today!

After a shocking start to 2010 (first a woman backs into me after I've had my tsi one week, then the hail storm blows apart half my house and 2 of our cars, then my uncle dies of cancer and it's only March....)

CAR WRITTEN OFF, NEW ONE ON THE WAY!!!!!!! (Hopefully soon)

:

Will be interesting to see what they do in the meantime. Do you get to drive your golf ball replica (current car) until the new one arrives assuming you are lining up for a six months wait once again - or is something else provided in the meantime?

[Transporter]

Good luck has shone on me today!

CAR WRITTEN OFF, NEW ONE ON THE WAY!!!!!!! (Hopefully soon)

Thank you to everyone for your help...

That's good news! Can you post the pictures of the damage? It would be good to see how big the roof damage has to be in order to get the car written off?

I hope you wont be a wheel less, while waiting for your car.

[nicandlance]

No, they took the car then and there.
I will be driving my husbands battered up Astina for a while....

The roof damage was pretty bad... up to about a hundred dents right across the top. The sides of the roof (above the doors) were also bashed in, bonnet had about 50 dings. Side mirror also busted off.

Took out my floor mats (just in case).

I don't care about the wait so much - it will be frustrating, but I was more worried they'd try to save themselves money and fix it.

So far - very happy with AAMI. Gave us a taxi home from Preston to Rowville, assessment quick and painless (just shaky knees on my part), staff all very friendly.
Perhaps I wouldn't be so happy if I had to get repairs, but thankfully I haven't had to deal with that.

[Lima]

Good news on your replacement car Nic. Hope you get a new one in double quick time.

[DracZ]

Been keeping an eye out on this thread since its inception (I've just signed up with AAMI just a couple of weeks back), great news and congrats on the replacement!

[Christopher]

Great to hear Nic. Sounds like your luck is turing!
Did they give you an indication as to how long your wait will now be?

[mr gee]

All the best. Nic, now you can spec the Golf you would have wanted.

Have been with AAMI for 10 years and have been happy with them.