NOOOOOOOO My Car :(

[diddylord]

I had a similar situation a couple years ago with a hire vehicle not fit to use, I rang the company and they send a different one to work the next day, I would have thought euro car would be able to do the same

[HarryMonkey]

I know. What do I do about getting to work then... I can't keep having days off. Grrrrr. So annoyed with the whole situation!!!!

 

Better to have a couple of hours off work than points on your licence through illegal tyres (3pts per tyre), or worse, not being able to stop on a wet road. To be honest, you never should have accepted the car in the first place.

 

I've been lucky, the last time I had to get a hire car, it was all handled by the other driver's insurance company (LV, I think), the hire car company phoned me the day before they were delivering it to check the address and to apologise as the only car they had in my class of vehicle (Mondeo or similar) was an Audi A4 convertible ... I was gutted lol !!

[mac_shinobi]

Better to have a couple of hours off work than points on your licence through illegal tyres (3pts per tyre), or worse, not being able to stop on a wet road. To be honest, you never should have accepted the car in the first place.

 

I've been lucky, the last time I had to get a hire car, it was all handled by the other driver's insurance company (LV, I think), the hire car company phoned me the day before they were delivering it to check the address and to apologise as the only car they had in my class of vehicle (Mondeo or similar) was an Audi A4 convertible ... I was gutted lol !!

 

Yeah I would agree with this - better to have time off work than get points on your license etc. Never knew about 3 points per tyre if it is bald or not enough tread etc. Good to know

[witch]

I know. What do I do about getting to work then... I can't keep having days off. Grrrrr. So annoyed with the whole situation!!!!

 

Ring them from work and tell them that you want them to come and swap it for a better one or else you will go to the police due to the state of the car. Ring the guys insurance company and let them know how you are being treated

[Chris_]

I know. What do I do about getting to work then... I can't keep having days off. Grrrrr. So annoyed with the whole situation!!!!

 

You could get public transport. Or sort out your own hire car and then claim it back from the insurance company.

[abillybob]

Errrm so I just received this via email:

 

Hello

 

To enable you to continue driving the hire vehicle, we need to validate your drivers licence with the DVLA.

 

Failure to do so by 6.30pm this evening may result in the termination of the hire vehicle within 24 hours.

 

You can contact us on 03*********, between the hours of 08:30 and 19:00 Monday until Friday and 9:00 and 13:00 on Saturday in order to complete the DVLA conference call.

 

Kind Regards,

 

$Company

 

What the actual ! I won't be home until 8 tonight and don't have my driving license on me at the moment. I've tried calling them and the woman I spoke to was like a robot just kept repeating the email to me over and over again. So now they have just added to the stress of everything. I'm sick of them worst hire company I've ever dealt with.

[Tesla]

They should of done that before they gave you the car...

[tmoon-mint]

Surely they could get all the information they require from your current insurance company. Sounds like they are too cheap to pay for access to the DVLA database to me. I had an insurer who asked that I post them a copy of my paper licence for this very reason.

 

If they aren't sure that you have a licence why did they give you the car in the first place? Name and shame I say!

Edited February 11, 2015 by tmoon-mint

[witch]

What about the condition - did you speak to them about that yet?

[abillybob]

Albany Assistance

 

Maybe I should have Googled them before I even did dealing with them.

 

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3961191

 

Albany and Elephant car-crash claim turned into a tale of excess | Money | The Guardian

 

of 189 Albany Assistance Ltd http://www.albanyassistance.co.uk Reviews | Younghl402's Review | Review Centre

 

Albany Assistance Ltd - Warning - Insurance Forum - Peugeot 306 GTi-6 & Rallye Owners Club

 

Hmmmm.

 

What about the condition - did you speak to them about that yet?

 

They said the end review of how it was dropped off is final and they can't change that. I argued with them for about an hour before I hung up as they just seem to read lines from a screen.

Edited February 11, 2015 by abillybob

[Tesla]

Annoyingly i can't remember the name of the company i dealt with, but the car was in good nick, and they showed me the inspection sheet before i had it and let me go around the car and check for damage etc before they signed it over to me. Car was lovely and clean, all four tyres were almost new etcetc./

 

Probably a bad time to say that the company i couldn't remember the name of, but had absolutely no problems with....was albany assistance..

[matt40k]

@abillybob Poke....

 

You could get public transport.

[Chris_]

Albany Assistance

 

Maybe I should have Googled them before I even did dealing with them.

 

If only you'd said earlier. I could have warned you!

 

When somebody hit my car, I spoke to my insurers (Admiral) and they wanted to deal with it via Albany, I said no and sorted it all out via the 3rd parties insurance company.]

 

From what I read online, if you deal with Albany Assistance they will give you a hire car with a daily hire price ~£200, and could have it for a couple of weeks, they try to claim the money back from the insurance company, they refuse as it's much more than a hire car should cost, then Albany need you to go to court with them to help claim the cost back otherwise you're liable to pay!

[CAM]

I used Albany Assistance and had no problems with them. Then again I was the car that got hit.

[abillybob]

@abillybob Poke....

 

No I can't. I need a car for other things not just for work. Seeing my girlfriend for example there's no public transport to her village at all.

 

If only you'd said earlier. I could have warned you!

 

When somebody hit my car, I spoke to my insurers (Admiral) and they wanted to deal with it via Albany, I said no and sorted it all out via the 3rd parties insurance company.]

 

From what I read online, if you deal with Albany Assistance they will give you a hire car with a daily hire price ~£200, and could have it for a couple of weeks, they try to claim the money back from the insurance company, they refuse as it's much more than a hire car should cost, then Albany need you to go to court with them to help claim the cost back otherwise you're liable to pay!

 

I was told by my insurance (General Accident) that the hire company they will go with was Enterprise, but then this happened and I for some reason got Albany.

 

I used Albany Assistance and had no problems with them. Then again I was the car that got hit.

This accident wasn't my fault...? I'm confused what do you mean?

[mac_shinobi]

Never been with them, been with Elephant / Admiral / and now Octagon. Been with Octagon for a few years now, my renewal is due end of March / Start of April so will see who offers me the best deal in April and go with them.

 

Can't say or comment on how good they are as not had to claim etc

Edited February 11, 2015 by mac_shinobi

[matt40k]

No I can't. I need a car for other things not just for work. Seeing my girlfriend for example there's no public transport to her village at all.

 

If you can get to work on the bus, surely that'll be easier then the hassle with the hire car. Could she travel to you, failing that, doesn't absence make the heart grow fonder? It shouldn't be more the a few days \ a week or so, so what's the problem. Sorry, I don't possess a car nor does my missus, so I'm struggling to understand why you can't survive without a car for a while.

[abillybob]

If you can get to work on the bus, surely that'll be easier then the hassle with the hire car. Could she travel to you, failing that, doesn't absence make the heart grow fonder? It shouldn't be more the a few days \ a week or so, so what's the problem. Sorry, I don't possess a car nor does my missus, so I'm struggling to understand why you can't survive without a car for a while.

 

I haven't had my car for the last week and they reckon it's going to take another two weeks to get the parts etc... The bus drops off in the town near my school meaning a good 20 minute walk from the town to my school, plus just checked some of the timings and they're slightly off meaning I either get to work really early or really late and there's no train in my lil country town The girlfriend won't be to happy if I say I can't see her for nearly a month and she'd have to drive to me overtime because she works very late .

 

I probably would if I didn't live out in the sticks so much, it's hard to describe , there's a sense of security I suppose with a car where if anything was to happen I can just get in it and drive somewhere, my mum is poorly at the moment and she's living on her own with me and my lil brother so it's nice to think if anything was too happen I can take her to the hospital etc...

 

It's hard to describe if you don't own a car, though I'm sure most people agree that when going from your own car to public transport it's not very nice, I like my luxuries too much I suppose you could say but the last time I went on a bus to Telford I had 3 chavs surround me and ask me to hand over my phone, I'll never step back on a bus again. Though I was only young then at 15!!

[CAM]

Seriously? :|

 

If my car is out of action...

Twenty minute walk from house to station.

Trains will be cut to two per hour. Miss one I'm stuffed.

Twenty minute walk from station to work, uphill.

 

And with an early start I am up at 5am to get out the house on time.

 

And my accident was straight up rear shunt, no quibble about fault there.

[mac_shinobi]

I haven't had my car for the last week and they reckon it's going to take another two weeks to get the parts etc... The bus drops off in the town near my school meaning a good 20 minute walk from the town to my school, plus just checked some of the timings and they're slightly off meaning I either get to work really early or really late and there's no train in my lil country town The girlfriend won't be to happy if I say I can't see her for nearly a month and she'd have to drive to me overtime because she works very late .

 

I probably would if I didn't live out in the sticks so much, it's hard to describe , there's a sense of security I suppose with a car where if anything was to happen I can just get in it and drive somewhere, my mum is poorly at the moment and she's living on her own with me and my lil brother so it's nice to think if anything was too happen I can take her to the hospital etc...

 

It's hard to describe if you don't own a car, though I'm sure most people agree that when going from your own car to public transport it's not very nice, I like my luxuries too much I suppose you could say but the last time I went on a bus to Telford I had 3 chavs surround me and ask me to hand over my phone, I'll never step back on a bus again. Though I was only young then at 15!!

 

I would never use public transport again if I can avoid it , like @abillybob says - once you have had a car / your own transport , being without it feels like you lose some of your freedoms as can't just go ok , leaving in my car now, see you in 30 mins or whatever, gotta pay more money on public transport and then you can only give a rough time of when you will get there and when you arrive to that area then you still have to walk or get a taxi etc thus costing more

 

When you drive, you just drive from your house outside your front door directly to where ever it is you need to go.

 

I live 18 miles away from work and if I had to use public transport I would need to either get someone to pick me up from the bus or train station and come to work from Northampton town. Even if there are buses that go near here I would still have a 30 min walk and it is just a PITA

 

Also like abillybob said regards to family relying on you if they need to go doctors / hospital / other appointments etc and you are without a car, you can't get them anywhere or help them.

 

Guess you just have to have a car for a while and then try and go back to public transport and then maybe you will realise how bad public transport ( at least in my opinion ) is in the UK in comparison to say Australia or other countries

[LincolnE]

To be honest, I wouldn't drive a car with bald tyres / known defects. There is no excuse for this, no "Well this is how I was given it" or "It's only for a couple of weeks", you yourself are responsible for the condition of it, even with a hire car.

 

We had the same situation when I was driving for ASDA home delivery. Many of the vans had known defects such as electrical problems, bald tyres, no indicators/brake lights and the light. It was only when someone got pulled over, given a large fine and 6 points on the licence did the rest of the drivers stand up and say that they aren't willing to drive them anymore.

 

Trust me on this one, if anything did happen such as getting pulled over by the police, there is no chance in hell that the hire company would back you up. They'd wash their hands the second it happens (and then likely charge you more on top of this, for repair to the car).

 

Lets say on a rainy day the hire car you hypothetically have another crash. One, you'd be responsible regardless due to the condition of the car and two, if anyone was injured and the plods come along, you'd be at the receiving end of any criminal charges. Worst case scenario, someone is to pass away, you'd find yourself with manslaughter charges on your back with no reasonable comeback.

 

Sorry to be that person, but regardless of personal situations and circumstances, you're putting everyone on the road at risk due to the condition of the car. Ring them up and get them to replace it ASAP and don't drive it until it's done so, to me it wouldn't be worth the risk.

[X-13]

the last time I went on a bus to Telford I had 3 chavs surround me and ask me to hand over my phone, I'll never step back on a bus again.

 

You were in a car crash, guess you're never driving again.

[36Degrees]

I used Albany Assistance and had no problems with them. Then again I was the car that got hit.

 

Same here. The guys who delivered the courtesy car were brilliant as well. (That was July 2011)

[matt40k]

You were in a car crash, guess you're never driving again.

 

Exactly. @abillybob I'm not saying get rid of the car, I'm saying if you can get a hire car, brill, it it's causing you problems, well suck it up, take public transport avoid the hassle, you might even be able to get them to arrange for a taxi to take you to work everyday!! It won't kill you. It isn't for ever. If you have to get to work early, then do it. It won't kill you to put in a extra few hours \ get for a coffee first thing \ whatever. You're gonna have people around you that can get you out of a jam if something (else) bad happens and you need to get away quick - I doubt we'd let any of colleagues drive to the hospital anyway because they wouldn't be in any fit state to drive if they've just found out their loved ones is in hospital. Your boss is more likely to be sympathetic to you leaving early to pick up the car once its repaired if you've been getting to work early rather then getting in on time and moaning all day about your car. Just remember, it's getting close to that time when the money pot gets refilled and no-one wants the bosses to be tempted to outsource the IT support.

[woodham]

have you got them to change the hire car yet , as you've openly admitted that your knowingly driving round in a car with bald tyres on it on a public forum you might just be lining yourself up for a no payout from the insurance if anything happens whilst your driving it and a few points on your licence.

 

just ring them up tell them the car was delivered with balled tyres and it needs to be changed today otherwise your reporting them to the police and or trading standards its really not that difficult.