Saturday, February 5, 2011

Is Aviva the worst insurance company in the country?

The only reason I'm insured with Aviva is because there is almost no alternative in the world of motorbike insurance. Any other company asks for far more money. I know this fact, and yet I still insured myself with Aviva because I was prepared to take the risk that I would have to pay for repairs, and I have medical insurance.

Aviva are rubbish:-
  • When my neighbour's car caught fire and burned mine, Aviva would not pay his claim because it was a "mechanical fault", so I had to claim against my insurance at a cost to my no-claims bonus.
  • When an Audi TT pulled across in front of me and I claimed for damages to my bike, they lost the claim, then were unable to trace the other car owner, then eventually offered me £35 which was less than the cost of my no-claims bonus. I turned it down and paid for the repairs myself.
  • Try phoning them. "Press 5 for 52 more options, and speak to someone in Little Bombay who can just about read a script but doesn't understand what you are telling them."
  • ...I had several other unfortunate dealings with Aviva, and so it goes on.  Every time I come across Aviva they refuse to pay or else offer a ridiculous settlement.  Even their pension plan actually LOST money last year. (Yes, I'm moving my money out.) 
So now, it is over 7 weeks since the accident, and they have done nothing about my motorbike. First they tell me not to get the repairs done because they may want to inspect the damage. Then they demand estimates etc from me (which I sent), then they wrote to me to say they have closed the claim. The lawyer wrote to them telling them that the claim is still open. And at long last they have decided to inspect the bike to check the estimate.

Today they have asked me to send a sketch of the accident with names of people and registration numbers of vehicles. ... SEVEN weeks after the accident?

I tried to call them. A recorded message tells me that they seem to be having technical problems and cannot connect my call. I should "call back in an hour" by which time they will be closed for the day.

If you ever hope to be properly insured, do not use Aviva. They are only a useful service if all you want to do is tell the DVLC that you have insurance so that you can get a tax disc. But they will never be of any use to you as an insurer.