Car caught fire.

On the way to work this morning my car caught fire, it's gutted the inside looks like a write off, I've only had the car 3 weeks so I phoned the garage up where I got it from and he said it's not covered under the warranty, the AA lad who recovered my car said that these garages get away with murder on the warranties, the guy at the garage said under the warranty your only covered for £300 worth of work. Should I go and see him in person or go to Trading Standards?

[Chris]

I think you need to take it up with your insurance company. Insurers like to reduce their costs where they can by getting someone else to pay up. If there is a warranty, they may be interested in getting an engineer's report on what caused the fire and sticking it to the warranty provider if the cause of the fire was something that was covered.

At this stage I would have thought it is impossible for the garage to say 'fires aren't covered'. They can't possibly know what caused the fire, so they can't know whether the underlying problem was covered by the warranty or not.

[Russ]

See him in person first in case it can be settle amicably. But more importantly, did you take any pictures for us?

[bopdude]

Bad news mate, sorry to hear it, at least your ok, warrenty wise, I wouldn't have a clue, shurely the car will be written off if so, isn't it covered on the insurance ?

[Chimaera]

I'd go to Trading Standards and the CAB as well - TS would like to know of any 'dodgy' practices on their doorstep, they could have other complaints about these 'warranties' as well. The CAB will be able to tell you your rights.
I've had experience of one of these 'policies' before, from a private dealer. My ex bought an Escort from them, the gearbox jammed, when he took (towed) the car back he was told that the warranty covered the engine only!
PS - Glad you're ok - well I take it as you're posting you are!

[homer]

Hi,

The most important thing is are you ok ?????
the thing is most of garages are con artists and the so called warrenty they provide aint worth didly , so my advise would be go to your insurance they would help...... good luck and I'm glad you are ok


homer

Originally Posted by Russ D

See him in person first in case it can be settle amicably. But more importantly, did you take any pictures for us?

Yeah I'm ust sorting them out now.

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by Nidge

Yeah I'm ust sorting them out now.

You need to inform your insurance people too. They should be sorting this for you.

Here are some pictures.

---------- Post added at 12:23 ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 ----------

Originally Posted by orangebird

You need to inform your insurance people too. They should be sorting this for you.

I've been on the phone to them, they are arranging recovery from my house, the AA dropped it off here this morning.

well thank goodness you got out of that, it is completely burnt out.

You don't want the local twoccers to see that - they will be wanting you to give them lessons ....

[basa]

Originally Posted by Nidge

..........the inside looks like a write off, ................

Erm .. yup that's a write off (outside as well !!!)

[bopdude]

Looking at the pics and going by what you've said, I don't think any warrenty would cover that, it's obviously ( IMHO ) been an electrical fire, unless you dropped your ciggy Are you insured for fire ? that would be the way to go, try and get something out of the dealer but I can't see you having much luck.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Nidge

On the way to work this morning my car caught fire, it's gutted the inside looks like a write off, I've only had the car 3 weeks so I phoned the garage up where I got it from and he said it's not covered under the warranty, the AA lad who recovered my car said that these garages get away with murder on the warranties, the guy at the garage said under the warranty your only covered for £300 worth of work. Should I go and see him in person or go to Trading Standards?

There is no way whatsoever that anyone can say whether it is or isn't covered yet.

It needs to be determined exactly which component caused the initial fire-that may or may not be covered under warranty, & whether the warranty company covers all the subsequent damage depends on the terms of the warranty.

I would also mention the Sale of Goods Act to the garage, there is no way )IMO) that a car that you bought 3 weeks ago could be deemed 'Of Merchantable Quality' when it caught fire only 3 weeks after buying it.

Get the garage to refund your money ot tell them you will get your money back via the courts.

Originally Posted by Neil

There is no way whatsoever that anyone can say whether it is or isn't covered yet.

It needs to be determined exactly which component caused the initial fire-that may or may not be covered under warranty, & whether the warranty company covers all the subsequent damage depends on the terms of the warranty.

I would also mention the Sale of Goods Act to the garage, there is no way )IMO) that a car that you bought 3 weeks ago could be deemed 'Of Merchantable Quality' when it caught fire only 3 weeks after buying it.

Get the garage to refund your money ot tell them you will get your money back via the courts.

Just been on to Consumer Direct they've taken over from Trading Standards, under the sale of goods act I'm entitled to a full refund because the garage has sold a dodgy motor, when we took the car for a test drive there was a whining noise coming from underneath the dashboard, the guy said that's ok it's only the Air Con pump, well that's where the smoke started coming from.

[Jules]

God Nidge after looking at those pictures I am amazed you are ok the only time I have seen a car like that is when it has been burnt out after being stolen!