Perseverance pays off
After two months and far chasing, Sainsbury’s insurance coverage (lastly) concluded that, sure, the van driver who hit my parked automotive was at fault. At that time, they handed it over to my insurance coverage firm to cope with the remaining.
After a cellphone name, it was rapidly assumed the automotive can be a write-off, as a result of insurance coverage firms normally cannot be bothered to seek out a cost-effective method to restore older automobiles. Much more worryingly, they needed it to be collected by Copart – which runs salvage automotive auctions – to be inspected.
I identified that this might be an enormous waste of everybody’s money and time in contrast with an individual coming spherical to have a look at the automotive, or me sending over some footage, however they would not budge.

My expertise with Copart wasn’t too dangerous. The blokes gathering it with an enormous automotive transporter have been good sufficient. The next week I used to be known as to be advised they needed to declare it a Class S (for structural harm). I argued {that a} little bit of panel harm is just not structural, in order that they listened and adjusted it to Cat N (non-structural), bumping up the payout barely.
Simply over £2000 promptly appeared in my checking account (I ponder if I can declare Nectar factors on that), with the Mini on account of be delivered again to me.
As a automotive reviewer, I get delivered automobiles very often, however I’ve by no means been as excited as I used to be for the Mini to return. It got here on a multi-car transporter, and in the identical situation it left. They even washed it – not very properly, nevertheless it’s the thought that counts.









