********* corporate *******

last month I had a Budget Insurance client involved in an accident with myself. Naturally to avoid my loss ratio being affected with my insurance company i decided to submit my claim directly to Budget Insurance 3rd party division. Their client was kind enough to provide me with his insurance details as he knew he was at fault.

This is where it gets interesting:

1. case opened at the police station with both myself and the Budget client present. 2. police report outlined exactly what happened and signed by their client. 3. client was clearly at fault and he acknowledge it as well and signed the police report.

Budget has come back and said i am 30% responsible for the accident because i did not swerve or hoot to avoid the accident citing some court case trying to intimidate me or thinking i might accept what they say as the gospel. This is the funny part...they have all the pictures that was taken at the scene of the accident as well as pictures of the damage to my car and their clients car which shows exactly where their client hit me. i was ahead of their client on the same dual lane road travelling in the same direction when their client swerved into my lane resulting in him side swiping my car on the right hand side from my driver door going towards the rear. Please explain to me how me hooting or swerving would have avoided this accident when it took less than a split second for him to make a decision to change lanes while next to me though behind me. (Budget Insurance taking a quick chance if you ask me)

Now for the cherry on top:

i went out and got quotes from 2 independent panel beaters. 1 being BMW themselves and 1 from another reputable panel beater.

BMW quote is at R 97000 (approved BMW repair center) Panel beater is at R 89000 (not approved BMW repair center)

Pretty much the same and unbiased as i have no affiliation with either.

Both these quotes have been submitted. however i was told to take my car to their assessment center called Easyway. Which i have done.

Quote from their non approved BMW panel beater via Easyway assessment center is at R 16000. The strange part is the panel beater never viewed the car at all. (they may have viewed pictures that the assessor may have provided, i don't know. Their quote is an entire world apart from the other 2 quotes i received.

when i questioned this with their 3rd party consultant i was told that they only work on their assessment and only willing to settle their quote amount less the 30% that i am liable for because i didn't hoot and swerve to avoid an accident i didn't see coming.

Upon my own investigation i found out that Easyway assessment center is a company that falls under the Telesure Group just like Budget Insurance does. Please explain how is this an independent assessment? Easyway do mention on their website and i quote "As a company, easyway values all its team members and stakeholders". Clearly evident as to whose interest they look out for....!!!!!!!

I checked on the IMA (Institute of motor assessors SA) website and neither Easyway or the assessor that assessed the car is registered with them and again the question of how independent the assessment is and whose interest are they in favour of.

Now my question is to everyone out there both clients of Budget and any 3rd party is,

HOW ******** DO YOU THINK THE LAYMAN OUT THERE IS ?

It is blatantly obvious how SKEWED and BIAS the assessment is. Obviously they only concerned about their bottom line and the cheapest way out. Hence the name BUDGET INSURANCE, everything on a budget including the repairs to your car..!!!!!!

The rule of thumb for any insurer is to indemnify the claimant to place them in the same position as they were prior to the incident. With the short-cut version of how they want to repair and not replace parts even if its second hand parts on my car please explain to me how will i be placed in the same position as i was prior to my incident brought on by your client.

I look forward to litigation as i refuse to be fooled or bul**** by any corporate, even if i have to do it via my own insurance company and let them fight the case in court.