Unfair resolution on my vehicle

If I had a zero rating, I would give one at this point. I am exhausted, disappointed and in anguish at the way in which dotsure came to a resolution regarding my vehicle.

First and foremost my car was involved in an accident whereby it was hit from the rear forcing it to hit another vehicle in front. They regarded the car as write off because apparently IT WAS UNECONOMICAL to repair. No airbags popped, no engine damage, no leakages just a shattered tailgate and front right headlight and bumper. I did not understand the UNECONOMICAL reason because when I insured my vehicle, it was merely for such incidents whereby it gets involved in an accident and would need to be repaired. That is what I pay them to do. If they write it off, they pay me for what it’s worth to replace it in real time on the South African market.

Moving forward, they write off my vehicle, request a settlement quotation from my bank. They give me a settlement offer that is ridiculous to even replace the vehicle if I were to replace it because I insured this car at Retail value. Their explanation was that their way of validating the retail value of the vehicle is not Auto dealer based it’s Tru-trade. This is very unfair and unconstitutional to assess a person’s vehicle on unrealistic terms such that if they were to replace the car, they couldn’t. All this information is not disclosed in the policy schedule, only that the car is insured at retail value and to anyone who takes insurance, insuring it at retail value becomes the best possible decision than at market value.

It is only now that I found out that “their retail value” is not of the one we understand it to be. According to my understanding, retail value is the value of the vehicle at the time of the accident and how much it would cost me to replace it on the South African market or it’s manufacturer because I insured it at retail value. All this is Dealership based because, I mean that is where I’d presume to buy a similar kind of vehicle.

The difference was way too much, over R100 000 from the real value of the car. I do not know why they frustrate us like this because how on earth could you apply such unrealistic process on a real time situation. I did not buy my car and insure it at Tru trade valuation. I bought it based on the Auto dealer valuation system and it should be replaced and validated as such when it is being written off and not otherwise. Or they should have disclosed such information on the policy schedule so that I may be able to make an informed decision in taking cover from them. Their terms of insuring at retail value should have been there in fine print. Such information cannot be withheld from the consumer especially when they affect the claim outcome of a vehicle. I am very dissatisfied, I am left without a vehicle and an unfair settlement which does even begin to solve my problems.

What was even the point of me getting my vehicle covered by Dotsure. Yho hay I’m hurt.