There is a stark difference between regulating the individual, which the government seems to love doing, and regulating big business, which the government seems to avoid or make half hearted attempts.
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There is a stark difference between regulating the individual, which the government seems to love doing, and regulating big business, which the government seems to avoid or make half hearted attempts.
rcx132
Philip
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The last such conversation was banning sale of less efficient transformer based welders. The regulation was focused on businesses and production. Individuals still allowed to buy whatever welder they want (albeit via import etc).
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cheb
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It's either Thatcham or Newbury I deal with, I can't remember which. Who's Emma Airey?
Joke: Cockney man to a woman in a short skirt: Airy innit?
Woman in short skirt: What did you expect, feathers?
ajlelectronics
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Head honcho. Very responsive and professional. When she says jump, the other party asks "how high"?
Many towbars are fitted by dealers or aftermarket company after purchase has been made. Especially on lease vehicles.
On vehicles with a receiver hitch it is often left to the customer to purchase one to plug in.
How futile.
pedrobedro
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?How futile.
It could be a sticking point in a claim if it wasn't notified. It is classed as a vehicle modification same as anything else.I meant from the insurer point of view. Has to be declared but no extra premium results......?
Normally I wouldnt defend anything insurance, because I used to have some dealings with repair assessors professionally many moons ago and theyre a lot of thieving bandits, especially when it comes to playing fairly but...
If you have a rear towbar, its a hard point before the deformation zones at the back of the car and often there's more chassis repairs so you have logically changed how your vehicle behaves in a crash.
My clio got punted up the rear at 30mph square on while stationary at a junction and had 3000e of damage, new hatch + glass, bumper, deformation panels etc, but if it had a towbar on, it might would have have tweaked the chassis at the mounting points and axle and been a total loss write off. As would the car that drove into it. So I can understand them wanting to be informed.
If you have a rear towbar, its a hard point before the deformation zones at the back of the car and often there's more chassis repairs so you have logically changed how your vehicle behaves in a crash.
My clio got punted up the rear at 30mph square on while stationary at a junction and had 3000e of damage, new hatch + glass, bumper, deformation panels etc, but if it had a towbar on, it might would have have tweaked the chassis at the mounting points and axle and been a total loss write off. As would the car that drove into it. So I can understand them wanting to be informed.
Ok lets assume you are correct. (For the record I don't agree, as many cars I have seen saved by their towbar) But a harder crash maybe.
Anyway being notified is one thing but really? what is the point of knowing if it makes no difference to the premium "Unless they are intending to use it to get out of paying"
Gritineye
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Maybe because if someone runs into you their ins co might kick up about your tow bar doing extra damage, and your ins co needs to know all risks to be prepared to keep underwriters happy?
Also it might help gathering their statistics to know how many cars with tow bars fitted don't have accidents.?
Also it might help gathering their statistics to know how many cars with tow bars fitted don't have accidents.?
Erie Fred
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Shhh....do not speak of these "receiver hitches".....
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colnerov
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No premium difference is your reward for telling them, refusal of cover is your punishment for not telling them. Other than that,
YEP I realise that but it seems to me to be all weighted so they can get out of paying out.No premium difference is your reward for telling them, refusal of cover is your punishment for not telling them. Other than that,
PhillipM
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Plus much more impact force passed through to structural chassis members and the occupants in a shunt - leading to more injuries and more complex repairs.
Especially since most towbars require removal of the collapsible rear crash beam + any impact absorption foam or nylon structures behind the bumper
Exactly that on my Alfa - original beam and the plastic absorption thingies in the bin. Anyone running into the back now doesn't flex the bumper and plastic bits, possibly scratching the paint and popping out the reversing sensors, but instead hits a steel structure bolted into the rear structure, putting the force directly into the main structure. Few quid turned into lots of quid damage.
Driver whose towbar voided his insurance wins payout | Auto Express
Allianz tells Auto Express it was ‘right in principle’, but has agreed to cover the claim in full
www.autoexpress.co.uk
Also interesting to note that was the detachable swan neck type, which mostly doesnt eliminate the deformation mechanisms, and at the time was stored in the boot.
Might be a different outcome if it was in place and contributed to the damage, also they're not agree'ing not to pursue towbar claims with clients, just that in this case because it didnt materially affect the accident, and because the guy's at the end of his wits kicking up as much bad PR as he can and has caught the eye of auto express, they're settling this out of a "act of goodwill" (translation, it'll cost us more in bad pr that we'll have to buy more adverts and work to fix than we will save). Bit of a lottery there, unless some summary judgement clarifies things.
I've just got a settlement out of Allianz after 6 years, they are slippery b**tards and have been outside the correct process and been caught bending interpretations several times in those years. I had to employ bailif's to enforce the courts final judgement in the end when I finally won and they ignored the order to pay for months.
Might be a different outcome if it was in place and contributed to the damage, also they're not agree'ing not to pursue towbar claims with clients, just that in this case because it didnt materially affect the accident, and because the guy's at the end of his wits kicking up as much bad PR as he can and has caught the eye of auto express, they're settling this out of a "act of goodwill" (translation, it'll cost us more in bad pr that we'll have to buy more adverts and work to fix than we will save). Bit of a lottery there, unless some summary judgement clarifies things.
I've just got a settlement out of Allianz after 6 years, they are slippery b**tards and have been outside the correct process and been caught bending interpretations several times in those years. I had to employ bailif's to enforce the courts final judgement in the end when I finally won and they ignored the order to pay for months.
