Well she finally came home yesterday and has cost my insurance Co well over £1,300. Here's my log of events.....
Stolen 19th Dec 2005. (Sunday night/Monday morning) reported to Surrey Police, no-one asked for details of contents or cost despite me saying it's a van with tools in back. Insurance Co ask me to send V5, Keys, Service history, purchase receipt and driving license to their Total Loss dept. ???. Said I would do that after Christmas due to post etc.
24/12. Christmas Eve. 20.00.hrs. message from Thames Valley Police. Found in Slough. Taken to pound. Nothing can be done 'till after Christmas but pound says there is stuff, tools, in the back when I phoned.28th Dec. Phoned Ins Co to advise found as they were going to write off, advise them some tools still in back.
29th Dec. SOCO says damage to electrics and steering lock but tools are there and backs still locked.At ....**pound**........ their recovery/storage costs so far are £285 + VAT.
Later.arranged that Insurance will collect and repair.. by
**** a garage in Twickenham****3rd Jan.Tue. Phoned garage, didn't seem to know if my 90 was there or not. Said we could collect tools later, will phone us, and should be booked in tomorrow for repair but wasn't sure about the damage and didn't seem to realise it was a stolen vehicle repair.
Phoned them again later, still actually at Pound in Iver, won't collect till Thursday 5th now. !!!
Later, went to Pound and collected most of the tools etc which are all there. Guard said Ins arranged today that they (***** Recovery) are to take the 90 to the garage tomorrow, the 4th.
6th Jan. Fri. Garage phoned, need a full Lock set, that's all, electrics OK, should be ready next Thursday as have to wait for parts.12th Jan.Thur. Phoned again, will phone back. Phoned again late pm, Lock set just arrived, will be ready tomorrow now. They will phone me.
13th Jan. Fri. They phoned am asked for keys so they can unlock other doors/petrol cap to change locks, we delivered keys to them. Can't get it started. Phoned them again pm, needs a new starter motor. Ready Monday.16th Jan. Mon. Phoned them 15.50. Just completed, told them we will collect tomorrow morning now.
17th Jan. Collected vehicle, strange "new" sounding starter motor.First comment, I (my Ins Co) have to pay for recovery and storage of my stolen vehicle...that's a disgrace, would the same occur if anything else was stolen, a painting maybe? Am I not the innocent party? Another case of fleece the motorist.
Secondly the first thing the SOCO said to me was "at least your tyre depth is OK" ...errr..... wrong priorities maybe? And shouldn't she or another Officer have asked for a list of items that should be in the back? No-one ever did and replacement cost of everything in the vehicle was over £1200.
So I'm out £100 excess and loss of no claims bonus plus all the agro of not having the vehicle for a month, just 'cause some b'tard wanted a drive home. Oh, and I found out today the Radio doesn't work.