Footman James - to be avoided

[GerardJPC]

I have owned classic cars since the late eighties, and Lancias since the noughties, but have never until this year made a claim on a classic car insurance policy.   The response to my claim from Footman James and the (generalist) underwriter with which FJ placed the insurance has been poor.  My 1962 Appia Berlina, which I clouted into a fence post quite a while back (that was entirely my fault), probably won't be repaired in time for the LMC rally.   

I first had to deal with a claims management company, which tried to rent me a car.  The underwriter knew nothing about the policy, appeared surprised to learn that the car is an old car, and merely said that it's a write off (the car has a dented door and rear wing).   Someone from an anonymous generalist body shop came to look at the Appia, went away, left a garbled voicemail, and was never heard of again.   A placatory email from the Head of Claims at Footman James' parent company led to nothing happening.  Now FJ has sent me an anodyne letter about its complaints process.

My group policy is up for renewal next week, and I won't stay with Footman James.  I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who has had a good experience with a claim made through another broker.



PS:  I'm a lawyer with extensive experience of the law of libel.  I'm not worried about anything I have written above.

[Ferrit]

Funny not funny.  I hear you.  I have recently been out there kissing Insurance frogs for my SA import Beta (still not here but close).  I started with the list from the LMC Forum page (using the numbers from the Forum posts) and a couple recommendations from members I have been talking to. 

Long story short the ones that stood out understanding classic cars from the out were Hagerty and Adrian Flux, the rest were pretty awful even getting what on earth I was talking about.

Yesterday I made a decision and choose an agreed valuation policy from Hagerty which was the most expensive, but gave a lot of options in the event of a write off, accident, etc.  Obv I am not making a claim and talking to the sales side of their business.  First impressions and all that.

[Kevo]

I use https://www.cherishedvehicleinsurance.co.uk/ part of Howden Insurance, they are our TR Register discounted Insurance Co for my TR6 but also my 79 Beta Coupe and both our dailies as a group policy and agreed values and reinstatements. They are good and very approachable by telephone. They tend to be at a lot of Classic Car events.
Maybe worth giving them a call .
Cheers Kev.

[GerardJPC]

Many thanks, all. 

In the event, I went with Adrian Flux and various specialist underwriters for my classic cars and bikes.   I finally obtained a settlement of the claim in respect of my damaged Appia, with the insurer waiving the excess on the policy as a gesture of recognition that the claim  had been poorly handled.  I will be having the Appia repaired later in the summer.   My Beta and my 2000 HF should both be at the LMC rally on Sunday, I hope!     

My focus is currently slightly away from Lancias, because I am awaiting the arrival from Cape Town of a most unusual RHD car from 1970 - Soichiro Honda's last engineering project.   It will be possibly the third or fourth one of its kind in the UK.

https://www.classiccarafrica.com/articles/uncovering-unconventional/

[Ferrit]

Isnt that a cutie :-)

[rossocorsa]

Many thanks, all. 

In the event, I went with Adrian Flux and various specialist underwriters for my classic cars and bikes.   I finally obtained a settlement of the claim in respect of my damaged Appia, with the insurer waiving the excess on the policy as a gesture of recognition that the claim  had been poorly handled.  I will be having the Appia repaired later in the summer.   My Beta and my 2000 HF should both be at the LMC rally on Sunday, I hope!     

My focus is currently slightly away from Lancias, because I am awaiting the arrival from Cape Town of a most unusual RHD car from 1970 - Soichiro Honda's last engineering project.   It will be possibly the third or fourth one of its kind in the UK.

https://www.classiccarafrica.com/articles/uncovering-unconventional/

I'm jealous that you have that Honda! I've always been a bit fascinated by that model