Everybody boycot Tesco's Insurance

[fuzzer]

Not trying to put you out but I thought I heard somewhere that an invoice must have a VAT number to be valid. Any accountants to confirm this?

Hope you do get you due refund.

Regards,
swl

i would ahve said that would only be the case if the invoice was + vat.

If a company isnt vat registered , it cannot charge vat and thus this cannot be recovered by the company from customs and excise.

 

[First_Benz]

Not trying to put you out but I thought I heard somewhere that an invoice must have a VAT number to be valid. Any accountants to confirm this?

Hope you do get you due refund.

Regards,
swl

You can look at it as an IOU which simply turns out to be a receipt for Tesco's because they want to have some form of evidence that I used the car..

You are not creating an Invoice but simply a receipt of use. You could buy a pencil from a neighbor and the document could be used to prove your purchase

However, I would like confirmation as I am not an accountant ..

Good point.. I would like to verify this ... and I hope you all never hit this problem ever !!!!!

I just happen to be unfortunate this time round.. I should have stayed with Direct Line !!!

 

[First_Benz]

an invoice from your wife should be fine....but, I'm sure the financial experts here will tell you that she will then have to declare her earnings to the Inland Revenue and you may be on sticky ground with your insurance if she has "hired" you the car. This could get complicated.

My suggestion would be that you compile a list of "out of pocket" expenses and present that to Tescos.

Take your insurance elsewhere and put the whole mess behind you.

Andy

If I list the items, Tesco's will only pay you for an amount of up to 15 pounds a day... so therefore you can only hope that they pay you what you list to a total of 15 squids...

I think this is such a pain that I will throw every damm thing in the list, get the IOU printed out and see what happens...

 

[andyw]

Not trying to put you out but I thought I heard somewhere that an invoice must have a VAT number to be valid. Any accountants to confirm this?

Hope you do get you due refund.

Regards,
swl

you don't need to be VAT registered to provide an invoice - and it would be unreasonable to expect them to pay over the odds if you hadn't incurred the costs would it not?

on the other hand, due to the bad customer service you have received I would be looking for some out of pocket contribution for the inconvenience you have incurred - stick with it - they won't give you anything unless they have to!!

 

[First_Benz]

you don't need to be VAT registered to provide an invoice - and it would be unreasonable to expect them to pay over the odds if you hadn't incurred the costs would it not?

on the other hand, due to the bad customer service you have received I would be looking for some out of pocket contribution for the inconvenience you have incurred - stick with it - they won't give you anything unless they have to!!

So if I provide Tesco's with a home-made "invoice", then I guess it will suffice..
In which case, what does one list ?? Now I am being silly but how does one list out inconvenience in such a situation?

Petrol, mileage (wear and tear or the price of the car a day) - what figures?
I was quoted 24 pounds a day...

thanks andy for the advice and determination... I am still making the petrol bombs in my garage though !!!!

 

[andyw]

what sort of mileage have you done in your wife's car due to your car being off the road?

a £ per mile would be reasonable - it's what I pay employees for own use of private cars - includes element for wear n tear etc.

 

[First_Benz]

and it goes for...

what sort of mileage have you done in your wife's car due to your car being off the road?

a £ per mile would be reasonable - it's what I pay employees for own use of private cars - includes element for wear n tear etc.

I am did 40 miles monday, about 80 tuesday (went to Hemel office) and 40 the others again..'
sat 220 miles in total... I guess 48p a mile?? That is what our company used to pay,,, but it exceeds the 15 pounds a day...!!!

 

[andy_k]

You can't really hope to get away with charging a hire fee for a car that's owned by you or your wife but I would hit them for

a, the cost of public transport to and from your place of work by train or bus. Add at least 2 taxi journeys a week for those "important meetings" or those days when you were late for the train.

b, a couple of return cab journeys a week into town from wherever you live - say Friday and Saturday nights when you take your wife out for a meal

c, at least one "emergency" cab journey round to a relative who needed your assistance urgently whilst your wife was out in her car

tread carefully, insurance companies are getting tighter and tighter on claims and they treat virtually every one submitted as fraudulent and the onus is on the individual concerned to prove they are genuine. If you are going to be economical with the truth with them make sure both you and your wife have the same story - they may just check up by ringing her and asking an "innocent" question

If they think you are being dishonest they can void your policy leaving you responsible for the repair bills.

Insurance companies are evil and whilst they are usually acting within the letter of the law they are also always looking for ways of not paying out any money.

keep trying

Andy

 

[First_Benz]

I am going to go through this thread again tommorow morning - say 5AM !!! Then I will write down the entire bill etc and complaint letter etc...

At this moment, I have a headache worrying about this !!! Why I don;t know but I feel sick at the whole thing...

I will keep you ALL posted - and maybe we will all stand outside Parliment with our Mercs telling Mr Blair what a sad Insurance and unfair Insurance Company Tesco's really is !!!!!

 

[sym]

Would £15 per day (you don't say how many days) be acceptable to you as reasonable compensation for not providing you with a car ? (Bear in mind, that even if they had provided you with a Courtesy Car, you would have had to pay for the fuel yourself)

If so, then push them for that. If not, then I would firstly do some research, and then write a strongly worded letter of complaint to their most senior relevant person (I'm assuming they have a Director of Customer Service, or similar, somewhere !) stating clearly what you reasonably expect from them as compensation, for both personal inconvenience and failure to provide their expected service as sold and advertised.

I wouldn't ask for anything ridiculous, because you more than likely won't get it - but you should certainly be compensated fairly.

S.

 

[Steve_Perry]

Sorry to hear of your plight, I really think you should have stood firm at the time and insisted that Enterprise give you a car even if it would have meant a delay to your car's repair and also if it meant throwing a tantrum. I've had to use Enterprise in the past and if they didn't have a car in the class that I booked they automatically upgraded me to the next class free of charge. I find it very hard to believe that a hire car company of Enterprise's size could not find you a car, does the whole company and all it's branches grind to a halt come plate change time every 6 months, I doubt it.

I suppose that is very easy for me to say, especially with hindsight. If you're not getting the level of service that you desire from Tesco's insurance then you should vote with your feet and I'd suggest you write them a strongly worded but polite letter stating your intention to cancel your policy immediately with a refund for the remaining period if your grievance is not resolved to your satisfaction and be prepared to cancel your insurance immediately and swap to another insurer.

On the bright side Tesco's do lovely Cheese muffins and their smoked haddock fish cakes are to die for

S.

 

[pammy]

I agree with Steve P - but I think it's also worth looking back at why you chose the Tesco policy in the first place. If it was because it was the cheapest then you usually get what you pay for, if it was specifically for the hire car cover and you would have paid more for it if you had to then you have stronger grounds for complaining to them. If it was because of the overall level of service and policy on offer then even stronger grounds.

I think you need to think carefully about how you complain.

I can sense from your posts that you're very angry about this - but if the tone comes through in your dealings with them then you're going to put their backs up from the off.

I would write a very gentle letter stating the facts clearly saying why you chose the policy and while you accept the terms of the policy - the overall level of service has fallen far short of your expectations and set out what your costs have been. Keep it real - don't make it up. Also explain how this has dented your confidence in their future ability to deal with any future problems you may have and that you are seriously considering taking your business elswhere. DON'T tell them you've told others to do the same - you could find yourself in deep trouble.

 

[Kinky]

I backup and fully agree everything Pammy has said above.

In addition to this, I'd go check out other sites - like HonestJohn, whatcar, etc.

And finally, I'd buy a copy of this months what car, check if they still fight battles on behalf of customers and write them a nice little letter.

And are you an AA/RAC member? Phone them for legal advice on exactly where you stand, and what might / might not be reasonable.

K

 

[First_Benz]

its true....they halted....

I find it very hard to believe that a hire car company of Enterprise's size could not find you a car, does the whole company and all it's branches grind to a halt come plate change time every 6 months, I doubt it.

S.

its true... I phoned them on the day i was meant to get the car and they said afternoon delivery. Nothing arrived and I waited at home for them..
the next morning nothing arrived and i hadno choice but to take the Merc - wife and baby mad as hell considering they were meant to go out...

Day 2: phone enterprise...car will be available today!!!! NOT... i call tesco's... they call Enterprise and come back to tell me that Enterprise are swapping all their cars out !!! Do I give a damm, they are meant to give me a car

Day 3.. Tesco's and Enterprise don't even call me - I am now in France so don't have the time to call anybody

Day 4: My car is repaired and I decide to collect it before I get another verbal from the house !!! Mind you, my wife did cancel her appointments and take the inconvenience in her stride xx

It is the principle that if you are in your right to get a service, you should. If you paid for it, no matter how small, you are in your legal rights to get it..

Enterprise are sooo big that they have no cars on the day I needed it...
Again, if Enterprise are so big why did they fail???

I was just unlucky to have had this problem.. no doubt you had better service and therefore I agree with your comments to find this unreal...

 

[First_Benz]

I should calm down...

I agree with Steve P - but I think it's also worth looking back at why you chose the Tesco policy in the first place.
I would write a very gentle letter stating the facts clearly saying why you chose the policy and while you accept the terms of the policy - the overall level of service has fallen far short of your expectations and set out what your costs have been. Keep it real - don't make it up. Also explain how this has dented your confidence in their future ability to deal with any future problems you may have and that you are seriously considering taking your business elswhere. DON'T tell them you've told others to do the same - you could find yourself in deep trouble.

Tesco's was choosen for the simple fact that they stated a Guarentee that they would provide a car should one's car go for repair.

The size of an organisation gave one the impression of a quality service, considering they run an SuperStore operation so smoothly...

I guess I was sooo wrong...
The figures I am going to put down are going to be based on true miles and on a per mile basis. I will also include in their the inconvenience of having waited a day for delivery - the car never arrived so why not?
I will also include the cost of calls and a approx. value of £30 for the sheer hell of it !!!

I want to hammer them for £135 quid tops..!!!
Followed by 5 letters to Tesco's, Enterprise, the AA, What Car, General Council and if I think of anyone else, I will send them one too..

I really want Tesco's to know that we, customers, pay them for a service that they are expected to provide and that they are not entitled to take us for a ride purely because of their size of operation.

Granted, as you say, the tone must be calm polite yet to the point..adding a few kicks in the butt where possible !! :bannana:

 

[Steve_Perry]

its true... ...I was just unlucky to have had this problem.. no doubt you had better service and therefore I agree with your comments to find this unreal...

I should have been more clear I wasn't doubting you, I was doubting the excuses that were given to you by Enterprise. In the past they have driven cars from other branches (approx 50miles away) because they were under obligation to supply me (company I work for) with a car.

I do know what you mean about large companies treating the private individual extremely badly, I've recently had extremely bad service from Panasonic and it was only after I got members of Hi-Fi/TV press involved that I got an apology from the Marketing Manager at Panasonic, it was still far too little too late and didn't really excuse the extreme poor service in the first place.

As the Beastie Boys once said... "You've gotta fight, for your right, to paaarty" and it's usually best to do that at the time of a problem as opposed to after the event.

Good luck with your quest.

S.

 

[First_Benz]

I will...

I backup and fully agree everything Pammy has said above.

In addition to this, I'd go check out other sites - like HonestJohn, whatcar, etc.

And finally, I'd buy a copy of this months what car, check if they still fight battles on behalf of customers and write them a nice little letter.

And are you an AA/RAC member? Phone them for legal advice on exactly where you stand, and what might / might not be reasonable.

K

I am a member of the AA.. I will call them now...

I will admit that this is something so small but it annoys me to feel betrayed..

The fact remains: They want a receipt and I can not give it.. so I have to make one up. On top, they may reject what I give them because they said this morning that it had to be registered?? With whom, a ghost?

 

[First_Benz]

its the same every where ...

Good luck with your quest.

S.

Thank you sir...
I will pound this forward until I get an official appology by Tesco's and Enterprise... I hope I hit the press too :bannana:

 

[andy_k]

Insurance comp[anies are getting extremely tight about paying up and they will look for any slight discrepancies in your story - please bear this in mind, it's not a criticism or doubting your word but you must present the facts to them if you expect them to honour your claim.

Reading back through your posts you have said

"Day 4: My car is repaired and I decide to collect it before I get another verbal from the house !!! Mind you, my wife did cancel her appointments and take the inconvenience in her stride"

From this it is reasonable to assume you were without your or any other car for 4 days

you also said

" am did 40 miles monday, about 80 tuesday (went to Hemel office) and 40 the others again..'
sat 220 miles in total... I guess 48p a mile?? That is what our company used to pay,,, but it exceeds the 15 pounds a day...!!! "

I can only assume that the "sat" was a mis type but it made me think twice and 3 days at 40 miles = 1 day at 80 miles adds up to 200 not 220

you then add

"Day 3.. Tesco's and Enterprise don't even call me - I am now in France so don't have the time to call anybody"

tee hee I hope you aren't trying to claim that mileage as well.

All of your claims for mileage may well be 100% above board and honest but they don't read that way.

Before you contact Tesco get everything written down and clear in your head

Andy

 

[First_Benz]

Insurance comp[anies are getting extremely tight about paying up and they will look for any slight discrepancies in your story - please bear this in mind, it's not a criticism or doubting your word but you must present the facts to them if you expect them to honour your claim.

Reading back through your posts you have said

"Day 4: My car is repaired and I decide to collect it before I get another verbal from the house !!! Mind you, my wife did cancel her appointments and take the inconvenience in her stride"

From this it is reasonable to assume you were without your or any other car for 4 days

you also said

" am did 40 miles monday, about 80 tuesday (went to Hemel office) and 40 the others again..'
sat 220 miles in total... I guess 48p a mile?? That is what our company used to pay,,, but it exceeds the 15 pounds a day...!!! "

I can only assume that the "sat" was a mis type but it made me think twice and 3 days at 40 miles = 1 day at 80 miles adds up to 200 not 220

you then add

"Day 3.. Tesco's and Enterprise don't even call me - I am now in France so don't have the time to call anybody"

tee hee I hope you aren't trying to claim that mileage as well.

All of your claims for mileage may well be 100% above board and honest but they don't read that way.

Before you contact Tesco get everything written down and clear in your head

Andy

Appologise - you are correct and I need to be more clear, as follows:
It is 40 miles from home/work/home and monday I had to go in the evening - I have asked work to print out my entry listings to the buildings for that week just in case Tesco's ask for this too !!!!

Tuesday to another building (Hemel)
Wed - home/work (where I left car) france - back home (I work near Heathrow)
Thursday I go home/work/home/collect car...

The other 20 is for collecting the car from the garage - which I worked out to be 20'ish approx there and back..

Is this sufficient or should I get more information when I put this down on paper for Tesco's? I am not sure what I really need to write down to be honest...