Taxi Driver Online

Firstly hello to all from a newbie.I have been a Hackney driver in Derby for 18 years.

I would like to share my experience with you and canvass opinion.
After 4 London cabs including the 'bleed me dry TX2',I purchased a brand new Mercedes Vito M8 from Cab Direct last Sept for the princely sum of £32750.Life was great,the best vehicle I've ever driven,diary full of bookings from my airport transfer website and then 3 weeks ago whilst on the way for a pick up at Birmingham Airport......the chuffing thing caught fire and has been written off.For those who have never witnessed a vehicle fire,it's quite scary how quick it takes hold.I didn't even get my coin holder out-that tells you everything!
So I would firstly like to hear if anyone knows of anything similar happening with any other Vito's or indeed vehicles supplied by Cab Direct.
Unbelievably,all I got from Cab Direct was an assertion that my loss was "Absolutely nothing to do with us.Your warranty is with Mercedes"
Do not forget,this is an 9 month old taxi,36,000 miles on the clock,converted by said Cab Direct.
Throw in that the cab is actually owned by Black Horse finance and I am insured by Royal Sun Alliance who have been downright negligent in their duty to a customer.I have actually spoken to my 'expert' case handler for just 37 seconds!They took 9 days to view the cab,then 13 days(which is actually tomorrow) for a forensic engineer to determine the cause.
I am having to rent a battered old TX1 to get by as well as having to continue paying the finance on a piece of scrap.I have given about £1500 worth of airports away as they are mostly 5/6 seater bookings with lots of luggage.
You can imagine that my head has been on the brink of exploding these past few weeks,getting short shrift from all parties.
My argument all along has been that as a 9 month old cab with a 3 year warranty,the cab should be replaced.All noises pointed to my finance being paid off and having to refinance a new one.Having paid some £8000
already,this hardly seems fair.
However this morning I had hopefully better news.The Total Loss arm of Sun Alliance informed me that this case should simply be a new for old one as the vehicle is under 12 months.A helpful lady at J & M informed me that it an industry rule of thumb.Funny how Sun Alliance never mentioned it!I phoned them up and they REFUSED to comment!They will never get another penny out of me,I would rather pay a higher premium elsewhere.
So again,does anyone have experience of a Total loss claim?
Will I get a brand new M8 in lovely Derby AA yellow or could it be a second hand one?
Sorry for the ramble,
Derby Ram

Some years ago a Birmigham driver was hit at speed (by the third party) in the side of his then TX1, turning the cab onto its side. The cab was less than a year old.

He had a brand new vehicle.

Insurance companies don't like vehicle fires resulting in a total loss & tend to investigate them very thoroughly.

How many miles had your Vito done & did the fire start in the engine compartment?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Hi Brummie,
yes the paint was peeling off the bonnet bigger than the size of a cricket ball by the time I pulled up.I forgot to mention that the firemen thought it started in the engine management box.36000 miles on the clock.
Thanks for the reply.

I don't know if it is a rule of thumb, but it would make sense.

The chances of you getting, or them buying, a 12 month old Merc cab are nil, as no-one trades in at that age.

I suppose they could find a repossessed one, but IMO a new motor makes sense for them, as it's easy, and you, as it's new.

I wish you well.

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IDFIMH

A few years ago, Merc engines had a problem, which I was led to believe had now been cured, whereby the sealing washer on the injectors became brittle. I believe it was a rubber seal.

Once this had happened, an extremely fine mist of diesel would cover the engine. It was so fine that there was very little or no smell, but it resulted in a situation where this film was baked onto the engine.

If this then became worse & there was no telling from one engine to another, then a dangerous situation occured, because hot diesel will ignite.

I was led to believe that Merc had cured this problem, but it would not hurt your cause to check this problem out on the many websites on the Internet on this subject.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Interesting stuff guys.Thanks for the input.
I did a search for Vito fires but only found one in 2007,though one of the fire crew had attended one recently.
In fairness,Mercedes have been OK to talk to but are obviously waiting on Sun Alliance.

why are you looking at your insurance company... surely you should be looking at the manufacturers..... and they should be replacing your vehicle....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Mr T,
my hands are tied until the Forensic engineers report.Mercedes are waiting on that but there is also the Cab Direct factor.It could turn out to be something they have done in the conversion process.
My fear was becoming a pawn in the middle.
I shall be phoning Sun Alliance first thing to chase up the engineers report.
For the record their first 3 questions to me on reporting the fire were...
Have you got a criminal record?
Have you got any points?
Have you put a radio in?
Afraid not chum!
I do have a solicitor on standby but she reckoned it would take 8/9 months to take Mercedes to court!
Regards
Derby Ram

You will often be told on here , that you're not a businessman because you driver a taxi, when you find that you're caught in the middle as you are, the only thing you can do is keep working the best you can, it is important that you keep a record of all the losses you sustain, and receipts for everything you pay out. good luck.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Surely if you are fully comp it shouldn't matter.

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IDFIMH

Hallelujah!
After being told yesterday that they were chasing the forensic report on a daily basis,I told them that was not good enough,you've had 4 weeks.I rang customer complaints and lo....today I have a brand new Mercedes on order.Amazing!
Thanks for all the good wishes
Derby Ram
One relieved driver!

PS.That's on the same finance deal by the way,so I haven't lost out there.

Glad to hear that.

Good luck with the new one.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Glad everything has turned out OK for you mate. Insurance companies really dick me off, they are slow in taking your money but when it comes to paying out they hate to part with it, IMO it's a straight forward case of vehicle caught fire = total loss. Insurance, Cab Direct or Mercedes pay up because it's under warranty end of story.

What about your insurance premium??

Have the insurance company treated it as a total loss, therefore new policy from when you receive the new cab?

Do you know whether your premium has rocketed, because you've lost your NCB or have Mercedes provided the new vehicle under warranty, thereby avoiding an insurance payout & protecting your NCB?

It's important to find these things out, because knowing some insurance companies, Mercedes may be providing the new Vito under warranty, but the insurance company will still reduce your NCB to nil, eventhough they have not paid out!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.