frustrating dilemma.......it's a long one.

[poppa smurf]

driving along the road at 100 KPH, minding my own business, 8 tonne gravel truck with spreader on rear approaching from other direction.

we pass and I am showered with a load of gravel spilling from his vehicle, some as large as 3/4 of an inch.

my windscreen is shattered, my bonnet, roof and boot are all chipped with small dents.

I chase the truck down and find there is no rear numberplate.......I report the "incident" to police who are very loathe to do anything about it as there was "no accident".....it is a matter for insurance".

I get the car home and inspect the damage, stone chip's and small dents, annoying but I can live with them, I'll just get the windscreen repaired, insurance owes me one a year.

so I give them a ring,

insurance rep..."no problem's, windscreen will be there in the morning, was there any other damage".

me...."well there are a few stone chip's and small dents but I'm not worrying about the dents, just the windscreen".

rep..."all right Erin from claims will give you a phone call to confirm".

so I get a phone call from Erin and we have a yak.

Erin..."just confirming your incident, and to state we will be replacing the windscreen at no cost, is there any other damage?".

me..."well, yes but I'm not going to get that fixed as I don't want to pay the $400 excess and we are about to go away so don't want to lose the car just now".

Erin..."just so you understand that now that you have declared preexisting damage the amount your motor vehicle is to be insured for will be decreased and may even be rejected at renewal time".

this was a boot in the freckle.......my insurance reduced or even rejected because I don't want to have the small stone chips repaired and repainted.

the main reason i don't want a repair and respray are two fold,

one the $400 excess and

two the cost of the respray may write the car off.........

after all the grief and money I have thrown at this vehicle to have it written off because of a few stone chip's.

Erin..."well, if you don't we will have no alternative but to reduce the value of the vehicle or refuse to insure the vehicle".

me..."I'll ask the repair shop about a fix tomorrow."

Erin...."please advise of repairs so I can remove the previous damage constraint on your premium".

NOT HAPPY JAN...................