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Forensics support fire claim
Page 14
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• by Kevin Swallow
A Scottish owner-driver who is in dispute with Volvo Trucks over a warranty claim fears for his livelihood after being left £30,000 out of pocket when his truck caught fire and was written off.
The fire that destroyed Allan Avery's Volvo 4x2 FH12 460 Globetrotter occurred on the A9 north of Perth on 28 November last year, when he was hauling a double-deck trailer.
Avery has since instructed his solicitors to recover uninsured losses with a warranty claim backed up by a report commissioned by Norwich Union and compiled by Hannaford Forensic Services.
The report backs his claim by concluding that the fire occurred "as a result of oil leakage—probably from the rocker seal—igniting on the exhaust manifold" and dismissed suggestions that the fire was caused by "deliberate ignition".
But Volvo Truck and Bus disagrees, stating that it would honour the terms and [,sonditions of its warranty "but this matter is not a warranty claim and has not been treated as such by either Mr Avery's solicitors or his insurers. Mr Avery's claim is currently in the hands of our insurers and we are not therefore permitted to make any comment on liability".
The vehicle, bought through Clydesdale Bank subsidiary Asset Finance for £64,000, was subsequently processed as an insurance claim by its fellow subsidiary company Insurance Services for £46,000, which is being claimed from the manufacturer by insurer Norwich Union.
After 12 years as an owner-driver, Avery says he is being forced to operate from his overdraft for the first time. He says his losses include his deposit and seven monthly payments made following the purchase from independent importer Kel-Truck, loss of earnings, and having to absorb a 50% hike in insurance rates from £6,800 to £14,000 from 3 July.