A MUM is fuming after a learner driver scraped her brand-new Audi – a year on she’s now facing a £75k bill.
Jo Alexander, 49, took her flashy car out for the second time when she was pranged.
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Driving with her daughter Lili, 12, when it happened, the mum-of-one was just grateful the crash wasn’t severe.
The car came away with a few scrapes and dents on the driver’s door.
Something Jo thought would be an easy fix turned into a battle with the insurance companies and thousands of pounds worth of bills.
Vision Vehicles pursued the claim on behalf of Jo’s insurers Direct Line.
They said multiple emails and calls were made to the other driver’s insurance company Gallagher Basset – but an agreement couldn’t be made.
Despite Jo saying she had witnesses who could prove the learner driver was to blame, neither company would admit their client was at fault.
However, the L-plate driver and the instructor did end up taking responsibility.
At the end of the lengthy process, Jo was billed £75,440 for hire cars, repairs and storage costs for the Audi.
Jo said she had been “tearing her hair out” over the tedious situation.
She said: “I thought I’d have my car back in a few weeks, a month at the most.
“It was just a dent and a few scratches really and I had witnesses to the accident being the other driver’s fault, so I didn’t think it would be a big deal or that there would be any complications.
“Boy was I wrong – every time I phoned or emailed I was told there were hold-ups and that I would have to be patient.
“It seems the insurance companies just weren’t speaking to each other – and just kept leaving messages and sending emails to each other, but not following them up for weeks on end.”
Jo added she felt guilty when the costs started adding up because it makes “premiums more expensive” for everyone.
The collision happened on March 28, 2022, and Jo didn’t get her car back until February 16 this year.
Bosses at Pentagon Paint & Body, in Hatfield, Herts, carried out the repairs on her car.
They said it was “ludicrous” how long she had to wait.
A spokesman said: “We were all ready to do the work as soon as the insurance companies sorted things out – but they took almost a year.
“It only took us a few days to get the car back looking good as new and Jo has been very patient.”
Vision Vehicles said they had trouble reaching insurers at Gallagher Bassett and that messages were often not returned or were ignored.
The Sun approached Gallagher Bassett for a comment but didn’t hear back.
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