[Closed] Insurance replacements via Wheelies

Its about 6 yrs ago now but I was able take cash instead bike from wheelies via Halifax insurance. Got full value in cheque and bought local instead. All very painless, but did point out when discussing it that I assumed they would cover cost return bike to wheelies if any issues/ repairs needed seemed see sense thankfully .

Yes you can take partial replacement.

My advice would be to take full cash, even if it's less than they offer in credit with wheelies (who charge full RRP for everything).

This is based on attempting to warranty a couple of things and finding their customer service absolutely appalling. Constantly chasing them, and they don't seem to give a toss once they have the insurance company's money.

Vexing me again just thinking about it.

My advice would be to take full cash, even if it's less than they offer in credit with wheelies (who charge full RRP for everything).

That's what I'm thinking. If I'm honest I only really want to replace the Stanton, the Demo and the Isla bike. The Cannondale can't be replaced because of the history associated with it and the others didn't really get much use. I guess doing that will offset any reduction in cash payout.

I'm with Chakaping- I had an awful experience with them two years ago, when I had a pair of good wheels stolen from a locked up bike. They charged my insurers a mint for poor work, insisting that the bike had to be sent to them to have the wheels fitted; couriered me a horrid skinny bike box, collected it, made an a**e of it (8 speed chain on new 9sp cassette..), plastic tyres and made no attempt to straighten the mech hanger. Avoid at all costs.

full cash refund when M&S directed me to wheelies

I'm claiming through AXA who have directed me there pretty quickly. They won't be able to do like for like on a fair amount of my bikes due to limited stock etc.

We had a visit in the night last year a YT Capra Pro CF and a new Santa Cruz Solo very high spec went, they supplied a Scott Genius LT full top spec, they match the spec of your bike to what they can supply some times well over the value of your old bike.

The Solo was a full pay out as they couldn't supply it, they ask for receipts photographs etc and I'm sure had I not wanted the Scott they would of paid out on it too but the value of the Scott was way in excess of the Capra but my policy covered it.

A lot of phone calls hassle what with the police & court case as they got the dick head who did it but all sorted in the end.

God knows what will happen to the renewal later this year but I will pay it as it's worth it.

They were fine for mainstream replacements on out new for old policy. For more obscure things (Airnimal Rhino and my titanium Merlin) I settled for cash instead with a valuation of the Merlin from a very reputable bike shop.

I had photos of all bikes and a spreadsheet with every last item detailed. Right down to brand of water bottle cage. I provided hot links to Evans website for replacement cost.

It was rather painless really. I did not have to provide a single receipt, but had plenty of sufficient supporting evidence of ownership.

Thanks chaps.

It hey phoned this afternoon and I sent over a very detailed spreadsheet and supporting receipts. Will be interesting to see what they come back with.

If wheelies can't supply the model you had stolen, yes you should get a cash payment with no issues as your insurance is there to put you back in the same position you had before the loss and a different bike doesn't do that. Many household policies are new for old so hopefully you'll get full value - I did when I got a Santa Cruz nicked and wheelies couldn't replace

I'll echo others' bad experiences with Wheelies. Without doubt the worst customer service I have ever been subjected to. I can't remember exactly how long it took to sort out but it was in the region of 6 months after submitting the claim, maybe longer. They sent out LOTS of the wrong stuff. Didn't have stock of most of the things I needed, despite claiming they did, and absolutely DGAF about trying to fix things. Avoid!

arogers - *high five*

Glad it wasn't that they had anything personal against me then

Hmmmmm. I'm not convinced that they'll sort me out having done a bit more research, especially with most of the bikes being custom and not stocked by them. I'm hoping that they over value them so taking the hit for a cash pay out won't be so bad. As long as I can replace the Stanton, Demo and Rothan with like for like I'll be happy.

My experience echos those above - had 5 bikes stolen a couple of years ago, insured with M&S, wheelies tried to tell me a scott scale was an equivalent to a 2004 Kona Explosif as 'only old and cheap bikes are made from steel' and wanted to replace a 531 road bike that had ultegra/105 with a bottom of the range giant defy with shimano 2300 bits.
When I complained my claim was referred to their 'custom specialist team' who initially appeared helpful but kept specing deore level replacements to xt/xtr equipped bikes, when questioned they said they had to take account of 'natural progression' and 'filter down of technology' and my new for old policy didn't mean I could have the same groupset.
M&S were great though, listened to the recordings of the phone calls, apologised for the poor service and settled the claim for more than I was expecting.

Wheelies sounds like a bit of a rip off merchant going by what I am reading here. Specing deore for xtr, I really don't think so. I afraid I would have beena little less than calm getting that shit from the other end of the phone.

Check out WorldClassAccident's thread about his struggles with this recently. Lots of good tips.

Why would you insure your bikes and then not get the same (or very very close) model?
Seems idiotic.
that's why I use pedalcover, if my custom pegoretti gets nicked I want a pegoretti not whatever steel road bike some shitty shop has is stock.

Pedalcover and m&s use the same underwriter axa iirc.

Have you checked they don't try to put you through wheelies as well?

Was directed to Wheelies a few years ago when my bandit got stolen, had no trouble taking the cash to get a new bandit and they paid the value of the new bike no problem. I suppose it's which claim handler your dealing with, I got a girl who was a road cyclist and knew the value of bikes.

Well it's not off to a good start.

I sent through a spreadsheet with details of the bikes and all of my receipts. I asked for confirmation if receipt of the information which I didn't receive and had to chase up this morning.

If I can get a value that's not too far from what I paid for the bikes (i.e. not RRP) I think I'm going to take the money and run!

Pedalcover and m&s use the same underwriter axa iirc.
Have you checked they don't try to put you through wheelies as well?

Thinking about it - they don't need Wheelies' "expertise" to value claims, so why would they use them?

Good point. They know their stuff for sure.

pedal cover allow you to pick the shop/dealer when it’s a specific bike you want replaced, asked this as 2 of my bikes are only available from 1 dealer in the u.k. and i wouldn’t want to be fobbed off with a carbon trek/giant/specialized when it’s a handmade steel frame. that’s like owning a ferrari and getting a cheaper audi and them fobbing you off with ‘it’s the same 0-60 and top speed'

My dad had the same issue with Wheelies and in the end got around it by insisting he wanted "broadly the same bike". He had a carbon framed Shimano 105 road bike nicked and their replacement was either alloy with 105 or carbon with Tiagra. In the end he found bikes for the insured value with the same spec as he'd lost and the insurer folded and gave him the money and he got a lovely Scott road bike.

It's all gone a bit quiet from them now the chap who looks after custom builds is involved. Tried chasing this morning but he's not in yet.

Thanks from the tips about Worldclassaccident's thread. Picked up a few good quotes / links from the FOS regarding cash pay outs that I've saved for ammunition later on!

As an aside, there was a lot of waiting and chasing to get the valuations done - but the fella involved was very pleasant and competent.

It was the aftersales side where they were REALLY shocking.

I wouldn't sweat it though, you shouldn't have a fight on your hands to get the cash.

I just want to get it sorted if I'm honest, it's doing my head in not knowing what's happening.

sofaboy73 - Member
Many household policies are new for old so hopefully you'll get full value

Most household policies won't even come close to the value of a lot of modern expensive bikes. Have been told though that if the cover they provide is less than the bike value, they'll give you that cover amount less the percentage difference in bike value to cover. i.e. they say you're undervaluing it so give you the undervalue percentage of what they'll pay out.

Looks like it's settled - I'm happy with the settlement figure so am not go to argue the toss over the 20% reduction.

Wheelies were very keen for me to replace the bikes via themselves, trying to point what extra I could get with the 20%. Given the horror stories on here and elsewhere I'd rather have less cash for an easy life and be in control of my own bike replacements.