Hgf Update

[Black Swan]

Some time ago I registered with Irwin Mitchell with regard to the HGF I had with my S1 at about 30k miles. Have just recieved details from them saying MG R have accepted there may be a claim and they will look at individual cases:

 

 

Our Ref: AJO/JLW/632790-5 (LS) 19 October 2004

 

Dear Group Member

 

MG ROVER AND LAND ROVER K SERIES

 

I am pleased to report that there have been two major developments in these claims. They are:

 

1. We have completed our sample review exercise with a barrister, which has enabled us to provide guidance as to good, moderate and weak claims, as well as the losses which are potentially recoverable, from a legal perspective.

 

2. Both MG Rover and Land Rover have agreed to individually investigate each and every claim with a view to making an offer of compensation.

 

What to do next Please consider the attached sheet. It gives some broad guidelines as to the features of different cases we have come across and how that affects the strength of the claim. Please assess those features carefully to form your own view as to the strength of your own case. Then consider how much your claim might be worth using the guidance provided. By assessing the strength of your claim together with its maximum value you can then take a view as to how much compensation you should consider accepting. For instance, if you have a “good” claim you might seek to recover 70% – 100% of your claimable losses. When you have undertaken that exercise please write to, or call, MG Rover or Land Rover as appropriate.

 

The relevant contact details are attached. Please do not send us a copy of your correspondence. If, however, you require individual advice, either about putting your claim or in deciding whether or not to accept an offer of compensation made by MG Rover or Land Rover we will be able to provide that for a fixed fee of £350 plus VAT.

 

Should you wish to take advantage of that offer you should telephone James Lloyd on 0114 274 4527. We are confident that both MG Rover and Land Rover will make offers of compensation to worthy claims. Strictly speaking they do not have any direct liability to compensate any of the owners of their cars but the pressure that has been brought by the volume of numbers in this group, together with the publicity from the BBC Watchdog programme has enabled us to reach this stage. Thank you for registering with Irwin Mitchell in relation to this claim. Our involvement in these claims is now at an end, unless of course you decide as an individual that you require further advice under the terms set out above. If we can be of assistance in relation to any other matter please let us know.

 

Yours sincerely ALAN OWENS PARTNER

telephone 0870 1500 100

St. Peter’s House Hartshead Sheffield S1 2EL

fax 0114 275 3306 DX 10513 Sheffield imonline.co.uk

Regulated by the Law Society. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

A full list of the partners of Irwin Mitchell is available for inspection at these offices.

 

Levels of claim strength details

 

 

 

MG Rover/Land Rover K-Series Head Gasket Failure Your claim is against whoever you purchased the vehicle from. This may be a Land Rover or MG Rover dealership or, if bought second hand, possibly a private-seller. In any event, both Land Rover and MG Rover have agreed to look at your claim. As a starting point, you will need to satisfy the following criteria without which you will not have a claim;

 

1. You must own either an MG Rover or Land Rover Freelander with a K-Series engine;

 

2. The head gasket must have failed;

 

3. It must be less than six years since your bought the vehicle;

 

and 4. You must have retained proof of ownership. If you have satisfied all of the above criteria, you may be able to determine guidance as to the approximate strength of your claim following the points set out below.

 

What are the features of a Good Claim?

Vehicle purchased new from dealership

Less than 30,000 miles when fault occurred

Complete service history

Engineer’s report on failure and cause

 

What are the features of a Moderate Claim?

Vehicle purchased new from dealership or second-hand vehicle

Less than 50,000 miles but more than 30,000 miles when fault occurred

Complete service history

No engineer’s report on failure and cause

 

What are the features of a Weak Claim?

Vehicle purchased new from dealership or second-hand vehicle

More than 50,000 miles when fault occurred

No or incomplete service history

No engineer’s report on failure and cause

 

What can I make a claim for? You should claim for:

The costs of repairing the damaged head gasket (including a replacement engine if damaged as a consequence)

The costs of labour

Compensation for loss of use whilst the vehicle was being repaired

The costs of engineer’s report (if you have obtained one)

 

Do not expect to recover:

Any diminution in the value of the vehicle because of the repair

Any incidental expenses (such as telephone calls, postage, etc.)

 

When assessing any offer of compensation, you should attempt to balance the approximate strength of your claim and the total value of your claimable losses in order to determine whether the offer is fair or not. For instance, if you have a good claim you should seek 70% – 100% of your claimable losses. If you have a moderate claim you should seek 40% – 70%. Any reasonable offer should be considered if you have a weak claim.

 

 

Contact details:

 

 

MG Rover and Land Rover Contact Details

 

When contacting the MG Rover Group Limited You can write to:

 

MG Rover Contact Centre

General Office Block

PO Box 41 Longbridge

Birmingham B31 2TB

Telephone: 08457 186 186

 

When contacting Land Rover UK Limited You can write to:

 

Land Rover Customer Service Centre

Land Rover UK

Browns Lane

Allesley

Coventry

CV5 9DR

Telephone: 08705 000 500

 

Think I am somewhere in the middle re claim strength.

 

Any thoughts, as this seems to exclude cars with K engines that are not MG/Rover/Land Rover

 

Peter

[malbon]

>>1. You must own either an MG Rover or Land Rover Freelander with a K-Series engine;

 

dont that exlclude us straight away?

[malbon]

Didn't see that bit at the bottom

 

I think that as Lotus has stamped thier name on our engines and they are who we bought off....our beef is with them.

 

I think are chances of compo are.....very very slim to ZERO