Halfords Advice

[EGcyclist]

I had a hybrid Ridgeback Momentum which I purchased on the cycle to work scheme. Unfortunately the bike was stolen last week. My insurance company are replacing but insist that I get the bike from Halfords and they don't stock the make and model of bike. Can anyone suggest a good alternative? I am cycling 5 miles to work and back each day but would like to increase this as I get more confident. I am female and 5"4 and have £650 in vouchers to spend. Any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[cyberknight]

Do you still want a shock absorber on the front fork and a step through frame?

if so maybe .......

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_240381_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

 

[colinr]

I've heard that Halfords can get nearly anything in, but you may need to find a member of staff that knows this and is willing to facilitate it. That said the Carreras, as linked to by cyberknight, are rarely spoken ill of.

 

[EGcyclist]

I had heard that Halfords were willing to get in a wide range of bikes for the CTW scheme but not sure just for normal customers. I had looked at the Carrerra and was also looking at the Boardman which is quite a bit more expensive. Do you think it is worth spending the extra money?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If Halfords cannot supply you with the equivalent of the bike which was stolen then you may have a case against your insurer.

 

[EGcyclist]

Halfords

The insurance company have said that an "equivalent" bike can be purchased at Halfords although it is not the exact bike. They obviously want to go down the route of forcing you to go to Halfords as they have a deal with them, although bizarrely it would cost them less to just replace my original bike with my lbs. I have done a bit of research and am going to go to the shop on Thursday to have a chat with them and see what they say. I may be back on the forum for further advice then.

 

[Norm]

Who are your insurer, because being forced to use any particular shop, even if it wasn't Halfords, is just crap!

Also, as Greg suggests, you may have a claim against the insurer if this restriction is not mentioned in the policy documents. Even if it is specifically mentioned, it could be considered an unfair restriction. From the Financial Ombudsman's own literature:

Opting for ‘replacement’ is only a reasonable option on the insurer’s part if the object claimed for can be replaced. If the object is antique jewellery, for example, then it is not open to the insurer to insist the claimant buys a modern replacement from a chain shop. Similar issues arise whenever the replacement options are limited. It may, for example, be unreasonable to limit a policyholder’s choice of replacement to a particular retailer.​

​

​

 

[shippers]

I'd not quibble too much with the insurer- they could always point out that you're not allowed to insure something that you don't own, and as the BTW is a loan the insurer could probably wriggle out of paying anything!

 

[youngoldbloke]

How about Boardman Performance Hybrid Bike Team 2010? - £649.99, and £100 voucher at the moment..

 

[Norm]

I'd not quibble too much with the insurer- they could always point out that you're not allowed to insure something that you don't own, and as the BTW is a loan the insurer could probably wriggle out of paying anything!

That's not true. You have an "insurable interest" in a CTW bike (just as you do a rental car, for example) and most schemes oblige you to have insurance.

 

[gregster]

I'd ring the Halfords CTW line and tell them what happened, explain that you bought the original bike through them on the CTW scheme and see if they can help. Although it's not technically another CTW purchase, they may be able to source another bike for you?

 

[g00se]

My local halfords metro has quite a few 2009 Kona road and hybrid bikes with 20-25% discounts. Could be worth a look along with the Boardmans?

 

[johnr]

I had my Specialized Tricross stolen just before Xmas. Aviva were great. I got the bike replaced by my lbs but had to use Halfords for the lights etc. Didn't quibble at the time, but as everything I got there has broken since (except the bottle cage), I probably should have.

Grrrr Halfords

 

[marooncat]

I had to do an insurance claim last summer (through my household insurance) and they tried to insist that I used Halfords. I argued (in a nice way of course) that I was not happy using Halfords and asked them to consider a like for like replacement from the L(ish)BS I got my bike from. The guy ummed and aghed and said I would have to see what Halfords offered and then if I was not happy I would need to go back to the insurance company and request to get it somewhere else.

I had to email the guy a copy of my insurance schedule as there was a discrepancy with my excess and when I did that I included links to the like for like bike on the shop website as well as all the other bits I was claiming for. Within 1 hour he came back and said they would cover the cost of the replacement from the LBS and I was to buy it and claim the money back.

The moral of that rather long winded story is that it might be worth putting a formal request to the insurance co to consider the one from your LBS.

 

[Bandini]

I've heard that Halfords can get nearly anything in, but you may need to find a member of staff that knows this and is willing to facilitate it. That said the Carreras, as linked to by cyberknight, are rarely spoken ill of.

There is a number to sort out bikes that they don't stock- ask at Halfords. They don't do about three brands that I know of (they may also not do some obscure brands) - one of them was Trek - I don't recall what the others were. If you call them they will let you know.