Lesson from Tyrolean case

Stone impact not “from above”: comprehensive cover refused

Florian Wöll with his Audi, which has since been repaired.

(Bild: zVg)

The air conditioning system in Florian Wöll's Audi from Buch in Tyrol was smashed by a stone, but the comprehensive insurance company initially refused to pay. For a reason that may come as a surprise to the average driver.

It was bad luck: the 20-year-old from Buch in Tyrol bought a used Audi A3 with partially comprehensive insurance from Porsche Inter Auto, and soon afterwards the air conditioning failed. "A stone chip was then found on the condenser at Porsche Wörgl," explains Wöll. The service advisor took a quick look at the comprehensive terms and found that "stone chip" was included. The repair costing around 1,200 euros was carried out without a long wait for written approval, and only a 350 euro excess was payable.

Conditions do not provide for this type of damage
When the Audi was picked up, however, the driver was in for a nasty surprise: during correspondence between Porsche Wörgl and the colleagues at Porsche Bank in Salzburg, it became clear that the damage was not covered after all. The insurance company had refused. In writing, Wöll was told: "There is no damage within the meaning of the insurance conditions."