Advice on OE Scorpion Alarm... progress.... success!

[Jim 1]

Ok.. so i've spoken to an alarm fitters who said that because the alarm on the car is from '94 there is no way they can recertify it. I phoned up Scorpion and a chap quite matter of factly said that they don't keep a database of old certificates for the cars..

 

So I have an alarm that is working perfectly well but the short and skinny is that now i'm going to have to fork out £350 for a new one because it can't be recertified, nor can I obtain a copy of the original certificate.

 

And obviously I need this as Churchill will not insure the car for theft without the certificate. Not impressed :(

 

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Lippy 0]

Jim

 

When I got my car I needed to do the same thing. The guy came out, whizzed the underside shelf of the glovebox out and got a serial number off the alarm control unit and also from the siren in the bonnet.

 

He stuck the info in his PDA and although it was old said that all was OK cat 1 approved. One letter faxed to insurance company on headed paper, job as a good un.

 

Don't see how they can't recertify? Have they given a good reason? Sounds like BS to me, you tried any other companies?

 

Andrew

[Jim 1]

I think I need to ring around. I spoke to a company in Leamington and they just said "1994? Let me check... *silence for 30 seconds* - yeah its out of date and a new one is your only option.."

 

Obviously I call BS.. guess i'll try and find a slightly more honest alarm company!

[scarlett 0]

bloomin' heck.... my insurance company didnt ask for any proof - i told them it was the factory fitted std one and they left it at that...

 

i'd keep ringing round - pain in the ass i know - and try to find a more helpful alarm company....

[corradovr6sc 0]

Don't you just need proof that the alarm/immobiliser works? (a VSIB Certificate) I've got the same alarm and that's all my insurance company asked for.

[dr_mat 0]

Can't recertify because the rules for certification have changed. If your insurer requires a CAT1 it has to match the *current* CAT1 requirements. There is *some* overhang when the requirements change, but certainly not enough to get a 1994 alarm certified in 2006.

I'm afraid it's all true...

I found a link once all about it, take a look at the thatcham site, they have a list of alarms and their ceritifcation status. The OE Scorpion alarm that VW fitted to Corrados was delisted in 1998.

[dr_mat 0]

Just another thought - since your alarm works fine, leave it alone, but get a CAT2 immobiliser fitted *aswell*. That shouldn't cost much more than £100. Your insurer will probably be happy with that. (Particularly in conjunction with your original alarm!)

[Jim 1]

Yeah.. but then my only worry is having two seperate security systems fitted.. and if I really had to choose would prefer just one good alarm / immob.. bah.. I don't know what to do :(

[dr_mat 0]

It's a pain, true, but I've lived with having an alarm and separate immobiliser. You can do it ..

 

Particularly if you get one of the recent ones where you just need to have the "key" close to the sensor to unlock it, they're no big deal...

[dazzyvr6 0]

have you tried getting a certificate from the dealers?

[Jim 1]

I'm going to pop over to VAG at lunch time and was wondering if they'd be able to produce one for me! Good thinkin Dazzy..

[dr_mat 0]

IIRC the dealers usually tell you to go to an alarm specialist and get the alarm recertified .. which you won't be able to do ..

And I sincerely doubt they will keep a copy of the original certificate.

Sorry Jim, I've been round this loop before. There's really not a lot of choice.. Either find an insurer that is prepared to take your word for it the car is secure or get a new device fitted. :(

[dazzyvr6 0]

although thatcham have declassified the alarm..it still is a cat1 alarm,and my certificate was issued through my local dealer even though my car was originally bought in sunderland..so they must keep copies

[Jim 1]

IIRC the dealers usually tell you to go to an alarm specialist and get the alarm recertified .. which you won't be able to do ..

And I sincerely doubt they will keep a copy of the original certificate.

Sorry Jim, I've been round this loop before. There's really not a lot of choice.. Either find an insurer that is prepared to take your word for it the car is secure or get a new device fitted. :(

 

I'm going to bloody well stick at it mate.. I know rules are rules and stuff but really I begrudge having to have a fully functioning CAT1 alarm ripped out and another put in (or another system stuck in alongside) just for insurance purposes.

[Lippy 0]

would it not be worth phoning some other insurance companies, might be cheaper changing companies who don't care about certification?

 

what a kerfuffle ;)

[Jim 1]

Yeah my girlfriend suggested the same thing.. problem is I think most reputable insurance companies will probably want the same sort of thing... :|

[Lippy 0]

who was scarlett insured with before?

[Jim 1]

I'm not sure mate.. but she said they never queried it!

 

Anyway - result - and this might be of interest to others out there in the same predicament as me.

 

Popped in to see my friendly local stealer (and I must say my opinion of Listers in Coventry is improving with every visit) and they said that whilst they cannot reissue any sort of certificate, they are happy to get their head technician to give the alarm a once over and verify it is still operational in its original spec and consequently issue a letter to Churchill verifying the make / model of the alarm and that they are happy that it is protecting the car properly. And this won't be a "leave it with us - 2 hours labour please sir" - they'll just get him out to give it the once over whilst I wait.

 

I spoke to Churchill and they say that provided it comes on VW headed letter paper with all those details they would be fine with that.

 

Woohoo!

[dr_mat 0]

although thatcham have declassified the alarm..it still is a cat1 alarm

 

No, this is the point - it's *not* a CAT1 alarm, it's been delisted because it doesn't have the right security features. It *was*, but it isn't. Even if you had the original certificate they should ask for make/model of alarm and they'd know straight away that it's not cat1. They might accept the alarm ANYWAY, but cat1 it ain't.

 

As it turns out, Jim's insurer will accept the word of VW that the device is working ok, but they won't be stating that it's CAT1, because it isn't.

[16vradge 0]

Glad your getting somewhere with it Jim. I think the alarm fitters were trying to pull a fast one saying there was no way they could recertify a '94 alarm. My brother got his recertified on his golf, we had no idea when it was fitted - no questions asked by fitters they just checked it and issued a certificate. If anyone else is in the same predicament I wouldn't tell them its factory or year it was fitted, it just gives them the opportunity to say 'no, you need a new one' - just ask for an inspection and if in working order you'll get the VSIB.

[Jim 1]

although thatcham have declassified the alarm..it still is a cat1 alarm

 

No, this is the point - it's *not* a CAT1 alarm, it's been delisted because it doesn't have the right security features. It *was*, but it isn't. Even if you had the original certificate they should ask for make/model of alarm and they'd know straight away that it's not cat1. They might accept the alarm ANYWAY, but cat1 it ain't.

 

As it turns out, Jim's insurer will accept the word of VW that the device is working ok, but they won't be stating that it's CAT1, because it isn't.

 

Churchill say they'll be happy as long as they can confirm that the system fitted is immobilising the cat to CAT2 standard.. so provided it gets the all clear in that respect, I should be fine.

[dr_mat 0]

Great, lucky git! :)

[16vradge 0]

immobilising the cat

 

Ketamine ought to do it. :)

[Lippy 0]

dr_mat, good but frustrating points as I am sure you know!

 

glad your getting there Jim, just go on vw.co.uk and stick a logo into Word. :lol:

[Jim 1]

Well true to their word, I had a letter waiting at home for me today, on Volkswagen letter headed paper which reads as follows:

Re: Volkswagen Corrado, Registration Number L691 ***

 

I have inspected the above vehicle and can confirm that it is fitted with a

Volkswagen aftermarket category 1 self arming alarm and immobiliser, and

that it is working correctly.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Aftersales Manager.

 

From what Churchill say, this should be adequate for me to finally get my car covered for theft. I'll be posting it off (once a copy has been made) and will let you know of the progress!

 

Cheers.