About eight weeks ago, my son insured his car fully comprehensive at a value of £3,000.

He was quoted a premium on this figure and accepted.

Last week, the car was written off by another driver - who admitted total liability - but the rub is the insurance company now says my son's car has a trade price of £1,300 and this is what it wants to pay.

If the car is worth £1,300 rather than £3,000, why did the insurer accept the proposal at this figure? Surely the company should have said at the time the value of the car in its books was £1,300.

Secondly, if my house burns down and I have to replace all the contents - TV, video, hi-fi, fridge - the insurer doesn't expect me to buy it wholesale from Dixon's but will pay me the price I have to pay to replace it.

Surely a car should be replaced at the forecourt price to Joe Public, not the trade price, which is only available to garages or those with enough inside knowledge to risk buying at auction.

It's traumatic enough these things happening without them being compounded by bolshy insurance companies.

-Wendy Taylor, Manor Road, Lancing