🚨 My Story (factual and in short).

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My Insurance Dispute

In 2022, my vehicle suffered an engine fire. The repairs carried out by Gold Coast Restorations Australia left the vehicle with major mechanical issues — it was non-drivable and not something I could fix myself. These were not cosmetic faults but essential repairs required for the vehicle to be safely insured again.

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I believe the repairs were negligent and incomplete, with several necessary components either omitted or damaged during the process. Despite this, Matrix Insurance (under Allianz) has refused to accept responsibility and subsequently cancelled my policy, fully aware that the vehicle’s unrepaired condition would make it impossible to obtain insurance elsewhere in Australia. I believe this was a deliberate tactic, as I am currently pursuing legal action against them.

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After more than a year of dealing with AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) with no resolution — only delays, accusations, and resistance from the underwriters (Steadfast and Dawes, both under Allianz) — the matter has now progressed to court, where I am preparing for trial as a self-represented litigant.

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Throughout this process, I have been placed at a significant disadvantage. Evidence and documentation I gathered during the AFCA process — including proof of negligence and duty of care breaches — have now been ruled inadmissible in court. I was never informed of this restriction, nor is it disclosed in the Financial Services Guide (FSG), by the insurer, broker, or AFCA representatives. Consumers are led to believe AFCA is the correct path for resolution, yet the process operates under a non-prejudicial framework, which limits what can later be used in court.

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The bullying tactics have continued. Most recently, my insurance was not renewed, with the insurer stating that “no-one in Australia would cover it in its current state.” This is despite the fact that I had paid full policy rates for over two years while the vehicle remained unusable. I was also told that if I cancelled the policy, I could not continue my AFCA dispute — effectively holding me to ransom. Now, I’m left with a “cancelled insurance” record, a black mark that follows me even though the circumstances were beyond my control.

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As a result, I remain uninsured and have been without a functioning vehicle for over a year. This has severely impacted my livelihood, my ability to work, and my overall financial stability. Despite the hardship, not one representative from the insurer or repairer has shown accountability or concern.

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To further discredit me, new accusations have been raised — including claims about the supposed “upkeep” of the vehicle — continuing a pattern of blame-shifting, intimidation, and silence.

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Both the insurer and the repairer promote themselves as service providers who help customers when things go wrong and restore vehicles to proper condition. In my case, neither upheld those promises.

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I will continue this legal fight — not only to have the repairs properly rectified, but to push for greater transparency and reform in the insurance dispute process so that others don’t endure the same damaging and dehumanizing ordeal.

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I don’t need pity — I need people who care enough to stand beside me. I’m in the fight, and I’m not backing down.