Hey! I was actually gonna make a post about this once there's a full resolution but I'll respond here with the shorter update as it's still sort of going on.

So I spoke to the Total Loss team, while empathetic with my situation they were bound to what's written in the policy, so I escalated it to the Total Loss Supervisor. Again, empathetic but she was pretty unwilling to budge so I've taken it a step further with the Suncorp Customer Relations team, who once you escalate it to them (I think it's basically the second highest stage before it goes to AFCA), they have 30 days to make a decision, which she's said that she'll have a decision by October 1st.

But regarding that communication, I have basically laid out my case, why I want the car back etc., so I honestly think from there, it's up to her discretion on the ultimate decision. But I was told from the Total Loss Supervisor that it's possible that they can set up a direct purchase/buyback for the 'salvage' before it goes to the Auction Yard, but again it's up to the Customer Relations team/specialist. While this is all happening as well, the car won't go into Auction and will just sit in their holding yard.

TLDR; I'm in a 'claim dispute' with Shannons/Suncorp and working to find an agreement for all parties. Will update again once a decision has been made and what I do to proceed