Minor Car Acccident - avoiding going through insurance

[Philine]

A car ran into my bumper causing very little visible damage. She asked me not to go through the insurance as she could not afford the higher premiums and her excess was �200 anyway. The damage was quoted at �300. She is a single mother and has offered to pay in installments which I am willing to accept. However, if I accept a part payment for the damage and then she falls behind with these installments can I still claim through my insurance?

[123everton]

You're on dodgy ground here, as a basic rule I always say when it comes to money I'd trust others about as far as I could throw a bear by it's b alls

[HJT40]

However minor go through your insurance. I would phone them immediately.

As you say what would happen if she didn't pay one or all of the instalments? You would not then be able to go through your insurance and it may not be seen too well if you only report the accident because she failed to make payment. Surely the excess would only apply to repairs to her car and not yours. Her insurance should cover all your repairs.

My advice is not to do it.

[bednobs]

no, you would nt be able to go through the insurane because the insurance fixes the car, not gives you the money to fix the car. And as your car would already be fixed, there would be nothing they could do i presume.
The two best options are:
1) go through the insurance
2) Get her to pay directly for the repair

[DSJ]

Tell your insurer immediately. The other driver may well already have similar arrangements with other drivers whose vehicles she has hit.

[woozer]

It is a requirement of your insurance that you advise the insurers of any incident which could give rise to a claim.
Do not enter into any agreement with the lady no matter how sorry you feel for her.

Are you sure she has got valid insurance - if she is not insured for this incident then you need to consider if you want use your insurance. You should still tell your insurers but say it is for information purposes only unless or until you change your mind. If your insurers fix your car and then cannot get their money back from her or her insurers then you will lose your BOnus even though the accident is not your fault.

If she has insurance then the excess only applies to claims for damage to her car - your car should be covered in full.

If anyone is going to agree to let her pay them in instalments let it be your insurers - if she defaults on them you can always offer to pay them back the balance if they will agree to reinstate your bonus.

[Pollypeptide]

As usual, the best advice is from Woozer. You won't go far wrong if you listen to him/her.