motor insurance claim

[silverdale5]

a colleague at work bumped her car about 6 months ago and damaged a door and wing of her car. she didnt want to affect her no claims so got a couple of quotes and started to save up for it. however, she decided that she could not afford it and put in a claim to her insurance company telling them the accident happened recently (but her insurance company changed a few months ago on renewal). problem is, there was some rusting on the front wing, which the insurance company are saying is either not part of the accident or was done before they were her insurers.
she told them that the damage was all done at once (which it was) but does not know what to do now as they are investigating it !
she has a witness to the accident, but is worried about what will happen next.
i dont know what to advise her.
can she just withdraw the claim and pay it herself .

[Toureman]

So all the people on motoring are thick are they?

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion301893.html

Insurance Companies do not like people who try to fraud them which your friend is obviously trying to do, they are not stupid. They will not pay for repairs when at the time of the accident they were not her insurers.

Your friend should own up now and tell them exactly what happened, perhaps they will stop the investigation. Tell them it was a mistake unless she deliberately tried to defraud them.

She could get in touch with her previous insurers and see if they will pay for the repairs but due to the delay I doubt it.

[Catso]

She is playing with fire here. Get her to withdraw the claim. Just tell them the truth, before it's too late.

[Miss Zippy]

Your friend is unwittingly trying to fraudulently extract money from her insurance company so she should withdraw her claim immediately. If she is lucky, the insurer will not pursue the matter. I doubt if she would get any joy with her previous insurer either with whom she was insured at the time of the accident. Firstly, she was under a duty to tell her insurer of any accident she had whether or not it would result in a claim so she will have lost her right to claim for this accident. Secondly, what real evidence does she have that the accident occurred during the time that she was covered by her previous insurer? She may have a witness but once the the previous insurers start investigating the claim, I doubt he or she will want to go ahead and support you.

[Miss Zippy]

P.S. Your friend should also have told her new insurer of the accident even if it did not result in a claim. Unlike most other contracts, under UK law, a person is under a duty to disclose to an insurer all relevant information and details of all accidents (usually only those within the last 5 years) no matter how minor and irrespective of whether or not they resulted in a claim. Your friend's current car insurance could be rendered void if she did not provide full and frank disclosure.

[spaced]

trying to fool your insurers is a very unwise thing to do. She will be very lucky to get off. Even if she does they may refuse to insure her as she has tried to be fraudulent.

Silly very silly!

Good luck

[tigga]

Im thinking....... move house, sell car, change name...

Or as others say, she's going down a dodgy road - turn back quickly !