Insurance Claims

[riptide]

I had a small accident recently where I reversed into a parked car on my friend's drive. I know the lady involved and I have agreed to pay the amount for the repair direct to her rather than involve my insurance company as it is only a couple of hundred pounds and there is no damage to my car. My concern is that after a conversation with her partner, he then said, that it was only an estimate and that it may be a lot more. I then said to him, if it was a lot more, I would be unable to pay it and my insurance company would have to be involved. I also have told them that they should not be going ahead with the work if it is going to be a lot more, as my insurance company would not be happy with them proceeding without it first being agreed by them. Is this correct?. I have told my insurers about the accident and told them that we may be agreeing it between ourselves and they have asked me to get a dislaimer from the other party if this is the case. The other party now want me to give them the address for the bill to be sent to, which I am hesitant to do bearing in mind it may be more money than they are telling me. I would rather contact the garage direct and make them aware of the situation. Is this a good idea? One of the reasons I am doing this is that I really do not want to lose the "no claims" bonus I have built up over a long period of time. I am allowed to make 2 claims within a 5 year period under my insurance policy. Touch wood, I have not had any accidents for a very long time and thought as it was only a small amount, I would settle it without involving my insurers. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

[kira000]

Common practice would be to ask them to get 2 or 3 quotes for the work for you to see and choose from, then you can check they are not pulling a fast one.

In fact one acident i had, the insurers asked me to do just that, then arranged fro the work to be done.

[paraffin]

If you don't want to give them your address directly, you will have to put the matter in the hands of your insurers.

That way, it means of course it would affect your no claims, however that's not the end of the world and it would at least mean that you wouldn't have to deal directly with the other party, particularly the partner who sounds as if he's after as much as they can get, even if he doesn't actually own the car.

If you want to deal with it yourself, then the other car owner is entitled to your name and address. However, I would only have dealings with whoever owns the car, not the partner, it is nothing to do with him if he does not own the car.

Weigh up the options once you've had their estimates, plural, then decide finally what is the lesser of the two "evils" from your perspective.

Good luck.

[riptide]

Thanks all, have in fact contacted my insurers, as I have my doubts about the estimate etc. Have also emailed them to tell them my decision. Basically, they arranged everything for next week, without even getting approval. Also, have not even seen copy of estimate. Not on really, so decided best to leave it to my insurers. Cannot get hold of them, so have emailed them to tell them my decision and the fact that they should not go ahead without my insurers approval. Up to them now.

Your comments and advice greatly appreciated.

[woozer]

You cannot control the Third Party and neither can your insurer. They can go where they like for the repair and if the car is relatively new they have every right to chose the repairer for the marque of car that they have in order to protect their warranties. If this is not the case they may have a problem if they have not got a couple of estimates to show that they have mitigated their loss but at the end of the day........you or your insurer will probably pay as it is cheaper than going to court .
Some insurers will agree to let you reimburse them after the claim is settled and restore your no claims situation. Others will not and they do not have to as they will have had the administrative costs of handling the claim.

[riptide]

Thanks woozer, I think you will find no matter what, my insurers will have to see their estimate before they go ahead with the work. I have a protected no claims bonus and have been told it will not affect my policy. I would have paid it myself had the chap not said at the end of our conversation, "of course it could be a lot more than a few hundred pounds". Having not even seen the estimate and they arrange it all without my approval, not on really.

Thanks all, things are never as straight forward as often they appear.

[woozer]

I appreciate your feelings and agree to some extent but I have been in insurance for many years and they do not have to contact your insurer or you first to approve the work. As long as they can show they have mitigated their loss they are in the clear

[alifbae]

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