Car insurance claims

[expat]

If a 3rd party car insurance claim is made but insurance company was changed shortly after accident, would that be previous insurarer that's responsible assuming accident took place at the time of that insurance being valid?

Yes. I believe that professional liability insurance is the only one that covers you at the time of claim rather than the time of event.

[AtW]

With that kind of dealer rates it seems cheaper to drive bullet-proof X5 that can only be scratched by others, the only issue is if you hit somebody else - lots of fatalities for sure if at any serious speed.

[AtW]

Yes. I believe that professional liability insurance is the only one that covers you at the time of claim rather than the time of event.

Thanks expat - that sounds fine, at least current company won't be affected directly.

[Rebecca Loos]

have you try threatening to cut off his gas supply?

[monkeyboy]

A few years back someone hit me at a junction. Ended up in court which they lost and I won, but to cut a long story short. The bill for the repair of my car include a number of items including a new bumper etc.

All they replace was one wing. The bumper was the original.

As I was on the right side of the costs I kept my mouth shut, and I had no choice on repairer the insurance company organised it all. I think the actual cost of repair was in the region of £150... at the most, the cost when it came to court was over £1300. The car was woth 1200 at most.

Its all one big rip off, but the insurance companies don't care to much as ultimately we pay through higher premiums. We have no choice.


one I heard from a mechanic mate of mine :-

Woman brings her car in for service.
Muppet mechanic had ordered wrong oil filter, couldn't be bothered getting right part so mangled wrong part so it fitted, but leaked.
Sent woman off after service.
Engine blows up of course.
Comes back to garage and they repair with new engine on womans second hand car warranty. ( as they diagnosed the problem the faulty service was never mentioned to the insurance company) So they got paid to fix there own cockup. and thats at insurance company rates apparently they sourced recon engine for 600 quid charged 2500 for total bill.

Thats why insurance is so high.

[ALM]

Thats why insurance is so high.

I think it's the personal injury claims which are driving premiums up. You can't so much as kiss someone's rear bumper without a £3K whiplash claim being filed.

[AtW]

It seems to me that 3k for whiplash for a priceless human is far more reasonable than 2-3k bumper replacement for a car worth 4k.

[expat]

Thanks expat - that sounds fine, at least current company won't be affected directly.

I love the way you've done it: you came to your current insurer with a clean bonus, then the previous lot can pick up the tab, but you haven't claimed against your previous insurer at the time of the switch, or against the current insurer ever. It's very logical.

[AtW]

I love the way you've done it: you came to your current insurer with a clean bonus

I had no choice but to renew insurance - previous insurer wanted 2 times more cash than current, so they lost me. At the time of switch I have not had quote for car repair, nor do I have it now - naturally no claim was made as I need quote to decide if I can settle it privately, something I really want to do. As soon as I get quote I will make my mind on whether I pay it myself or ask him to go through insurance, in any case I will pay him £50 for his time and efforts.

In the event of having claim that will go back to previous insurer situation will be rather ugly and I will have to ask for guideline from my current insurer, I certainly have no plans on keeping this secret - it can easily invalidate my current insurance so I ain't doing that.

The crap thing is that it happened 20 days before 3rd year of NCB - if claim is made not only I will have lost whole year, but also lose at least 1 year from existing before that NCB thus going down to 1 year NCB at best, possibly 0, which is a major bummer, will certainly cost extra £1500 over period of 5 years, if not more, which is why I naturally want to settle it privately - its a fking bumber kiss ffs.

[Lucifer Box]

have you try threatening to cut off his gas supply?

Becs, respect is due.