No Fault Accident Help

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anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
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I was insured with same company a few years ago, they were crap then and so it appears things haven't improved. They suspended my no claims for a non fault claim and it took a lot of arguing to get it back. Keep fighting with them and it should get sorted.

tbc

Original Poster:

3,017 posts

174 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
Bit of an update

Well it's just under 6 weeks since the no fault accident and to say the company (back of santa sleigh) have been shocking is a complete understatement

They got a second 'independent' guy to inspect the damage to the wing and he wrote the car off saying it was worth X amount and it would probably cost X amount is parts ( or part as the case may be), labour and paint.

They have also offered my father half the amount of what similar cars in mint condition with a lot more mileage and less spec are going for.
So we have sent off multiple examples of same engine, spec, mileage to them in hope they stump up a proper amount of the cars worth.
We also subsequently found out that from the day the accident was reported it took the company (back of santas sleigh ) TWO WEEKS to bother contacting anyone to access the car.
The whole experience has left him pretty pissed off. Considering the other parties insurance is disputing everything even when it's clear as day who was at fault.
This means that my father would have little hope of getting any excess back if he paid it.

They have classed the car as CAT A ,when my father has been driving around in in with a dent in the wing for over 5 weeks with no mechanical issues whatsoever.
Then before they even bothered to give my father an offer for his car they ask for the MOT, TAX, V5 to be sent away so they could claim ownership of the car.
Now my father has been to a few people who said it would cost £500 for a new wing and the bumper fixed.

I would say that anyone wishing to deal with this company stays well away and pays another few quid to go with a relatively decent company.

Avoid like the plague.

Edited by tbc on Monday 21st July 16:25

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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I was sort of starting to believe this, but a Cat A. Really?

imagineifyeswill

1,224 posts

165 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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The CAT A does sound incredible for that amount of damage but from 17 years experience running a Breakdown Recovery company dealing with all the major insurers , there was one well known company cant remember which now put a destruction order in effect a CAT A on every vehicle it wrote off even minor damage still legal to drive.

tbc

Original Poster:

3,017 posts

174 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
UPDATE

So another update on this ridiculous situation.

EIGHT WEEKS on from the start of this almighty balls up.

The insurers have stumped up a more reasonable amount than the pitiful amount they initially offered and guaranteed the excess would be recouped.

Then fast forward to today and they have phoned to say the other party (who came over red lights smashing into my fathers car at 50mph on a 30mph road, and who we suspect was on her mobile) have not admitted liability.

They have said they want to put this through as a 50/50. This would mean my father admitting he was partly to blame when all he was doing was driving over a green light.

They have also said we do not have an independent witness when previously they said they had been in contact with the witness who said the other party was at fault and gave a full statement.

Obviously my father is furious because he is not at fault and them attempting to put it through as such is meaning he is admitting guilt when he is the totally innocent party.
Admitting guilt would not only be against principles but would mean he would get little or none excess back and lose his no claims and therefore his insurance would go up next renewal.

Futhermore the underwriters have stated that should he refuse a 50/50 and take this matter to court they will not provide any legal cover (even though it was part of his insurance cover). They also state that in their opinion the judge would not find in my fathers favour.

They are basically saying that my father accepts guilt and a 50/50 or else he's on his own.

They have stated that they will settle with the GUILTY third party on a 'Without Prejudice Basis' to protect their interest.

So to sum things up.

My father was going over a green light minding his own business. The lady that hit him was speeding, possibly on her mobile and not driving with due care and attention. Yet at the end of the day she has got a payout for her car, a fraudulent whiplash injury claim and gets off scot free on a 50/50.

Meanwhile my father who was minding his own business was shunted at 50mph had his car written off due to a slightly dented wing ( he's been driving the car since the accident with no issue), he will end up out of pocket, with a bottom book amount for his car, higher insurance, a 50/50 AT FAULT claim on his record.

My father is determined to fight this to court if need be.

The independent witness has basically been ignored and discounted by the insurers and underwriters having said the other party was at fault.

They have also stated that they will close the case within 7 days if my father does not accept. We have had advice that this is illegal and that they cannot force him to accept liability and a 50/50.

We are very suspicious and believe the other parties insurer has been in contact with the witness and bought them off.

Edited by tbc on Friday 8th August 16:57

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

156 months

Friday 8th August 2014
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tbc said:
We are very suspicious and believe the other parties insurer has been in contact with the witness and bought them off.
How would they do that?

tbc

Original Poster:

3,017 posts

174 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
PurpleMoonlight said:
tbc said:
We are very suspicious and believe the other parties insurer has been in contact with the witness and bought them off.
How would they do that?
Because the guilty party somehow has the independent witnesses phone number

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

156 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
tbc said:
Because the guilty party somehow has the independent witnesses phone number
No. How would they buy them off?

As you claiming the other parties insurer have bribed them?

Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
tbc said:
slightly dented wing
Remarkably little damage for a 50MPH crash.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
tbc said:
Bit of an update

Well it's just under 6 weeks since the no fault accident and to say the company (back of santa sleigh) have been shocking is a complete understatement
Your father's experience is not uncommon.
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews10932.html

Looks like he didn't do his homework on them before taking out a policy. frown



The Moose

22,821 posts

208 months

Friday 8th August 2014
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I'd recommend giving Europa Consultants a quick call about this. They've been very good to me in the past.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Friday 8th August 2014
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tbc said:
We are very suspicious and believe the other parties insurer has been in contact with the witness and bought them off.
I was dubious before, but this just takes the biscuit. Do you have any idea how many claims and hundreds of millions of pounds insurers deal with each year? And you think an insurer is going to buy off a poxy little claim that wouldn't even register on their radar.

What a load of garbage.

CYMR0

3,940 posts

199 months

Friday 8th August 2014
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I will say that your insurer appears to be doing everything exactly wrong, not only in terms of customer service but in respect of basic competence.

tbc

Original Poster:

3,017 posts

174 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
What we can't get our heads around is they now say they will pay off the other party claim without prejudice.

They will pay off the guilty parties claim. But couldn't stump up a decent amount for my fathers car in the first instance

Exoticaholic

1,043 posts

211 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
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I didn't smoke dope or consume amounts of alcohol to the point of intoxication when I read this thread. Am I reading it right, the woman driver ran a red light and hit your father side on, who had right of way? The independent witness confirmed this. And your dad's insurers going for 50/50 even if 100% liability was appropriated to the woman? And they also met her claim without prejudice but gave your father a less than satisfactory pay out?

Saying if I read that right, I find this situation quite frankly difficult to comprehend. It simply doesn't make sense.

You have my sympathies. Don't know what useful advice I can muster.