Car bumped,very annoyed.Un-insured van.

[randomeddy]

Sat next to a big ugly box van at a two lane give way waiting to join the main road when the van cuts across too sharply and makes contact with our front wing,bonnet and bumper.
I am fking fuming,although the car is eight years old it has never had any paintwork done.(Every panel checked for paint depth a few weeks ago during a warranty claim).It will stand out like a sore thumb now when the repairs have been done.It is a factory option colour so will be hard to match I reckon.
The driver was very apologetic and gave all his details and said to ring the boss for insurance details.
I rang the boss of the company and he offered to pay for it,I thought for a moment and then decided it would be dangerous territory so I said no,it will be dealt with by the insurance.
As soon as I could I rang my insurance and gave them everything I knew (including an independant witness's details).The insurance company said the van is showing up as no insurance
It is getting picked up after the new year,the insurance company can earn their keep chasing it up.

[Europa1]

Go back to the boss of the company.

His employee admitted liability. Boss did nothing to dispute it and offered to pay. Company is liable for acts and omissions of its employees.

[Dog Star]

Why is it "dangerous territory"?

You've just gone from "easy peasey" to a complete world of hurt; you're going to lose your NCB, your excess and be paying bumped up premiums for years.

If the van really is uninsured your insurance is unlikely to recover any loss from the other party and I very much doubt that the police will give a monkeys.

[LouD86]

Europa1 said:

Go back to the boss of the company.

His employee admitted liability. Boss did nothing to dispute it and offered to pay. Company is liable for acts and omissions of its employees.

Could be a matter of being on a group policy, but not on the MID, well one hopes so at least

[Escy]

I can't understand why you'd choose to go though the insurance in this instance

[folos]

Dog Star said:

Why is it "dangerous territory"?

You've just gone from "easy peasey" to a complete world of hurt; you're going to lose your NCB, your excess and be paying bumped up premiums for years.

If the van really is uninsured your insurance is unlikely to recover any loss from the other party and I very much doubt that the police will give a monkeys.

If they're too cheap/skint to insure their vehicles what sort of people do you think they are? I certainly wouldn't let them deal with it on the side if it was my car.

[Impasse]

Escy said:

I can't understand why you'd choose to go though the insurance in this instance

Because at the moment it seems the business owner isn't too hot on paying his bills, even for something mandatory like vehicle insurance. The prospect of realistically getting many thousands of pounds out of him to fix the car is slim to none.

[randomeddy]

Fully comp,protected NCD,free legal cover.
Let the insurance sort it out I reckon.It happened in Brighton,we are from the other side of Manchester down here on holiday for xmas,I dont reckon I could convince a garage to fix it and try and chase the money off him.
Or would I have to pay for it and try and claim it back?

Edited by randomeddy on Monday 22 December 16:45

[MGJohn]

Just because "Computer says No" does not necessarily indicate it is not insured.

Edit to add @ 16:47

It is a condition on most Motor Insurance policies I've read to report ALL incidents irrespective of blame.

[SteveSteveson]

Dog Star said:

If the van really is uninsured your insurance is unlikely to recover any loss from the other party and I very much doubt that the police will give a monkeys.

The insurance co will claim from the MIB, who will pursue the company. It's an easy win for them chasing a company rather than the normal people they chase.

[valiant]

Yep, just let insurance deal with it.

It will probably turn out to be a complete ballache if you decide to do it off the books and no doubt he will suggest that you fix and pay for it and to send him the bill which is where the real fun begins.

[JQ]

randomeddy said:

Fully comp,protected NCD,free legal cover.
Let the insurance sort it out I reckon.It happened in Brighton,we are from the other side of Manchester down here on holiday for xmas,I dont reckon I could convince a garage to fix it and try and chase the money off him.
Or would I have to pay for it and try and claim it back?

Edited by randomeddy on Monday 22 December 16:45

Neither, you get a main dealer quote for the repairs, present them to the company owner and he gives you the cash. If he doesn't give you the cash then you go through your insurance. This way you'll find out very quickly if he's going to mess you around without any risk. If he does give you the cash then you get the car repaired at your leisure at a garage of your choice.

[CraigyMc]

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-witho...

[hairyben]

randomeddy said:

Fully comp,protected NCD,free legal cover.
Let the insurance sort it out I reckon.It happened in Brighton,we are from the other side of Manchester down here on holiday for xmas,I dont reckon I could convince a garage to fix it and try and chase the money off him.
Or would I have to pay for it and try and claim it back?

Edited by randomeddy on Monday 22 December 16:45

You'll still pay more in premium loading than any perceived gain of going through insurance.

[anonymous-user]

hairyben said:

You'll still pay more in premium loading than any perceived gain of going through insurance.

I hear this but this is totally not my experience of a no blame accident. You will not loose any NCB, your premiums will go up slightly. I would go through the insurance every time, unless perhaps they agreed to pay me the entire value of the car upfront privately rather than dick about with a mate's garage and "I can get it done way less than that" and all the usual bullst.

[TooMany2cvs]

randomeddy said:

It will stand out like a sore thumb now when the repairs have been done. It is a factory option colour so will be hard to match I reckon.

If the body shop are half-way competent, it won't be a problem. It doesn't make a difference if the colour was standard or an option or whatever - assuming it's a straight solid or metallic. If it's one of those oily-puddle or some other "clever" finish, it might be trickier, but even so most bodyshops should be just fine, assuming they actually give a toss.

[Mopar440]

TooMany2cvs said:

If it's one of those oily-puddle or some other "clever" finish, it might be trickier,

No, surprisingly these are easier to match, because they change colour from every different angle of observation.

[loskie]

With damage as you describe(even if insignificant) and 8 yrs old must be close to a write off in the insurers eyes.

[anonymous-user]

TooMany2cvs said:

randomeddy said:

It will stand out like a sore thumb now when the repairs have been done. It is a factory option colour so will be hard to match I reckon.

If the body shop are half-way competent, it won't be a problem. It doesn't make a difference if the colour was standard or an option or whatever - assuming it's a straight solid or metallic. If it's one of those oily-puddle or some other "clever" finish, it might be trickier, but even so most bodyshops should be just fine, assuming they actually give a toss.

+1

The body shop my mate runs always do my paintwork and you can literally never tell which bit has had paint when finished, not matter what the colour.

My 993 is in 18 year old Arena Red metallic and you absolutely cannot tell which panels have had paint.

If you can see the repair then you are using the wrong body shop.

[randomeddy]

loskie said:

With damage as you describe(even if insignificant) and 8 yrs old must be close to a write off in the insurers eyes.

This is my worst nightmare.
I have been posting lately about the merry-go-round of helping my son buy a car.Cat D this Cat C that.
I am keeping the car whatever happens.Can I stamp my feet and demand it to be repaired?