Insurance claim hassle
Discussion
A third party drove into me so rather than deal with it myself, I passed it to a claims management company (thinking they took a fee for handling my claim) mainly because I'm busy and don't have time to deal with the hassle myself. I have a witness and was stationary when hit so 100% non-fault. Turns out that the claims management place need me in a credit hire car in order to recoup their fees so they told me to go to my own insurer because I didn't want to do credit hire.
I passed the details to my insurance saying I wanted my car fixed at a place of my choice because it's not a mainstream car and that I needed a car for this weekend. They've just told me that I can't have a car because I'm not getting it repaired through one of their approved repairers and would need to go through credit hire to get a car. I tried to save the industry a bit of money and now they want to send me down the route I didn't want to go down. At a bit of a loss as to what to do now...
I passed the details to my insurance saying I wanted my car fixed at a place of my choice because it's not a mainstream car and that I needed a car for this weekend. They've just told me that I can't have a car because I'm not getting it repaired through one of their approved repairers and would need to go through credit hire to get a car. I tried to save the industry a bit of money and now they want to send me down the route I didn't want to go down. At a bit of a loss as to what to do now...
By going to a claims management company you are far more likely to cost the insurance companies far more money.
Most insurance companies have it stipulated in their polices that if you choose to use a repair centre of your own choice you forfeit the courtesy car.
I would have let the other person's insurance company sort things out.
Most insurance companies have it stipulated in their polices that if you choose to use a repair centre of your own choice you forfeit the courtesy car.
I would have let the other person's insurance company sort things out.
Edited by Driver101 on Tuesday 24th February 11:31
Which is where things don't add up:
Option 1: Claims management company gives me a car, lets me get my car fixed where I want to and costs the insurance industry a lot;
Option 2: Own insurer lets me get my car fixed where I want but doesn't give me a car but is cheaper to the industry.
Where's the incentive to try and keep costs down for the industry?
Option 1: Claims management company gives me a car, lets me get my car fixed where I want to and costs the insurance industry a lot;
Option 2: Own insurer lets me get my car fixed where I want but doesn't give me a car but is cheaper to the industry.
Where's the incentive to try and keep costs down for the industry?
AyBee said:
Which is where things don't add up:
Option 1: Claims management company gives me a car, lets me get my car fixed where I want to and costs the insurance industry a lot;
Option 2: Own insurer lets me get my car fixed where I want but doesn't give me a car but is cheaper to the industry.
Where's the incentive to try and keep costs down for the industry?
So what you want now is the insurance company to pay for the repairs, pay a higher rate at a bodyshop of your choice, pay for a courtesy car and pay the claims management company their fees? Option 1: Claims management company gives me a car, lets me get my car fixed where I want to and costs the insurance industry a lot;
Option 2: Own insurer lets me get my car fixed where I want but doesn't give me a car but is cheaper to the industry.
Where's the incentive to try and keep costs down for the industry?
You've already involved a claims management company before giving the insurance company the chance to sort things.
How do you know your bodyshop is better that the one they'd use?
Most people just want their car fixed. They don't know what is a good bodyshop and what isn't. They just was the insurance company to give them a replacement car and fix their own.
The incentive to keep down costs comes when you come to renew. When you declare the non-fault accident next year your premium will go up. The more expensive the claim the higher it will push your premium.
Driver101 said:
AyBee said:
Which is where things don't add up:
Option 1: Claims management company gives me a car, lets me get my car fixed where I want to and costs the insurance industry a lot;
Option 2: Own insurer lets me get my car fixed where I want but doesn't give me a car but is cheaper to the industry.
Where's the incentive to try and keep costs down for the industry?
So what you want now is the insurance company to pay for the repairs, pay a higher rate at a bodyshop of your choice, pay for a courtesy car and pay the claims management company their fees? Option 1: Claims management company gives me a car, lets me get my car fixed where I want to and costs the insurance industry a lot;
Option 2: Own insurer lets me get my car fixed where I want but doesn't give me a car but is cheaper to the industry.
Where's the incentive to try and keep costs down for the industry?
You've already involved a claims management company before giving the insurance company the chance to sort things.
How do you know your bodyshop is better that the one they'd use?
Most people just want their car fixed. They don't know what is a good bodyshop and what isn't. They just was the insurance company to give them a replacement car and fix their own.
The incentive to keep down costs comes when you come to renew. When you declare the non-fault accident next year your premium will go up. The more expensive the claim the higher it will push your premium.
OP have you tried talking to the third party insurers, sounds like a cut and dried case to me, talking to the TP insurers explaining the situation that you are happy for just any car and in doing that and only having it for the weekend and not for the full period is mitigating their losses you may be able to swing it.
thescamper said:
OP have you tried talking to the third party insurers, sounds like a cut and dried case to me, talking to the TP insurers explaining the situation that you are happy for just any car and in doing that and only having it for the weekend and not for the full period is mitigating their losses you may be able to swing it.
Thanks - didn't know whether this was worthwhile trying...Just deal with the third parties insurers, we got rear ended in August last year, had a hire car from Enterprise and the car was collected the next day, no hassle what so ever.
The third party was with Direct Line who I have to say were great.
Plenty of posts on here regarding AMCs and their credit hire agreements.
The third party was with Direct Line who I have to say were great.
Plenty of posts on here regarding AMCs and their credit hire agreements.
AyBee said:
Thanks - didn't know whether this was worthwhile trying...
I've always gone direct to the other person's insurers.They're always falling over themselves to provide a hire car, and repair the car wherever I want (normally a manufacturer bodyshop).
Just ring them and they should play ball.
Contact the other Insurer direct, most will bite your hand off to provide a like for like car and use the repairer of your choice as you have refused the claims management company and credit hire as these inflate their costs massively.
If you don't know the other Insurer's details you can find who they are, the contact number and policy number for a small fee here www.askmid.com
If you don't know the other Insurer's details you can find who they are, the contact number and policy number for a small fee here www.askmid.com
Blue Oval84 said:
I've always gone direct to the other person's insurers.
They're always falling over themselves to provide a hire car, and repair the car wherever I want (normally a manufacturer bodyshop).
Just ring them and they should play ball.
How many accidents do you normally have?They're always falling over themselves to provide a hire car, and repair the car wherever I want (normally a manufacturer bodyshop).
Just ring them and they should play ball.
dacouch said:
Contact the other Insurer direct, most will bite your hand off to provide a like for like car and use the repairer of your choice as you have refused the claims management company and credit hire as these inflate their costs massively.
If you don't know the other Insurer's details you can find who they are, the contact number and policy number for a small fee here www.askmid.com
Thanks - have sent them an email giving them the chance to provide me with a hire car to keep their costs down. Will follow up with a call tomorrow if I don't get a response.If you don't know the other Insurer's details you can find who they are, the contact number and policy number for a small fee here www.askmid.com
Monkeylegend said:
How many accidents do you normally have?
Four in fifteen years, rear ended at-1a) A roundabout
1b) A roundabout but without damage so doesn't count
2) Traffic lights
3) After stopping in the road due to a tree in my lane and oncoming van
4) Traffic lights - he knocked the two cars behind me into my car which was quite impressive in a 30mph zone!
I've now fitted a target to the back of the car to make it more fun
Blue Oval84 said:
Monkeylegend said:
How many accidents do you normally have?
Four in fifteen years, rear ended at-1a) A roundabout
1b) A roundabout but without damage so doesn't count
2) Traffic lights
3) After stopping in the road due to a tree in my lane and oncoming van
4) Traffic lights - he knocked the two cars behind me into my car which was quite impressive in a 30mph zone!
I've now fitted a target to the back of the car to make it more fun
AyBee said:
thescamper said:
OP have you tried talking to the third party insurers, sounds like a cut and dried case to me, talking to the TP insurers explaining the situation that you are happy for just any car and in doing that and only having it for the weekend and not for the full period is mitigating their losses you may be able to swing it.
Thanks - didn't know whether this was worthwhile trying...REALIST123 said:
Why not just get a courtesy car from the repairer? I've never known them not to have them.
Usually the 'courtesy car' supplied by the repairer is being paid for by the insurance company, as a cheap way for them to hire a replacement while yours is being repaired. So as soon as you choose to go somewhere else for a repair, or remove the automatic courtesy car clause from your policy, they're under no obligation to supply one.Because I'd never take my cars to an insurance approved repairer, as in my experience round here the vast majority are useless, I refuse to pay an additional premium for a service they will then inform me I am not entitled to.
We have more than 1 car so it's really not an issue for us anyway.
Adrian E said:
REALIST123 said:
Why not just get a courtesy car from the repairer? I've never known them not to have them.
Usually the 'courtesy car' supplied by the repairer is being paid for by the insurance company, as a cheap way for them to hire a replacement while yours is being repaired. So as soon as you choose to go somewhere else for a repair, or remove the automatic courtesy car clause from your policy, they're under no obligation to supply one.Because I'd never take my cars to an insurance approved repairer, as in my experience round here the vast majority are useless, I refuse to pay an additional premium for a service they will then inform me I am not entitled to.
We have more than 1 car so it's really not an issue for us anyway.
surveyor said:
I've always assumed that the repairers courtesy car is paid for by the repairer as part of becoming an 'approved bodyshop'
Becoming an approved bodyshop for an insurance company usually involves agreeing to a spectacularly low labour rate. It may be in their T&Cs with an insurer to guarantee a loan car when the insurer requires one to be provided, but the cost is being passed on one way or another.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff