Hit from behind - Insurance question
Discussion
On my way to work , stopped at a set of traffic lights. Looks in the mirror to see a 1 series coming up pretty quick. I thought has she seen me ? Err no bang. Gave me a good wallop, first time it has happened to me. At the last second I tensed up and gripped the steering wheel. Not the best start to the day. She said she didn't see me. Anyway I've never been involved in an accident on my own policy used to have company vehicle. So what I want to do is get a quote from local garage and have them pass the bill on to her insurance co. Do I need to tell my insurance co. come renewal time or now? I think there is a PHer who deals with accident management I'm hoping I can deal with it myself but if someone could let me know just in case.
I've always phoned the insurance company straight away. You are allowed to choose where it gets repaired, always remember this. Last year quotemehappy.com sent me to a company called Nationwide Repairs. It went in needing a new bonnet and bumper. They spent 2 months putting it back together managing to some how rack up a £3000 bill.
As per the other thread in SP&L, I'd go direct to her insurer.
Your insurer has a duty to you to fix your car (assuming you have fully comp insurance), less your excess, to pursue a claim from anyone who causes an accident, and to pay out if you cause one.
Her insurer, once they admit liability, should:
1. Provide you with a like-for-like hire car (whereas your insurer probably either wants you in a 1.0 Pug 107 or will refer you on to a hire car company);
2. Not look to get any security for your excess;
3. Not base any valuation decisions on what the other party *might* decide is acceptable once they've paid out.
If you go to an accident management company, or are referred to one, the third party insurer might dispute the costs you incur, whereas if you approach them directly and they are reasonable in the way they look after you, will have agreed with any expenditure in advance and will therefore not dispute it. If they start getting unreasonable, then is a very good time to go back to your insurer and/or an AMC.
Do tell your insurer, once the TP insurer is dealing.
Finally, if there is a personal injury claim, be cautious about accepting any early offers. They could be generous, but more likely it's too early to tell whether complications might develop, in which case you would be in difficulty if you accept something early on. There, I would get legal representation from a recommended, specialist solicitor.
Your insurer has a duty to you to fix your car (assuming you have fully comp insurance), less your excess, to pursue a claim from anyone who causes an accident, and to pay out if you cause one.
Her insurer, once they admit liability, should:
1. Provide you with a like-for-like hire car (whereas your insurer probably either wants you in a 1.0 Pug 107 or will refer you on to a hire car company);
2. Not look to get any security for your excess;
3. Not base any valuation decisions on what the other party *might* decide is acceptable once they've paid out.
If you go to an accident management company, or are referred to one, the third party insurer might dispute the costs you incur, whereas if you approach them directly and they are reasonable in the way they look after you, will have agreed with any expenditure in advance and will therefore not dispute it. If they start getting unreasonable, then is a very good time to go back to your insurer and/or an AMC.
Do tell your insurer, once the TP insurer is dealing.
Finally, if there is a personal injury claim, be cautious about accepting any early offers. They could be generous, but more likely it's too early to tell whether complications might develop, in which case you would be in difficulty if you accept something early on. There, I would get legal representation from a recommended, specialist solicitor.
Similar happened to me - I was only Third Party at the time. Told the other driver I held her totally responsible, which she accepted. She got on to her insurers (Direct L**e) who phoned me, advised me they accepted liability, and arranged for my car to go to a local bodyshop (a good one!) and that there would be a hire car waiting for me there for as long as my car was being repaired. Got car back after 4 days - first class repair, with nothing to pay.
Flibby said:
To be honest by going to get insurers direct you're far more likely to end up with shoddy repair work done and a ford KA courtesy car for the duration of repairs. I'd get on to Europa Consultants ASAP like lots of pistonheaders have.
I would ignore this advice, as it is the cause of increased premiums for all of us.I have never had a Ka as courtesy car. A Corsa maybe.
And you you could end up paying for that Merc hire car out of your own pocket!
Edited by lbc on Tuesday 26th February 18:47
lbc said:
I would ignore this advice, as it is the cause of increased premiums for all of us.
I have never had a Ka as courtesy car. A Corsa maybe.
And you you could end up paying for that Merc hire car out of your own pocket!
The cause of increased premiums is insurers dealing with these cases so poorly, nothing else. These companies I know from experience don't go about their business by taking money from innocent victims. I have never had a Ka as courtesy car. A Corsa maybe.
And you you could end up paying for that Merc hire car out of your own pocket!
Edited by lbc on Tuesday 26th February 18:47
All an AMC does in a matter like this, is cause delays and costs inflation, which make it less likely your claim will settle. You may also be hounded for weeks about personal injury claims. Indeed, I had a policyholder on the phone to me today complaining that some AMC employee had been reassuring him how "they have no way to tell if you WEREN'T injured" and that he should really make a claim. Only just stopped short of being coached in what to say to the Doctor.
In this case, you could ring the insurer, who will probably arrange a low cost hire car and get yours picked up, taken in for repair, and then returned to you in a few days.
Or you could go to an AMC, who will put you in the most expensive car they can justify. They will then place it in storage at £25 per day, charging £300 to recover it. A little man may or may not smash one light to ensure it's "un-roadworthy" and the hire is needed, as is the off road storage. They might then instruct an engineer, who has no authority, to inspect your car, and agree a labour rate at approaching double the usual rate. The engineer will then send the report second class, to the AMC or more likely the solicitors, who will badger you relentlessly and coach you into how to become "injured". The solicitor will then send the report, to you, for agreement. You receive it,confused, and call to see why you have the report. You are informed you need to agree it. You send it back, in the post to the Solicitors or AMC, who then post it second class, to the wrong office of the insurer, all the time blaming them (to you) for the delays and hire charges. The insurer will then, having been told you drove off from the scene quite happily and legally, instruct their own assessor, who may or may nor be refused access to the car. The hire and storage of a perfectly repairably car will continue whilst this goes on. At this time, your hire claim is now worth over £2k, the storage and recovery over £600, and your repairs still are no where near being started. You will still be getting calls about the injury you didn't have.
Eventually, a cheque for the repairs at a reasonable labour rate, less VAT may turn up. You are still being bothered about your inevitable whiplash, and asked if you had any friends or family in the car.
The AMC might or might not be cashing cheques in your name and at this point now authorising the repairs at the previously mentioned extortionate labour rate. Alternatively -
At this point, you don't have enough to fix the car, but the insurer cant/wont pay VAT til it's been incurred. So you book it in, and have to find the extra yourself, possibly more than the excess if you'd used your own insurer, and a sight more than if the other insurer had sorted out on the first phone call for you. Your mother is now receiving calls about an injury. And she lives in Australia.
Your hire bill is now £6k. The recovery and storage of a car you drove from the scene is £1200. Your northern solicitors who are now definately acting in place of the AMC as its going to court and tell you the insurers are behaving like scum and refusing to pay the bills, and after all, the accident wasn't your fault, so why should you be out of pocket. ( You still unaware of the gross claims inflation and might still believe them at this point). Your hamster is told it might have a claim for whiplash. Your £1000ish damage claim is now £8000, and given its going to court anyway, are you SURE you didn't have whiplash? Sickened, you might weaken at this point, many do, and include a claim for this. The GP cut and paste report adds £300, the solicitors costs £5k min, the ATE premium £600 and your injury £2k.
You may or may not have to end up in court. Probably in Birkenhead. Its a long way from Cornwall or Essex or whereever you are, but your solicitors tell you you MUST attend there - they won't risk running this at a more legitimate court. You take at least a day off work to attend and give evidence.
Your £1k claim is now £16k+ And that is why all our premiums are so bloody high. So next time someone tells you to use an AMC, tell them to sod off. Because when the repairs were done to a sub standard, who can you complain to? Think the AMC will care? No. But insurers have a complaints proceedure and the FOS behind them.
There are literally no benefits on a case like this to using an AMC. Quite the reverse.
Are you sure you didn't get whiplash?
In this case, you could ring the insurer, who will probably arrange a low cost hire car and get yours picked up, taken in for repair, and then returned to you in a few days.
Or you could go to an AMC, who will put you in the most expensive car they can justify. They will then place it in storage at £25 per day, charging £300 to recover it. A little man may or may not smash one light to ensure it's "un-roadworthy" and the hire is needed, as is the off road storage. They might then instruct an engineer, who has no authority, to inspect your car, and agree a labour rate at approaching double the usual rate. The engineer will then send the report second class, to the AMC or more likely the solicitors, who will badger you relentlessly and coach you into how to become "injured". The solicitor will then send the report, to you, for agreement. You receive it,confused, and call to see why you have the report. You are informed you need to agree it. You send it back, in the post to the Solicitors or AMC, who then post it second class, to the wrong office of the insurer, all the time blaming them (to you) for the delays and hire charges. The insurer will then, having been told you drove off from the scene quite happily and legally, instruct their own assessor, who may or may nor be refused access to the car. The hire and storage of a perfectly repairably car will continue whilst this goes on. At this time, your hire claim is now worth over £2k, the storage and recovery over £600, and your repairs still are no where near being started. You will still be getting calls about the injury you didn't have.
Eventually, a cheque for the repairs at a reasonable labour rate, less VAT may turn up. You are still being bothered about your inevitable whiplash, and asked if you had any friends or family in the car.
The AMC might or might not be cashing cheques in your name and at this point now authorising the repairs at the previously mentioned extortionate labour rate. Alternatively -
At this point, you don't have enough to fix the car, but the insurer cant/wont pay VAT til it's been incurred. So you book it in, and have to find the extra yourself, possibly more than the excess if you'd used your own insurer, and a sight more than if the other insurer had sorted out on the first phone call for you. Your mother is now receiving calls about an injury. And she lives in Australia.
Your hire bill is now £6k. The recovery and storage of a car you drove from the scene is £1200. Your northern solicitors who are now definately acting in place of the AMC as its going to court and tell you the insurers are behaving like scum and refusing to pay the bills, and after all, the accident wasn't your fault, so why should you be out of pocket. ( You still unaware of the gross claims inflation and might still believe them at this point). Your hamster is told it might have a claim for whiplash. Your £1000ish damage claim is now £8000, and given its going to court anyway, are you SURE you didn't have whiplash? Sickened, you might weaken at this point, many do, and include a claim for this. The GP cut and paste report adds £300, the solicitors costs £5k min, the ATE premium £600 and your injury £2k.
You may or may not have to end up in court. Probably in Birkenhead. Its a long way from Cornwall or Essex or whereever you are, but your solicitors tell you you MUST attend there - they won't risk running this at a more legitimate court. You take at least a day off work to attend and give evidence.
Your £1k claim is now £16k+ And that is why all our premiums are so bloody high. So next time someone tells you to use an AMC, tell them to sod off. Because when the repairs were done to a sub standard, who can you complain to? Think the AMC will care? No. But insurers have a complaints proceedure and the FOS behind them.
There are literally no benefits on a case like this to using an AMC. Quite the reverse.
Are you sure you didn't get whiplash?
I've had a text from her insurance co accepting liability and offering a like for like hire car. So far so good.
/\ I take it you've had first hand knowledge of this type of circus ? Seems madness but I can see why people use them if they offer to sort it out no stress involved , but clearly in some cases it's not.
/\ I take it you've had first hand knowledge of this type of circus ? Seems madness but I can see why people use them if they offer to sort it out no stress involved , but clearly in some cases it's not.
WhereamI said:
Why would you do anything other than contact your insurance company and leave them to sort it out? That's what you pay them for.
That what I did when someone hit our car from behind while wifey was driving. As far as I'm concerned that's what fully comp insurance is for. However this was a few years ago and many insurers pass no-fault claims out to AMCs (although that is being phased out again).The other drivers insurance did call - but even though I'm the RK and policyholder they wouldn't speak to me, and so no idea what they would have done. I gather they sometimes make a pre-emptive offer for injury to avoid subsequent whiplash claims.
Jujuuk68 said:
Interesting stuff
I concur about some of the tactics displayed... The first crash I had was a simple claim monumentally cocked up by similar muppets and a certain Northern law firm. Ended up with the square root of nowt.Second crash, I went straight to the other insurers, the claim was fully settled within a fortnight, no palaver.
AMCs supposedly have their place, but it's definitely not in a simple, straightforward incident like this.
I had an no fault incident (numpty reversed out of parking spot into the side of my car) the other driver was clearly at fault, I phoned my insurance co, who chased his insurer but they stalled saying their client had not even acknowledged the accident. It went on so long that my insurer went ahead and repaired my car and then dealt with the other insurer as they could see there was no way I was at fault (staionary in a carpark at the time), this was just around the time of my renewal as well, so I was really happy about that, as until it was decided in my favour, my renewal came in at something like 600 quid more than the previous year as I had a potential at fault accident hanging over me.
Thankfully it did get resolved, the repairs to my car cost nearly 2k and the renewal was pretty much the same as the year before,but there were a few sweaty moments.
Insurers do get a bad press, but in my experience, they seem to have done as much as anyone could to assist, I wouldn't go near an accident management co if you paid me.
Of course now I am paying higher annual premiums on a frogeye than I did on a Boxster,but Canadian insurance rates make English ones seem like charity !
Thankfully it did get resolved, the repairs to my car cost nearly 2k and the renewal was pretty much the same as the year before,but there were a few sweaty moments.
Insurers do get a bad press, but in my experience, they seem to have done as much as anyone could to assist, I wouldn't go near an accident management co if you paid me.
Of course now I am paying higher annual premiums on a frogeye than I did on a Boxster,but Canadian insurance rates make English ones seem like charity !
Jujuuk68 said:
All an AMC does in a matter like this, is cause delays and costs inflation, which make it less likely your claim will settle. You may also be hounded for weeks about personal injury claims. Indeed, I had a policyholder on the phone to me today complaining that some AMC employee had been reassuring him how "they have no way to tell if you WEREN'T injured" and that he should really make a claim. Only just stopped short of being coached in what to say to the Doctor.
In this case, you could ring the insurer, who will probably arrange a low cost hire car and get yours picked up, taken in for repair, and then returned to you in a few days.
Or you could go to an AMC, who will put you in the most expensive car they can justify. They will then place it in storage at £25 per day, charging £300 to recover it. A little man may or may not smash one light to ensure it's "un-roadworthy" and the hire is needed, as is the off road storage. They might then instruct an engineer, who has no authority, to inspect your car, and agree a labour rate at approaching double the usual rate. The engineer will then send the report second class, to the AMC or more likely the solicitors, who will badger you relentlessly and coach you into how to become "injured". The solicitor will then send the report, to you, for agreement. You receive it,confused, and call to see why you have the report. You are informed you need to agree it. You send it back, in the post to the Solicitors or AMC, who then post it second class, to the wrong office of the insurer, all the time blaming them (to you) for the delays and hire charges. The insurer will then, having been told you drove off from the scene quite happily and legally, instruct their own assessor, who may or may nor be refused access to the car. The hire and storage of a perfectly repairably car will continue whilst this goes on. At this time, your hire claim is now worth over £2k, the storage and recovery over £600, and your repairs still are no where near being started. You will still be getting calls about the injury you didn't have.
Eventually, a cheque for the repairs at a reasonable labour rate, less VAT may turn up. You are still being bothered about your inevitable whiplash, and asked if you had any friends or family in the car.
The AMC might or might not be cashing cheques in your name and at this point now authorising the repairs at the previously mentioned extortionate labour rate. Alternatively -
At this point, you don't have enough to fix the car, but the insurer cant/wont pay VAT til it's been incurred. So you book it in, and have to find the extra yourself, possibly more than the excess if you'd used your own insurer, and a sight more than if the other insurer had sorted out on the first phone call for you. Your mother is now receiving calls about an injury. And she lives in Australia.
Your hire bill is now £6k. The recovery and storage of a car you drove from the scene is £1200. Your northern solicitors who are now definately acting in place of the AMC as its going to court and tell you the insurers are behaving like scum and refusing to pay the bills, and after all, the accident wasn't your fault, so why should you be out of pocket. ( You still unaware of the gross claims inflation and might still believe them at this point). Your hamster is told it might have a claim for whiplash. Your £1000ish damage claim is now £8000, and given its going to court anyway, are you SURE you didn't have whiplash? Sickened, you might weaken at this point, many do, and include a claim for this. The GP cut and paste report adds £300, the solicitors costs £5k min, the ATE premium £600 and your injury £2k.
You may or may not have to end up in court. Probably in Birkenhead. Its a long way from Cornwall or Essex or whereever you are, but your solicitors tell you you MUST attend there - they won't risk running this at a more legitimate court. You take at least a day off work to attend and give evidence.
Your £1k claim is now £16k+ And that is why all our premiums are so bloody high. So next time someone tells you to use an AMC, tell them to sod off. Because when the repairs were done to a sub standard, who can you complain to? Think the AMC will care? No. But insurers have a complaints proceedure and the FOS behind them.
There are literally no benefits on a case like this to using an AMC. Quite the reverse.
Are you sure you didn't get whiplash?
What an odious little character you are.In this case, you could ring the insurer, who will probably arrange a low cost hire car and get yours picked up, taken in for repair, and then returned to you in a few days.
Or you could go to an AMC, who will put you in the most expensive car they can justify. They will then place it in storage at £25 per day, charging £300 to recover it. A little man may or may not smash one light to ensure it's "un-roadworthy" and the hire is needed, as is the off road storage. They might then instruct an engineer, who has no authority, to inspect your car, and agree a labour rate at approaching double the usual rate. The engineer will then send the report second class, to the AMC or more likely the solicitors, who will badger you relentlessly and coach you into how to become "injured". The solicitor will then send the report, to you, for agreement. You receive it,confused, and call to see why you have the report. You are informed you need to agree it. You send it back, in the post to the Solicitors or AMC, who then post it second class, to the wrong office of the insurer, all the time blaming them (to you) for the delays and hire charges. The insurer will then, having been told you drove off from the scene quite happily and legally, instruct their own assessor, who may or may nor be refused access to the car. The hire and storage of a perfectly repairably car will continue whilst this goes on. At this time, your hire claim is now worth over £2k, the storage and recovery over £600, and your repairs still are no where near being started. You will still be getting calls about the injury you didn't have.
Eventually, a cheque for the repairs at a reasonable labour rate, less VAT may turn up. You are still being bothered about your inevitable whiplash, and asked if you had any friends or family in the car.
The AMC might or might not be cashing cheques in your name and at this point now authorising the repairs at the previously mentioned extortionate labour rate. Alternatively -
At this point, you don't have enough to fix the car, but the insurer cant/wont pay VAT til it's been incurred. So you book it in, and have to find the extra yourself, possibly more than the excess if you'd used your own insurer, and a sight more than if the other insurer had sorted out on the first phone call for you. Your mother is now receiving calls about an injury. And she lives in Australia.
Your hire bill is now £6k. The recovery and storage of a car you drove from the scene is £1200. Your northern solicitors who are now definately acting in place of the AMC as its going to court and tell you the insurers are behaving like scum and refusing to pay the bills, and after all, the accident wasn't your fault, so why should you be out of pocket. ( You still unaware of the gross claims inflation and might still believe them at this point). Your hamster is told it might have a claim for whiplash. Your £1000ish damage claim is now £8000, and given its going to court anyway, are you SURE you didn't have whiplash? Sickened, you might weaken at this point, many do, and include a claim for this. The GP cut and paste report adds £300, the solicitors costs £5k min, the ATE premium £600 and your injury £2k.
You may or may not have to end up in court. Probably in Birkenhead. Its a long way from Cornwall or Essex or whereever you are, but your solicitors tell you you MUST attend there - they won't risk running this at a more legitimate court. You take at least a day off work to attend and give evidence.
Your £1k claim is now £16k+ And that is why all our premiums are so bloody high. So next time someone tells you to use an AMC, tell them to sod off. Because when the repairs were done to a sub standard, who can you complain to? Think the AMC will care? No. But insurers have a complaints proceedure and the FOS behind them.
There are literally no benefits on a case like this to using an AMC. Quite the reverse.
Are you sure you didn't get whiplash?
We can all sit here and generalise about people, however if any of what you described went on at most firms, there wouldn't be an industry. People who have done the same are in prison.
If you have any proof of anything you've said, go to the MoJ or MASS, else accept you're a fantastic and stop your propaganda.
Flibby said:
What an odious little character you are.
We can all sit here and generalise about people, however if any of what you described went on at most firms, there wouldn't be an industry. People who have done the same are in prison.
If you have any proof of anything you've said, go to the MoJ or MASS, else accept you're a fantastic and stop your propaganda.
I'm sure he'll be happy to admit to being a 'fantastic'! MoJ or MASS? (I know who they are but doubt either would be interested)We can all sit here and generalise about people, however if any of what you described went on at most firms, there wouldn't be an industry. People who have done the same are in prison.
If you have any proof of anything you've said, go to the MoJ or MASS, else accept you're a fantastic and stop your propaganda.
Clearly what he wrote was an exaggeration, and obviously written as such, but certainly there is an element of this 'industry' that operates along the lines he describes, if not as extreme. Just contact your insurers and let them sort it out.
Flibby said:
Jujuuk68 said:
All an AMC does in a matter like this, is cause delays and costs inflation, which make it less likely your claim will settle. You may also be hounded for weeks about personal injury claims. Indeed, I had a policyholder on the phone to me today complaining that some AMC employee had been reassuring him how "they have no way to tell if you WEREN'T injured" and that he should really make a claim. Only just stopped short of being coached in what to say to the Doctor.
In this case, you could ring the insurer, who will probably arrange a low cost hire car and get yours picked up, taken in for repair, and then returned to you in a few days.
Or you could go to an AMC, who will put you in the most expensive car they can justify. They will then place it in storage at £25 per day, charging £300 to recover it. A little man may or may not smash one light to ensure it's "un-roadworthy" and the hire is needed, as is the off road storage. They might then instruct an engineer, who has no authority, to inspect your car, and agree a labour rate at approaching double the usual rate. The engineer will then send the report second class, to the AMC or more likely the solicitors, who will badger you relentlessly and coach you into how to become "injured". The solicitor will then send the report, to you, for agreement. You receive it,confused, and call to see why you have the report. You are informed you need to agree it. You send it back, in the post to the Solicitors or AMC, who then post it second class, to the wrong office of the insurer, all the time blaming them (to you) for the delays and hire charges. The insurer will then, having been told you drove off from the scene quite happily and legally, instruct their own assessor, who may or may nor be refused access to the car. The hire and storage of a perfectly repairably car will continue whilst this goes on. At this time, your hire claim is now worth over £2k, the storage and recovery over £600, and your repairs still are no where near being started. You will still be getting calls about the injury you didn't have.
Eventually, a cheque for the repairs at a reasonable labour rate, less VAT may turn up. You are still being bothered about your inevitable whiplash, and asked if you had any friends or family in the car.
The AMC might or might not be cashing cheques in your name and at this point now authorising the repairs at the previously mentioned extortionate labour rate. Alternatively -
At this point, you don't have enough to fix the car, but the insurer cant/wont pay VAT til it's been incurred. So you book it in, and have to find the extra yourself, possibly more than the excess if you'd used your own insurer, and a sight more than if the other insurer had sorted out on the first phone call for you. Your mother is now receiving calls about an injury. And she lives in Australia.
Your hire bill is now £6k. The recovery and storage of a car you drove from the scene is £1200. Your northern solicitors who are now definately acting in place of the AMC as its going to court and tell you the insurers are behaving like scum and refusing to pay the bills, and after all, the accident wasn't your fault, so why should you be out of pocket. ( You still unaware of the gross claims inflation and might still believe them at this point). Your hamster is told it might have a claim for whiplash. Your £1000ish damage claim is now £8000, and given its going to court anyway, are you SURE you didn't have whiplash? Sickened, you might weaken at this point, many do, and include a claim for this. The GP cut and paste report adds £300, the solicitors costs £5k min, the ATE premium £600 and your injury £2k.
You may or may not have to end up in court. Probably in Birkenhead. Its a long way from Cornwall or Essex or whereever you are, but your solicitors tell you you MUST attend there - they won't risk running this at a more legitimate court. You take at least a day off work to attend and give evidence.
Your £1k claim is now £16k+ And that is why all our premiums are so bloody high. So next time someone tells you to use an AMC, tell them to sod off. Because when the repairs were done to a sub standard, who can you complain to? Think the AMC will care? No. But insurers have a complaints proceedure and the FOS behind them.
There are literally no benefits on a case like this to using an AMC. Quite the reverse.
Are you sure you didn't get whiplash?
What an odious little character you are.In this case, you could ring the insurer, who will probably arrange a low cost hire car and get yours picked up, taken in for repair, and then returned to you in a few days.
Or you could go to an AMC, who will put you in the most expensive car they can justify. They will then place it in storage at £25 per day, charging £300 to recover it. A little man may or may not smash one light to ensure it's "un-roadworthy" and the hire is needed, as is the off road storage. They might then instruct an engineer, who has no authority, to inspect your car, and agree a labour rate at approaching double the usual rate. The engineer will then send the report second class, to the AMC or more likely the solicitors, who will badger you relentlessly and coach you into how to become "injured". The solicitor will then send the report, to you, for agreement. You receive it,confused, and call to see why you have the report. You are informed you need to agree it. You send it back, in the post to the Solicitors or AMC, who then post it second class, to the wrong office of the insurer, all the time blaming them (to you) for the delays and hire charges. The insurer will then, having been told you drove off from the scene quite happily and legally, instruct their own assessor, who may or may nor be refused access to the car. The hire and storage of a perfectly repairably car will continue whilst this goes on. At this time, your hire claim is now worth over £2k, the storage and recovery over £600, and your repairs still are no where near being started. You will still be getting calls about the injury you didn't have.
Eventually, a cheque for the repairs at a reasonable labour rate, less VAT may turn up. You are still being bothered about your inevitable whiplash, and asked if you had any friends or family in the car.
The AMC might or might not be cashing cheques in your name and at this point now authorising the repairs at the previously mentioned extortionate labour rate. Alternatively -
At this point, you don't have enough to fix the car, but the insurer cant/wont pay VAT til it's been incurred. So you book it in, and have to find the extra yourself, possibly more than the excess if you'd used your own insurer, and a sight more than if the other insurer had sorted out on the first phone call for you. Your mother is now receiving calls about an injury. And she lives in Australia.
Your hire bill is now £6k. The recovery and storage of a car you drove from the scene is £1200. Your northern solicitors who are now definately acting in place of the AMC as its going to court and tell you the insurers are behaving like scum and refusing to pay the bills, and after all, the accident wasn't your fault, so why should you be out of pocket. ( You still unaware of the gross claims inflation and might still believe them at this point). Your hamster is told it might have a claim for whiplash. Your £1000ish damage claim is now £8000, and given its going to court anyway, are you SURE you didn't have whiplash? Sickened, you might weaken at this point, many do, and include a claim for this. The GP cut and paste report adds £300, the solicitors costs £5k min, the ATE premium £600 and your injury £2k.
You may or may not have to end up in court. Probably in Birkenhead. Its a long way from Cornwall or Essex or whereever you are, but your solicitors tell you you MUST attend there - they won't risk running this at a more legitimate court. You take at least a day off work to attend and give evidence.
Your £1k claim is now £16k+ And that is why all our premiums are so bloody high. So next time someone tells you to use an AMC, tell them to sod off. Because when the repairs were done to a sub standard, who can you complain to? Think the AMC will care? No. But insurers have a complaints proceedure and the FOS behind them.
There are literally no benefits on a case like this to using an AMC. Quite the reverse.
Are you sure you didn't get whiplash?
We can all sit here and generalise about people, however if any of what you described went on at most firms, there wouldn't be an industry. People who have done the same are in prison.
If you have any proof of anything you've said, go to the MoJ or MASS, else accept you're a fantastic and stop your propaganda.
Also, when I called our actual insurer to inform them, they weren't too pleased and wondered why we/the broker hadn't gone direct to them.
I stopped using that broker as a result. And it's a well known broker frequently mentioned on here.
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