Insurance claim months after event

[Shambler]

Looking for advice on making a claim on insurance. My car was parked in a car park and whilst I was away somebody hit the rear bumper on my Audi S4. There is a small crack and some deformation. I have checked with bodyshops and they inform me its not repairable. This happened a couple of months ago and because I had to go offshore I never had a chance to report it to the insurance company. If I report it now will they still cover it? The cost of repair is circa £1600, insurance excess is £350.

[BertBert]

I don't think the passage of time would be a problem. You could always just check your policy doc to see if any timeliness is mentioned before you phone them.
Bert

[EU_Foreigner]

As you are not claiming on anyone else, check with non Audi paint shops as on mine a few years ago, Audi quoted similar whilst a bodyshop quoted £600 using OEM parts (and they were Audi approved anyway).

Edited by EU_Foreigner on Monday 11th March 11:40

[KungFuPanda]

Surely a different body shop could plastic weld the bumper and respray for closer to your excess figure?

[KungFuPanda]

In any event, passage of time won't harm your chances of claiming.

[Mr Tidy]

No, the statute of limitations gives you 6 years to make a claim against the responsible party - but it's better done sooner! And you need to be able to identify them!

But your contract with your own insurer will be completely different - report it to them as soon as you notice it, or it may get messy.

Edited by Mr Tidy on Tuesday 12th March 00:52

[Sir Bagalot]

BertBert said:

I don't think the passage of time would be a problem.

I do. I know of firms that have refused to pay out because date of claim was 28 days after the damage.

As you're claiming on your own policy are you of the date it happened??

[Mr Tidy]

Sir Bagalot said:

I do. I know of firms that have refused to pay out because date of claim was 28 days after the damage.

As you're claiming on your own policy are you of the date it happened??

Don't get too stressed - I've worked for insurers that would still pick up the full costs, as well as insurers that would pick up the full costs other than any increased costs arising from the late reporting of the incident.

And if it becomes an issue, that is why there is an Ombudsman.

[KungFuPanda]

Just tell the insurer it happened last week.

[CanAm]

KungFuPanda said:

Just tell the insurer it happened last week.

And hope that none of their staff read motoring forums.
Anyone remember the young lady on here with the BMW 3 series convertible?

[Cliftonite]

CanAm said:

And hope that none of their staff read motoring forums.
Anyone remember the young lady on here with the BMW 3 series convertible?

No. Do tell!

[ZOLLAR]

CanAm said:

KungFuPanda said:

Just tell the insurer it happened last week.

And hope that none of their staff read motoring forums.
Anyone remember the young lady on here with the BMW 3 series convertible?

Indeed, it would be rather unfortunate if a fraud investigator for an insurance company were to read insurance threads!

[BrabusMog]

Cliftonite said:

CanAm said:

And hope that none of their staff read motoring forums.
Anyone remember the young lady on here with the BMW 3 series convertible?

No. Do tell!

Yes, please do!

[zygalski]

ZOLLAR said:

CanAm said:

KungFuPanda said:

Just tell the insurer it happened last week.

And hope that none of their staff read motoring forums.
Anyone remember the young lady on here with the BMW 3 series convertible?

Indeed, it would be rather unfortunate if a fraud investigator for an insurance company were to read insurance threads!

None of us insurance claims handlers read PH forums.

As to the OP's question, if an engineers report shows further damage (ie corrosion, water ingress, wear & tear etc) caused as a result of the passage of time which does not relate to damage caused by the incident the policyholder is claiming for, then the insurer is within their rights to not cover this damage.
In such circumstances the policyholder may well be asked to make a contribution or repair at their own expense, as there is no second accidental damage claim to be made.

An example of such a claim is a damaged sunroof where the policyholder does not report the incident immediately and attempts to weatherproof the car unsuccessfully. The insurer would not cover damage caused by water ingress for the glass claim, as the owner has been neglectful.

I should also add that in the vast majority of instances, the passage of time has no impact on the claim whatsoever.

[CanAm]

BrabusMog said:

Cliftonite said:

CanAm said:

And hope that none of their staff read motoring forums.
Anyone remember the young lady on here with the BMW 3 series convertible?

No. Do tell!

Yes, please do!

Ok, long story short and it was a while back and quite a bit was deleted so forgive me if any errors:-
Young lady from Bradford boasting about her flashy BMW and how cheap insurance was (in her father's name). Had pictures which included one showing a plastic bag on the back seat with her "grass cuttings".

Then had a claim but unfortunately the thread on here was spotted by her insurer, and story was rapidly changed to include family members couldn't read or didn't have bank account so car was registered and finance arranged in her name, but not her car at all, honest guv.