Reporting an accident
Author
Discussion

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,607 posts

282 months

Monday 4th June 2007
quotequote all
Can anybody confirm that you MUST report an accident to your insurance company within 24 hours (where damage is done to your vehicle) ??

insanojackson

6,027 posts

275 months

Monday 4th June 2007
quotequote all
Not heard this one before, Its certainly not part of road trffic act. Might be part of specific comapnys terms and conditions though.

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,607 posts

282 months

Monday 4th June 2007
quotequote all
I thought you had to tell your insurance co? Part of T&Cs?

TPS

1,860 posts

244 months

Monday 4th June 2007
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You must always inform your insurance of any accident,claim or conviction you get whilst insured with them.This may have to be done within 24 hours.

WildCat

8,369 posts

274 months

Monday 4th June 2007
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I think if the damage only to your own vehicle und not a thirdy party - you can decide to have fixed at own expense.

Do be aware that any repair to car ist recorded. It affects re-sale value even if cosmetic touch up rolleyes

In theory - you should advise but a lot of folk per insurer's own stats (which may or may not be accurate wink) now go for repair at own costs as cheaper long term wink.

Up to you - get quotes - then make the decisions wink

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Monday 4th June 2007
quotequote all
WildCat said:
I think if the damage only to your own vehicle und not a thirdy party - you can decide to have fixed at own expense.

Do be aware that any repair to car ist recorded. It affects re-sale value even if cosmetic touch up rolleyes

In theory - you should advise but a lot of folk per insurer's own stats (which may or may not be accurate wink) now go for repair at own costs as cheaper long term wink.

Up to you - get quotes - then make the decisions wink
You should still inform them about collisions you have, even if you don't make a claim & pay for repairs yourself.

7db

6,060 posts

261 months

Monday 4th June 2007
quotequote all
The terms of your insurance are to disclose any material facts - not just at the point of taking out the policy. If you don't disclose, you policy might be invalid.

Driving without insurance, anyone?

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,607 posts

282 months

Monday 4th June 2007
quotequote all
OK guys, thanks.

Minor smash last November, white van cretin drove into side of my wife's car, his insurance company/him are ignoring letters and wife's insurance co (NU) are being useless and have taken 6 months so far to establish that he hasn't reported the incident to his insurance company rolleyes

I don't suppose this counts as an admission of guilt then does it?

NU are useless, Indian call centre who, whilst they speak reasonable English, don't seem to understand any of the niceties and just parrot stuff from their standard responses.

Mrs.NCoT is now resorting to sending letters as with luck they will be replied to and provide some written proof...

aw51 121565

4,773 posts

264 months

Monday 4th June 2007
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Put it in writing on your insurance company's claim form - with For Information Only writ large thereon wink .

Not guaranteed that this tactic will stop the company with the big red phone messing up your no claims when you tell them verbally (by phone) about your car being broken into but don't claim though!

They finally came up with the same quote as their online quote site - and we went elsewhere for 40% less...

spunky-mon

898 posts

240 months

Tuesday 5th June 2007
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aw51 121565 said:
Not guaranteed that this tactic will stop the company with the big red phone messing up your no claims when you tell them verbally (by phone) about your car being broken into but don't claim though!

this happened to me. ended up paying an extra £60 when i got new insurance. when i said i hadn't even claimed they said its in the system against your name so it counts.

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Tuesday 5th June 2007
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spunky-mon said:
aw51 121565 said:
Not guaranteed that this tactic will stop the company with the big red phone messing up your no claims when you tell them verbally (by phone) about your car being broken into but don't claim though!

this happened to me. ended up paying an extra £60 when i got new insurance. when i said i hadn't even claimed they said its in the system against your name so it counts.
They get a double whammy on you.

1) Collisions.
2) Claims.

You can have a fault collision but not make a claim (the collision will still be held against you).
You can have a fault collision & make a claim (both can be held against you)

Collisions that have been unsettled (in their eyes) could be held open against you, even if you think it isn't your fault, because a claim could be made against you years later that they would be required to defend.

Your duty is to inform them of all material facts, they'll determine how they'll interpret it & offer cover accordingly. If you don't like how they do interpret it, you can try somewhere else, but you still have to inform them of the same material facts.

The industry as a whole does have you over a barrel to a certain degree.



Edited by vonhosen on Tuesday 5th June 07:12

RaksP

760 posts

235 months

Tuesday 5th June 2007
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so do you have to inform them of all collisions with other drivers or all collisions and bumps. for example if i hit a wall or something and there were no others involved only causing a minor bump and scratches should i declare this? what about if i scuff my alloys?

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Tuesday 5th June 2007
quotequote all
RaksP said:
so do you have to inform them of all collisions with other drivers or all collisions and bumps. for example if i hit a wall or something and there were no others involved only causing a minor bump and scratches should i declare this? what about if i scuff my alloys?
You have to tell them of any collisions you have, (in any car you drive, not just the vehicle on the policy) irrespective of whether any claim will be made or t needs reporting to Police under RTA.

Zeeky

2,954 posts

243 months

Tuesday 5th June 2007
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I don't think scuffing your alloys is 'material'... I wouldn't bother with scratches and very minor dents.

bigdods

7,175 posts

258 months

Tuesday 5th June 2007
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Can anybody confirm that you MUST report an accident to your insurance company within 24 hours (where damage is done to your vehicle) ??
Unless things have changed in the last few years then ....no.

A few years back my mrs drove her Renault 5 turbo over a supermarket kerb destroying the front bumper. Got a quote from the garage £90 to fix. Bloody marvellous thinks us, have some of that. Book car in, day before its due to be done call from garage to confirm booking and reminder that the £800 will need to be paid on collection. What £800 says me ? Seems the 'quote' they sent out was only for the labour. They didnt include parts (new bumper) or painting it. Not much of a quote then is it. So cancelled the job and claimed on the insurance about 2 months post crunch.

Had to threaten the garage with trading standards to make them go away as they then rang us twice a day every day demanding payment for the bumper they had ordered for the repair that they couldnt send back.




KieronSRi

1,114 posts

235 months

Thursday 7th June 2007
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I reported mine within a week and my insurance company (TESCO) didnt mind. I am TPFT though. And it want my fault.