Cash for accident damage
Discussion
My girlfriend while parking her car clipped another car in a multi story carpark. She left her details on their windscreen and the shop she worked in.
They owners of the car got in contact and said they'd prefer to pay for the repairs themselves as quoted repairs are around £210 and were not wanting the increased premiums for reporting an accident.
I am planning on typing up a letter with both parties names on it and stating that the cash provided by my girlfriend is for the repairs of ther othe person that was received while they were away from the car. Then have both of them sign the letter. My main concern is that they try and claim after the cash has paid but how likely would this be and would the letter I type up make any difference?.
Thankfully they were not in the car so won't be expecting any whiplash claims.
They owners of the car got in contact and said they'd prefer to pay for the repairs themselves as quoted repairs are around £210 and were not wanting the increased premiums for reporting an accident.
I am planning on typing up a letter with both parties names on it and stating that the cash provided by my girlfriend is for the repairs of ther othe person that was received while they were away from the car. Then have both of them sign the letter. My main concern is that they try and claim after the cash has paid but how likely would this be and would the letter I type up make any difference?.
Thankfully they were not in the car so won't be expecting any whiplash claims.
I would hazzard a guess your letter will hold no weight as if they did claim you would be at fault for not notifying your insurers which you MUST do as part of their T&C's.
I would say to cover your own back mention it to your insurer as info only and if they want to claim then they do so but you wont be parting with any cash personally.
I would say to cover your own back mention it to your insurer as info only and if they want to claim then they do so but you wont be parting with any cash personally.
DaveH23 said:
I would hazzard a guess your letter will hold no weight as if they did claim you would be at fault for not notifying your insurers which you MUST do as part of their T&C's.
I would say to cover your own back mention it to your insurer as info only and if they want to claim then they do so but you wont be parting with any cash personally.
Check that it actually does say that in the policy document. There is. Different opinions on that.I would say to cover your own back mention it to your insurer as info only and if they want to claim then they do so but you wont be parting with any cash personally.
SantaBarbara said:
Check that it actually does say that in the policy document. There is. Different opinions on that.
Different policies will either want notified immediately or at renewal time but ultimately you will need to tell them. I can't see a single insurer clearly stating if you have an accident then don't tell us.
I get the while sorting it yourself and not telling them but if you are in the sligjtest bit unsure you probably should to stop it bighting you on the arse.
Unfortunately even if you notify them as info only and don't actually claim they will probably still increase the policy come renewal time anyway as many on here have said over the years.
This happened to me, or rather by me. Two years ago, I clipped a car's rear door as I swung in. I waited and swapped names. She got a quote, and I paid cash. I told my insurers all this. At the repairers, I handed the money to her, rather than the repairer. I gave her a typed note saying it was in full and final settlement. She signed. The insurance company took it in their stride, and there was no increase in premium because of that. All very civilised all round.
From the sounds of it they are being honest, give them the cash, and yes, the letter might not be legal, but it won't hurt.
I told my insurance company about one accident I had, for info only, no claim, no money, only me and a ditch involved. Move house, get a new V5, discover they had written the car off.
I told my insurance company about one accident I had, for info only, no claim, no money, only me and a ditch involved. Move house, get a new V5, discover they had written the car off.
Peanut Gallery said:
From the sounds of it they are being honest, give them the cash, and yes, the letter might not be legal, but it won't hurt.
Yes, that is what I would do too! The duty of disclosure only arises at renewal so no need to say anything before that.
And when it gets to renewal listen very carefully to their questions - you certainly haven't made a claim, so at worst you may have to disclose an accident but also that it was settled privately.
Good luck!
KaiserDahms said:
My girlfriend has just received a letter from the insurance company that a claim has been made in relation to the accident. This is of course after she paid money to the person for the repair work.
Do you have the signed receipt from them for the payment you made, If so forward it onto your Insurer and then let them handle it as they see fit.She has an email from the car garage to the person who then forwarded it to my girlfriend saying
"Hi *****,
Here is the receipt and I acknowledge you have settled this cost with me today.
Many thanks,
"Repaint O/S/R bumper corner, £180, VAT £36 totalling £216"
I know the garage as I've used them in the past so is genuine.
"Hi *****,
Here is the receipt and I acknowledge you have settled this cost with me today.
Many thanks,
- *****"
"Repaint O/S/R bumper corner, £180, VAT £36 totalling £216"
I know the garage as I've used them in the past so is genuine.
I don't believe she did, she's got Text messages and emails confirming meeting up to make payment and that they have received it.
He gave her a paper copy of the repair work by the garage which has his car and personal details on there.
Surely if he's making a claim he wouldn't be allowed to make a repair on it first?
He gave her a paper copy of the repair work by the garage which has his car and personal details on there.
Surely if he's making a claim he wouldn't be allowed to make a repair on it first?
Spoke to a colleague who used to work for the insurance company that she's got and they reckon that the other person notified that there had been an accident and isn't putting in a claim.
They then contacted her insurer to confirm details which then prompted the letter.
We won't know for certain until after we speak to the insurer. My next response will either be criticising insurer letters or lamenting on the downfall of humanity.
They then contacted her insurer to confirm details which then prompted the letter.
We won't know for certain until after we speak to the insurer. My next response will either be criticising insurer letters or lamenting on the downfall of humanity.
DaveH23 said:
notifying your insurers which you MUST do as part of their T&C's.
I would say to cover your own back mention it to your insurer as info only
Stupid sI would say to cover your own back mention it to your insurer as info only
t like this annoys me. The entire reason people do these things for cash is to keep it off the insurers radar. You're clearly aware of this yet come out with the 'for info only' line. If you'e going to have it on your record you may as well use the insurance you've paid for and claim!Whether the other party actually believes 'for info only' i.e not expecting any loading, or not. For whatever idiotic reason they have gone down that road and not two parties (maybe rightly so) will likely pay higher premiums.
Mods, can 'for info only' be added to the swear filter please? It is the single most useless blooming advice ever given.
I've had a similar thing and I guess it comes down to - do you still trust in people to do the right thing and recognise a gentlemans (or womans) handshake? Maybe more difficult to have faith in these litigious, 'me-first' times we live in?!
I clumped someone's car about 6 or 7 years ago - I was in my 911 and I hit an old Golf at a T-junction. I misread his intentions - I thought he was letting me out, and alas, he was not. Totally my fault.
I caved his front wing in, and with increased insurance premiums in mind I asked if he would consider a cash settlement. He gave me a figure a few days later, I went to his house with the cash, we shook hands on the deal and I have heard nothing more since.
I guess I might have been very trusting there!
I clumped someone's car about 6 or 7 years ago - I was in my 911 and I hit an old Golf at a T-junction. I misread his intentions - I thought he was letting me out, and alas, he was not. Totally my fault.
I caved his front wing in, and with increased insurance premiums in mind I asked if he would consider a cash settlement. He gave me a figure a few days later, I went to his house with the cash, we shook hands on the deal and I have heard nothing more since.
I guess I might have been very trusting there!
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