Insurance claim courtesy car conditions
Insurance claim courtesy car conditions
Author
Discussion

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,915 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Morning all. I’m not sure if there’s an issue here but the wording of the contract and the guy on the phone was confusing. I’ve been hit by someone (my car was parked and they reversed out into me), they admitted liability and my insurance seem happy they can recover costs. The courtesy car documentation is very concerned by how much I need a car - for instance it says I must tell them if I don’t need it for more than 2 days. Well, it’s Christmas, we’re plunged into another lockdown and I’m on holiday from school so it won’t be doing the usual mileage but it’ll be the main car we use as a family and I don’t know how long repairs to mine will be (also as it’s over Christmas). Is this normal and am I just reading too much into it?

BertBert

21,255 posts

240 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
But unless I am mistaken if the phrase is need it, then you do need it. You might not use it, but you might. Even on Christmas day. You might have to take someone to AnE if they swallow the sixpence from the pud.

Dashnine

1,706 posts

79 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
I assume they’re looking to save money by recovering the car when you don’t ‘need’ it and return a car when you do.

As above, if your lifestyle revolves around having a car available then you ‘need’ it.

KungFuPanda

4,639 posts

199 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Are you sure it’s your insurance company that are providing a courtesy car rather than a credit hire organisation providing a vehicle on credit hire?

What is the daily rate of hire on the documentation?

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,915 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
KungFuPanda said:
Are you sure it’s your insurance company that are providing a courtesy car rather than a credit hire organisation providing a vehicle on credit hire?

What is the daily rate of hire on the documentation?
It is a credit organisation.


Edited by popegregory on Sunday 20th December 11:03

Sheepshanks

40,983 posts

148 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
popegregory said:
It is a credit organisation.
Did your insurance company refer you to them? Your insurer isn't Admiral, is it?

KungFuPanda

4,639 posts

199 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Think very carefully before you take the hire car then.

It’s unlikely that it’ll happen but you may end up in Court having to justify the need for the car over a lockdown Xmas if the third party insurer don’t play ball.

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,915 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
popegregory said:
It is a credit organisation.
Did your insurance company refer you to them? Your insurer isn't Admiral, is it?
Yes and yes...

Smurfsarepeopletoo

1,013 posts

86 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Is your car still roadworthy?

Do you have another car in the family that would be suitable for your needs over the Christmas period?

Edited by Smurfsarepeopletoo on Sunday 20th December 13:20

heisthegaffer

4,287 posts

227 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
After a few years working in the car insurance sector I grew to hate these credit hire companies. I can't believe they are still allowed to operate if I'm honest.

Not aimed at you OP but people shouldn't be surprised when they use these leeches and then the cost of car insurance goes up... And up... And up again.

Can the third party company not deal with your claim and provide a car?

My BIL had a brand new boxster years ago and some old duffer drove into him... Twice as he panicked. My BIL was given a brand new 911 Carrera S for a week to drive around in. I dread to think the cost of this over inflated hire was.

Where I worked back then used to get a tasty little referral fee from the credit hire company if they were used. Not that I ever saw any of that given I worked for the tightest bunch ever.

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,915 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
heisthegaffer said:
After a few years working in the car insurance sector I grew to hate these credit hire companies. I can't believe they are still allowed to operate if I'm honest.

Not aimed at you OP but people shouldn't be surprised when they use these leeches and then the cost of car insurance goes up... And up... And up again.

Can the third party company not deal with your claim and provide a car?

My BIL had a brand new boxster years ago and some old duffer drove into him... Twice as he panicked. My BIL was given a brand new 911 Carrera S for a week to drive around in. I dread to think the cost of this over inflated hire was.

Where I worked back then used to get a tasty little referral fee from the credit hire company if they were used. Not that I ever saw any of that given I worked for the tightest bunch ever.
Thanks for this. Their insurance actually got in touch quickly afterwards and offered to sort it themselves but, ironically after being scared off of stories of ambulance chasers, I ignored it and proceeded to go through my own. Mainly as I figured it was the law to tell them. Should I actually have let them do it as they asked?

Smurfsarepeopletoo

1,013 posts

86 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
heisthegaffer said:
After a few years working in the car insurance sector I grew to hate these credit hire companies. I can't believe they are still allowed to operate if I'm honest.

Not aimed at you OP but people shouldn't be surprised when they use these leeches and then the cost of car insurance goes up... And up... And up again.

Can the third party company not deal with your claim and provide a car?

My BIL had a brand new boxster years ago and some old duffer drove into him... Twice as he panicked. My BIL was given a brand new 911 Carrera S for a week to drive around in. I dread to think the cost of this over inflated hire was.

Where I worked back then used to get a tasty little referral fee from the credit hire company if they were used. Not that I ever saw any of that given I worked for the tightest bunch ever.
Your aware that the reputable AMC companies charge the ABI rate, and not just a figure they choose to charge, and if they try to charge anything different then the other insurers can refuse to pay these costs.

And any of them not signed up to the ABI, can try and charge what you want, but the other insurers can dispute the cost, and even intervene to provide a hire car.

There is a purpose to AMC companies, alot of the cost of an AMC, is offset by the insurance company not having to employ people to do the same,

Countdown

49,368 posts

225 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
I wasn't aware of reputable AMCs to be honest biggrin

Genuine question - how would you know if an AMC is reputable or not?

Smurfsarepeopletoo

1,013 posts

86 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Countdown said:
I wasn't aware of reputable AMCs to be honest biggrin

Genuine question - how would you know if an AMC is reputable or not?
An AMC that has signed up to the ABI GTA, and is used by a mainstream insurance company would usually be a reputable company,

rscott

17,481 posts

220 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Smurfsarepeopletoo said:
heisthegaffer said:
After a few years working in the car insurance sector I grew to hate these credit hire companies. I can't believe they are still allowed to operate if I'm honest.

Not aimed at you OP but people shouldn't be surprised when they use these leeches and then the cost of car insurance goes up... And up... And up again.

Can the third party company not deal with your claim and provide a car?

My BIL had a brand new boxster years ago and some old duffer drove into him... Twice as he panicked. My BIL was given a brand new 911 Carrera S for a week to drive around in. I dread to think the cost of this over inflated hire was.

Where I worked back then used to get a tasty little referral fee from the credit hire company if they were used. Not that I ever saw any of that given I worked for the tightest bunch ever.
Your aware that the reputable AMC companies charge the ABI rate, and not just a figure they choose to charge, and if they try to charge anything different then the other insurers can refuse to pay these costs.

And any of them not signed up to the ABI, can try and charge what you want, but the other insurers can dispute the cost, and even intervene to provide a hire car.

There is a purpose to AMC companies, alot of the cost of an AMC, is offset by the insurance company not having to employ people to do the same,
There's also the odd equivalent vehicles they supply. When my MX-5 was hit, the AMC decided a 320d was the equivalent vehicle.
They were most upset when I asked if they would take it back and give me a petrol Fiesta or similar (needed a car for my commute but it was only 7 miles each way, so diesel wasn't appropriate).

deckster

9,631 posts

284 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
popegregory said:
Thanks for this. Their insurance actually got in touch quickly afterwards and offered to sort it themselves but, ironically after being scared off of stories of ambulance chasers, I ignored it and proceeded to go through my own. Mainly as I figured it was the law to tell them. Should I actually have let them do it as they asked?
The third party insurance company did me very well when somebody drove into the back of my 911. They sorted out a quality, guaranteed repair at a reputable high-end bodyshop and provided a hire car for the two weeks mine was away. All very quick and easy; as they are paying, the third party insurer has a vested interest in providing a good service and getting it done quickly. Neither of which is the case for either your insurer or an AMC.

Smurfsarepeopletoo

1,013 posts

86 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
rscott said:
There's also the odd equivalent vehicles they supply. When my MX-5 was hit, the AMC decided a 320d was the equivalent vehicle.
They were most upset when I asked if they would take it back and give me a petrol Fiesta or similar (needed a car for my commute but it was only 7 miles each way, so diesel wasn't appropriate).
How old was your MX5?

rscott

17,481 posts

220 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Smurfsarepeopletoo said:
rscott said:
There's also the odd equivalent vehicles they supply. When my MX-5 was hit, the AMC decided a 320d was the equivalent vehicle.
They were most upset when I asked if they would take it back and give me a petrol Fiesta or similar (needed a car for my commute but it was only 7 miles each way, so diesel wasn't appropriate).
How old was your MX5?
Just under 5 years old.

Smurfsarepeopletoo

1,013 posts

86 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
It depends what vehicles they have available, and if your car is roadworthy, if its not roadworthy, and they dont have the same class vehicle they will likely offer you something of an equivalent daily hire rate untl they have something more suitable.

They really wouldnt want to put you in a Fiesta, as that isnt a good daily rate, and could therefore bring into question if you need a hire car, or could you make do with a courtesy car.

TwigtheWonderkid

49,040 posts

179 months

Sunday 20th December 2020
quotequote all
Smurfsarepeopletoo said:
Your aware that the reputable AMC companies charge the ABI rate, and not just a figure they choose to charge, and if they try to charge anything different then the other insurers can refuse to pay these costs.

And any of them not signed up to the ABI, can try and charge what you want, but the other insurers can dispute the cost, and even intervene to provide a hire car.

There is a purpose to AMC companies, alot of the cost of an AMC, is offset by the insurance company not having to employ people to do the same,
Exactly this. AMCs are no different from any other business sector, there are good and bad ones. And the daily rate from an AMC needs to be higher, as they are usually offering credit hire as part of the service, and that has to include an amount to cover the costs of providing vehicles where they can't recover their outlay. Which is almost always met by them, not the punter, despite what you hear on PH.