Another uninsured driver mess

[Scoop940]

A few weeks ago no one of the folks in the office had a bump with a chap on a roundabout, other guys fault, cut across and hit them in the side. He was a squaddie going home for Christmas - as it transpired not insured.

They kind of agreed to let him pay for the damage, got some quotes ~ 1400 quid + 500 for a hire car while it was off the road. After a few unanswered calls and his mother saying he wasn't in they then found out he is back overseas.

Having sent the estimates to his mother and had no response they have decided to go through insurance, gonna cost though - big excess!

Anyway should she report the uninsured guy to the police or will the insurers do it?

Will the Police care now?

Cheers

[GKP]

The Police will care, but the squaddie's CO will care a lot more!

[justinp1]

GKP said:

The Police will care, but the squaddie's CO will care a lot more!

Agreed.

You can also claim back the cost by civil means.

At money claim online you can start the 'small claims' process. It will cost you a minimum of £30, but it will mean the papers will be 'served' at his address given, and if he doesnt reply the judgement for the money will automatically go in your favour.

He will then have to pay you the money for the CCJ to be taken from his record. A little 'impetus' for him not to ignore you.

If he still doesnt pay then you can instruct the court to authorise bailiffs to come and collect his stuff and auction it and they will give you the proceeds up to your claim amount. This will be even more of an 'impetus' to get his behind in gear.

If it was for a few quid i would let sleeping dogs lie, but this is a big bill and if he thinks he should get away with it - chase the sod up!

[andy zarse]

You could try the threat, via his mother, that if you don't hear back you'll be writing a stiff letter to his Commanding Officer. You can spell out what a bad chap he is, poor form, disgrace to the Regt etc. The Army takes a dim view of this kind of thing. I'm certain this would elicit a response from him; if it doesn't then send the letter!

[ipsg.glf]

andy zarse said:

You could try the threat, via his mother, that if you don't hear back you'll be writing a stiff letter to his Commanding Officer. You can spell out what a bad chap he is, poor form, disgrace to the Regt etc. The Army takes a dim view of this kind of thing. I'm certain this would elicit a response from him; if it doesn't then send the letter!

I'd draft the letter and send it to his mother stating he has 28 days to send a cheque for the total amount or you WILL send it to his CO. Be sure to include relevant passages from the Army Rule Book suitable quoted. You may need to do yuor home work a little.

[splatspeed]

i did exactly this with a guy in the navy who lodged with me and when he left decided to remove some of my stuff

i called the police and they contacted the navy

and the stuff was returned

marvelous the faries these days

[gemmoose]

Hi - I'm the actual girl in the story. Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll definitely draft a letter to his CO once I find out who that is. I've already written to his mother once threatening to do so, so I'll just be keeping my word...

I was wondering though; now I have asked my insurance company to sort out the repair, will they notify the police or do I need to do so? I'm a bit worried the police will tell me they won't do anything now as the accident was about 6 weeks ago (it's taken this long trying to sort out amicably and getting nowhere!)

[bleesh]

gemmoose, take a look at the MIB web site www.mib.org.uk/MIB/en/Claims/Default.htm
which will allow you to claim against an insurance industry funded, er....fund
for claims involving an uninsured driver.

Your insurance company WILL NOT tell you about this, as the more people
who claim, means that the insurance companies have to pay more into the
fund next year......

Be warned it takes a while but if you are claiming on your own insurance
you should not end up too much out of pocket...

Good luck,

Steve

[monkeyhanger]

Find out where he's based when in the UK and contact the Military Police there. From my experience of working on Army Barracks the MP's will take a very keen interest