Insurance Claim?

[beakr]

I had someone drive into the back of my Mini this morning (great). After talking to the bint she stated that she didn't want to involve the insurance as she doesn't have protected NCB.

Now, from what I can see it's only superficial damage on the car, but I'm not really up for doing it off the books so to speak as it's just a load more hassle. TBH, I could probably just get a smart repair bloke to do it.

Does this make me a git? Anyone know more about the claims process than I?

[Justayellowbadge]

Want to really mess up her day?

Give her a call and say your neck hurts.

[Zippee]

As Hora said! What other damage has been done that you can't see? Most modern plastics will rebound fairly easily but are you sure theres no further damage to mountins points or the shock absorbtion areas? Personally I'd say its her tough luck shes got no protected NCB, why should you have to compromise for something thats not your fault?

[Moose.]

Go through your insurers. I think that if she wants to protect her no-claims she can pay the cost of the claim back to her insurers thus saving her no-claims bonus. Then everyone's happy

[djmck30]

As others have said - too much chance of 'hidden' damage. Insist on going through insurance - if the party are concerned about their NCB they should have the option to reimburse their insurance company for the eventual cost (i.e. settle the claim) and leave the NCB intact.

ETA - beaten to it. Damn.

Edited by djmck30 on Friday 15th May 13:19

[GreenDog]

However don't forget that even if you are the innocent party in this little coming together and you go through your insuarnce company it can affect your premiums when you come to renew.
One of my ex's colleagues smashed into her whilst she was stationary at traffic lights causing appx £2000 of damage to each car, then when she came to renew the cost jumped up. The insurance company said it was because people who are involved in accidents, even if they weren't to blame are more likely to be involved in accidents where they are to blame later.
Anyway about 18 months later she went into the back of a van so I suppose they were right in that instance.

[boobles]

Go through her insurance regardless of what she says!
I had a tiny scuff as a result in someone backing into me & i insisted in getting it done by BMW + an equivelent courtesy car. I was given a brand new Z4 Coupe for 15 days & total cost of repair + courtesy car came to approx 4k! Never under estimate the cost of minor bodywork repairs & get it done properly. These guys are great. AccidentExchange, they dealt with everything & at no cost to me!

[zcacogp]

OK, bucking the trend here, I'd suggest you call your insurance company (better still if you got it through a broker), inform them of the accident but say you are not intending to make a claim.

With 48 hours, go to a GOOD repair place and ask for a quote for the damage, making it clear that it isn't an insurance job. If it is as trivial as it sounds, ask the lady to pay the quote. If it is more serious then ask the lady what she wants to do, and call the insurance company again if she doesn't want to put her hand in her pocket.

Moose. said:

Go through your insurers. I think that if she wants to protect her no-claims she can pay the cost of the claim back to her insurers thus saving her no-claims bonus. Then everyone's happy

I'm not sure that this is possible, although I could be wrong.


Oli.

[beakr]

I think I'll just go through the insurance - it's a load less hassle, and also kills any potential problems with her not wanting to pay up.