Using an Accident Management Company

[Hellojeffery]

Hello all,

I had a person drive into the back of me on Friday last week and trying to call Admiral I ended up calling an AMC (due to their number showing when I searched Admiral contact number). They arranged recovery of my vehicle and delivered a hire vehicle on the Monday (it's now Wednesday). I today realised my mistake when Admiral had no claims on file. I contacted them to be told what had happened and I asked if they could take over my claim if I cancel with the AMC, they advised as the vehicle has been collected by the AMC, there is nothing they can do and I'm best sticking with the AMC

I am now worried about being in a £75 a day credit hire agreement with this company. I did ask them to send me an email confirming I will not be liable for the hire vehicle.

Am I screwed? All i hear is how bad AMCs are and I'm very worried. I don't know if I should take the risk with the AMC given I seem not at fault, or contact the TP insurers to see if they want to take over the claim (but presumably I'd be lumbered with any costs of parts and repairs already done, if any, plus the few days of the hire car

[Mr Tidy]

I don't know anything about AMC but I had a no-fault claim in 2009 that I passed over to Swift Hire because the owner of the other car (my then employer as it happened) was less than helpful, and I didn't have to fund the hire car - even though hire cost was more than the repair!

So hopefully you may be OK.

[vikingaero]

My sister had exactly the same experience. Insured with Admiral, someone drove into the rear of her car. Being in Northern Scotland with barely any internet, the first number she found was the "recovery number" which is in reality AMC. Found that she needed to report the claim separately to Admiral. What a crock of ste. Admiral heavily push Recovery (via AMC) because as we all know brown envelopes and commission.

Are you screwed? No. It's not a disputed claim and likely to be 100% the 3rd partys fault. Left a sour taste and she no longer insures with the Naval lot.

[3GGy]

You'll be fine, won't have to pay a penny. We all pay for the service of AMCs through our yearly insurance premiums.

[BertBert]

vikingaero said:

My sister had exactly the same experience. Insured with Admiral, someone drove into the rear of her car. Being in Northern Scotland with barely any internet, the first number she found was the "recovery number" which is in reality AMC. Found that she needed to report the claim separately to Admiral. What a crock of ste. Admiral heavily push Recovery (via AMC) because as we all know brown envelopes and commission.

Are you screwed? No. It's not a disputed claim and likely to be 100% the 3rd partys fault. Left a sour taste and she no longer insures with the Naval lot.

Just to clarify, you think that admiral's website led you direct to an AMC that is not connected with admiral?

Or is it that an AMC did a clever Google thing to appear as a link to click on when you did your admiral search?

[vikingaero]

BertBert said:

vikingaero said:

My sister had exactly the same experience. Insured with Admiral, someone drove into the rear of her car. Being in Northern Scotland with barely any internet, the first number she found was the "recovery number" which is in reality AMC. Found that she needed to report the claim separately to Admiral. What a crock of ste. Admiral heavily push Recovery (via AMC) because as we all know brown envelopes and commission.

Are you screwed? No. It's not a disputed claim and likely to be 100% the 3rd partys fault. Left a sour taste and she no longer insures with the Naval lot.

Just to clarify, you think that admiral's website led you direct to an AMC that is not connected with admiral?

Or is it that an AMC did a clever Google thing to appear as a link to click on when you did your admiral search?

Let's say you just had an accident, you vehicle is undriveable/not road legal from smashed lamps in most rear enders, and you look on Admirals website for help:

https://www.admiral.com/existing-customers/make-a-...

The first tab is

I need roadside assistance or emergency recovery

Click that and then click:

I've had an accident and need emergency recovery

That shows:

I've had an accident and need emergency recovery
Are you at the side of the road and need emergency recovery, following an accident? We'll be able to recover your car providing you have the relevant level of cover. Make sure you're in a safe place before you call.

Accident Claims Emergency Recovery (24 hours)
0800 600 840

You go through the motions of making a claim, name address car reg third party details etc and you think you've made a claim with Admiral. But you are in fact talking to AMC, who will arrange a recovery vehicle and credit hire car.

[Sheepshanks]

I think if you call Admiral to make a claim, if it’s non-fault they hand you over to their pet AMC anyway. Apparently you can insist on Admiral handling the claim but they make all sorts of threats about how much more awkward that would be.

[Hellojeffery]

So it was a Google Search trick and me being in a panic that caused me to end up with an AMC and not Admiral. The AMC is not affiliated with Admiral at all.

My car has now been written off and the AMC have requested payment of the value from the at-fault parties insurance as well as asking for them to admit liability.

Okay no issues there except my GAP insurance states no settlement can be agreed without their involvement (I told the AMC I have GAP insurance early on and have it in writing that going through them will not impact that). But my concern is my GAP insurers may decide not to pay because the AMC are seeking settlement. This will leave me with a big financial shortfall

[swisstoni]

Admiral are a group of companies.
I make sure I avoid all of them due to their, let’s call it creative, approach to business.

[Sheepshanks]

Hellojeffery said:

So it was a Google Search trick and me being in a panic that caused me to end up with an AMC and not Admiral. The AMC is not affiliated with Admiral at all.

My car has now been written off and the AMC have requested payment of the value from the at-fault parties insurance as well as asking for them to admit liability.

Okay no issues there except my GAP insurance states no settlement can be agreed without their involvement (I told the AMC I have GAP insurance early on and have it in writing that going through them will not impact that). But my concern is my GAP insurers may decide not to pay because the AMC are seeking settlement. This will leave me with a big financial shortfall

I've got return to invoice GAP on one of cars (as paid too much for it during Covid shortages) - never had it before. I wondered how it would work in practice - would be great if you'd let us know.

[Hellojeffery]

Sheepshanks said:

Hellojeffery said:

So it was a Google Search trick and me being in a panic that caused me to end up with an AMC and not Admiral. The AMC is not affiliated with Admiral at all.

My car has now been written off and the AMC have requested payment of the value from the at-fault parties insurance as well as asking for them to admit liability.

Okay no issues there except my GAP insurance states no settlement can be agreed without their involvement (I told the AMC I have GAP insurance early on and have it in writing that going through them will not impact that). But my concern is my GAP insurers may decide not to pay because the AMC are seeking settlement. This will leave me with a big financial shortfall

I've got return to invoice GAP on one of cars (as paid too much for it during Covid shortages) - never had it before. I wondered how it would work in practice - would be great if you'd let us know.

I've always had it on cars with finance but never claimed before, I will report back when all is said and done what happens and how it worked (assuming they pay out)

[Boringvolvodriver]

I was rear ended and used an AMC who were actually very good and managed to get a good settlement for the value of the car.

I also had GAP insurance and I notified them that there would be an incoming claim at some point. All they wanted was to be informed as to what figure had been agreed with the third party insurer and that it was a figure that was in line with market value. I suspect if it had not have been, then the AMC and loss assessor would have to have gone back and not accept the offer.

As it turned out, they were quite happy with the figure offered since the AMC had done a good job.

I would reiterate to the AMC not to accept any settlement figure without speaking to you first so you can speak to the Gap insurer.

[Hellojeffery]

Boringvolvodriver said:

I was rear ended and used an AMC who were actually very good and managed to get a good settlement for the value of the car.

I also had GAP insurance and I notified them that there would be an incoming claim at some point. All they wanted was to be informed as to what figure had been agreed with the third party insurer and that it was a figure that was in line with market value. I suspect if it had not have been, then the AMC and loss assessor would have to have gone back and not accept the offer.

As it turned out, they were quite happy with the figure offered since the AMC had done a good job.

I would reiterate to the AMC not to accept any settlement figure without speaking to you first so you can speak to the Gap insurer.

I did advise the AMC to not agree to anything first but they said they cannot delay and so put forward what they wanted and if the other side accepts they will move it forward.

I advised the GAP insurers what had been suggested and they felt happy with this. So hopefully the third party will accept it.

That said, the third party hasn't yet responded to admit liability or to settle. I'm hoping they won't take ages

[Boringvolvodriver]

Hellojeffery said:

I did advise the AMC to not agree to anything first but they said they cannot delay and so put forward what they wanted and if the other side accepts they will move it forward.

I advised the GAP insurers what had been suggested and they felt happy with this. So hopefully the third party will accept it.

That said, the third party hasn't yet responded to admit liability or to settle. I'm hoping they won't take ages

I think with mine, it took about 6 weeks in total for the process to complete. The AMC I used were pretty good at chasing up although I had to chase them a few times to keep the pressure up.

You would think that if you are in a hire car at the high prices that are charged and the third party insurers are liable for, then they would want to settle asap! Doesn’t always work like that though of course when there is a process to follow.

Hopefully yours is concluded and you get the funds quickly.