Question about insurance claim...
Question about insurance claim...
Author
Discussion

1984

Original Poster:

8 posts

179 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
A bloke recently reversed into the side of me and caused damage to my door. He admitted responsibility straight away, but wanted me to get a quote from a garage he has had dealings with before deciding which way to go (pay himself or go through insurance). Once i'd gotten the quote the guy decided to go through insurance so I contacted my insurer and went through all the details/steps with them.

They gave me two options A. Pay my excess and go to a garage of my choice B. Don't pay anything, let them handle it and go to a garage they send me to. I obviously chose option B.

So today the original garage I got the quote from called me and asked me when I wanted to take the car in. They've squared everything with the guy's insurer who have agreed to pay out. I told them I had to take the car to another garage that my insurance compnay had chosen and I explain why. The guy on the phone tells me thats wrong. He says the other guy has admitted responsibility and because his insurance company has agreed to pay out I can take my car in get it sorted, end of.

My question is, is the bloke correct, or will I get in trouble with my insurer if I do this?

The reason I ask is because I would rather go with the first gargae as they are an official garage for a well known make of car. My insuerer tells me however that I have no choice unless I want to pay my excess.

cuprabob

17,759 posts

235 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
It's your car, you can get it fixed where you want. Your insurance company won't care as they recover all the cost and then some.


Magic919

14,126 posts

222 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
1984 said:
They gave me two options A. Pay my excess and go to a garage of my choice B. Don't pay anything, let them handle it and go to a garage they send me to. I obviously chose option B.
The answer lies here ^

You can reclaim your excess from the Third Party.

1984

Original Poster:

8 posts

179 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
cuprabob said:
It's your car, you can get it fixed where you want. Your insurance company won't care as they recover all the cost and then some.
Intersting!

So why did the insurance company insist I go to one of their affiliate garage's unless I pay my excess?

Magic919 said:
The answer lies here ^

You can reclaim your excess from the Third Party.
How much hassle is that? Never done it before.

B4rker

201 posts

172 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
It maybe that your insurance company has a "special agreement" with there garage of choice and will get a kick back from recommending you go to them.

If they insist on you doing it say that you have spoken to a legal expenses company, say kindertons for instance as they will do it on a credit basis and then claim the money back from the third party. I'm sure your insurance company will have a change of heart.

Deva Link

26,934 posts

266 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
1984 said:
So why did the insurance company insist I go to one of their affiliate garage's unless I pay my excess?
There's a whole bunch of reasons, including possible kick-backs etc, but, basically, if you arrange repairs though your insurance company then they are responsible for the repairs. If you choose to take it somewhere else then it get very messy in the event of problems - the other garage has no liability to you as you're not the customer and the insurance company will just say that you should have used their appointed repairer.

However, as there's a 3rd party whose insurance company has agreed to pay, it can be taken out of your insurers hands completely. Just make sure the garage doesn't hold you liable in the event of a problem getting payment from the 3rd party's insurer.

cuprabob

17,759 posts

235 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
1984 said:
cuprabob said:
It's your car, you can get it fixed where you want. Your insurance company won't care as they recover all the cost and then some.
Intersting!

So why did the insurance company insist I go to one of their affiliate garage's unless I pay my excess?

Magic919 said:
The answer lies here ^

You can reclaim your excess from the Third Party.
How much hassle is that? Never done it before.
It's in their interest for you to use one of their companies and they do so by doing things like waiving the excess or giving you a courtesy car.

I had a similar thing happen to me a while back. My insurance company wanted me to take it to nationwide, other party insurance company wanted to go somewhere else. i just put my foot down and said I want my VW dealer to do it and they agreed and other party paid for hire car. Didn't even have to pay my high excess either