I think I've met an "ambulance chaser" this afternoon
Discussion
I had a minor shunt in a Sainsbury's car park this afternoon. Reversing into a parking space, I failed to notice that the bloke in the bay behind me had parked about 6" into the bay I was about to park in. My mistake was caused by looking at the distance the front end was poking out of the bay and not noticing how close the back end was to the car behind.
As I said, minor shunt at probably less the 0.5mph.
Other bloke is understandably not happy in principle, and examines the back of his car for damage. I couldn't see any, but then he finds a "rough spot" on his bumper and says that my towbar has caused it. It didn't even seem aligned to my towbar to me. The other car, BTW, was an 06 reg so getting on for 9 years old and I happened to notice one or two other "battle scars" on it.
Its only a minor shunt, the first one I've had for 6 years, and there is no damage to my car. As I hit him then I am confidently expecting a withdrawal of some of my NCB next renewal data, but I can live with that. I am however concerned that this guy will try to milk it for all he is worth.
Any thoughts from the PH massif, especially those concerned with processing insurance claims?
As I said, minor shunt at probably less the 0.5mph.
Other bloke is understandably not happy in principle, and examines the back of his car for damage. I couldn't see any, but then he finds a "rough spot" on his bumper and says that my towbar has caused it. It didn't even seem aligned to my towbar to me. The other car, BTW, was an 06 reg so getting on for 9 years old and I happened to notice one or two other "battle scars" on it.
Its only a minor shunt, the first one I've had for 6 years, and there is no damage to my car. As I hit him then I am confidently expecting a withdrawal of some of my NCB next renewal data, but I can live with that. I am however concerned that this guy will try to milk it for all he is worth.
Any thoughts from the PH massif, especially those concerned with processing insurance claims?
rs1952 said:
As I hit him then I am confidently expecting a withdrawal of some of my NCB next renewal data, but I can live with that. I am however concerned that this guy will try to milk it for all he is worth.
What "this guy" does is of no consequence to you. It was your fault, your tow bar has obviously damaged his car, you will be putting it through your insurance. End of.PS: Who is the "ambulance chaser" of the thread title?
Standard PH insurance thread from the OP in a fault claim; the other driver is a scammer 
The simple answer is that it doesn't matter to you whether he claims £50, £5000, £500,000 or £5m. You'll lose 2 years NCD (market norm) although this seems to be shifting towards 3 years now, assuming it's not protected. Also, you'll have a fault claim to declare for the next 3 or 5 years, depending how often it's asked for. You'll only pay your excess if you claim for any damage to your car.
The reason that cost doesn't matter is that Personal Lines policies are NCD rated and cost of claim is irrelevant to the underwriters. Commercial Lines is experience (cost rated).
Cue, lots of people asking why insurers ask for the cost for quotes and the answer is that they don't in the main, but price comparison sites do for the very rare insurer that asks.
The simple answer is that it doesn't matter to you whether he claims £50, £5000, £500,000 or £5m. You'll lose 2 years NCD (market norm) although this seems to be shifting towards 3 years now, assuming it's not protected. Also, you'll have a fault claim to declare for the next 3 or 5 years, depending how often it's asked for. You'll only pay your excess if you claim for any damage to your car.
The reason that cost doesn't matter is that Personal Lines policies are NCD rated and cost of claim is irrelevant to the underwriters. Commercial Lines is experience (cost rated).
Cue, lots of people asking why insurers ask for the cost for quotes and the answer is that they don't in the main, but price comparison sites do for the very rare insurer that asks.
LoonR1 said:
Standard PH insurance thread from the OP in a fault claim; the other driver is a scammer
The simple answer is that it doesn't matter to you whether he claims £50, £5000, £500,000 or £5m. You'll lose 2 years NCD (market norm) although this seems to be shifting towards 3 years now, assuming it's not protected. Also, you'll have a fault claim to declare for the next 3 or 5 years, depending how often it's asked for. You'll only pay your excess if you claim for any damage to your car.
The reason that cost doesn't matter is that Personal Lines policies are NCD rated and cost of claim is irrelevant to the underwriters. Commercial Lines is experience (cost rated).
Cue, lots of people asking why insurers ask for the cost for quotes and the answer is that they don't in the main, but price comparison sites do for the very rare insurer that asks.
Thanks for the advice. I don't think I said that the other guy was a "scammer" but his general demeanour just suggested to me that he might cause the insurance industry a bit of a problem with an inflated claim.The simple answer is that it doesn't matter to you whether he claims £50, £5000, £500,000 or £5m. You'll lose 2 years NCD (market norm) although this seems to be shifting towards 3 years now, assuming it's not protected. Also, you'll have a fault claim to declare for the next 3 or 5 years, depending how often it's asked for. You'll only pay your excess if you claim for any damage to your car.
The reason that cost doesn't matter is that Personal Lines policies are NCD rated and cost of claim is irrelevant to the underwriters. Commercial Lines is experience (cost rated).
Cue, lots of people asking why insurers ask for the cost for quotes and the answer is that they don't in the main, but price comparison sites do for the very rare insurer that asks.
As you say, it actually makes no odds to me at all how much my insurers pay out, but I was more interested in the general point, and I suppose that might be best summarised as follows (perhaps I should have been more clear in my original post):
1. A very minor low-speed shunt happens. No damage to one car, very limited damage if any to the other.
2. A claim for a new rear bumper and Christ knows what else goes in by the innocent party.
3. At what point, if any, would an insurance company start scratching their heads about the size of the claim, or would they simply write a cheque for the full amount without argument?
rs1952 said:
Thanks for the advice. I don't think I said that the other guy was a "scammer" but his general demeanour just suggested to me that he might cause the insurance industry a bit of a problem with an inflated claim.
As you say, it actually makes no odds to me at all how much my insurers pay out, but I was more interested in the general point, and I suppose that might be best summarised as follows (perhaps I should have been more clear in my original post):
1. A very minor low-speed shunt happens. No damage to one car, very limited damage if any to the other.
2. A claim for a new rear bumper and Christ knows what else goes in by the innocent party.
3. At what point, if any, would an insurance company start scratching their heads about the size of the claim, or would they simply write a cheque for the full amount without argument?
You did describe him (incorrectly) as an ambulance chaser and you continue to suggest that he's going to inflate his claim, and you don't like his demeanour, those suggest you see him as a scammer.As you say, it actually makes no odds to me at all how much my insurers pay out, but I was more interested in the general point, and I suppose that might be best summarised as follows (perhaps I should have been more clear in my original post):
1. A very minor low-speed shunt happens. No damage to one car, very limited damage if any to the other.
2. A claim for a new rear bumper and Christ knows what else goes in by the innocent party.
3. At what point, if any, would an insurance company start scratching their heads about the size of the claim, or would they simply write a cheque for the full amount without argument?
1. In your opinion. Would your view be the same if roles were reversed?
2. Will it? Why do you think it would be paid?
3. If he claims from his insurance then they'll inspect and assess the correct course of action for repair. Ditto if he claims directly off your insurer. Any attempt to take it to his own preferred repairer will result in a visit form an ihopouse or contracted engineer from whichever insurer will be paying prior to authorisation, or at least a good review on Audatex.
Some elements of a repair bill though are unchallengeable, such as labour rate was long as they are reasonable based on the Coles vs Hetherton case.
Young lad drove into the back of me. Drove into my towbar,pushed it in a bit.
Poor bloke looked as pale as a ghost,damaged his bumper.he was shaking like a leaf. Told him to chill out and as there was hardly any damage to my car I sent him on his way.
It need not involve claims companys and compensation.
Poor bloke looked as pale as a ghost,damaged his bumper.he was shaking like a leaf. Told him to chill out and as there was hardly any damage to my car I sent him on his way.
It need not involve claims companys and compensation.
LoonR1 said:
rs1952 said:
Thanks for the advice. I don't think I said that the other guy was a "scammer" but his general demeanour just suggested to me that he might cause the insurance industry a bit of a problem with an inflated claim.
As you say, it actually makes no odds to me at all how much my insurers pay out, but I was more interested in the general point, and I suppose that might be best summarised as follows (perhaps I should have been more clear in my original post):
1. A very minor low-speed shunt happens. No damage to one car, very limited damage if any to the other.
2. A claim for a new rear bumper and Christ knows what else goes in by the innocent party.
3. At what point, if any, would an insurance company start scratching their heads about the size of the claim, or would they simply write a cheque for the full amount without argument?
You did describe him (incorrectly) as an ambulance chaser and you continue to suggest that he's going to inflate his claim, and you don't like his demeanour, those suggest you see him as a scammer.As you say, it actually makes no odds to me at all how much my insurers pay out, but I was more interested in the general point, and I suppose that might be best summarised as follows (perhaps I should have been more clear in my original post):
1. A very minor low-speed shunt happens. No damage to one car, very limited damage if any to the other.
2. A claim for a new rear bumper and Christ knows what else goes in by the innocent party.
3. At what point, if any, would an insurance company start scratching their heads about the size of the claim, or would they simply write a cheque for the full amount without argument?
1. In your opinion. Would your view be the same if roles were reversed?
2. Will it? Why do you think it would be paid?
3. If he claims from his insurance then they'll inspect and assess the correct course of action for repair. Ditto if he claims directly off your insurer. Any attempt to take it to his own preferred repairer will result in a visit form an ihopouse or contracted engineer from whichever insurer will be paying prior to authorisation, or at least a good review on Audatex.
Some elements of a repair bill though are unchallengeable, such as labour rate was long as they are reasonable based on the Coles vs Hetherton case.
1. I would have shrugged my shoulders and told him not to bother making an issue of it, (His car was 9 years old, mine is 17 and its already got plenty of battle scars so another one wouldn't make a lot of difference)
2. I don't know. That's why I asked the question. No more than that - I was just interested/ curious.
3. That reply was what I have already thanked you for
rs1952 said:
I think I've met an "ambulance chaser" this afternoon
So this person has done nothing wrong, parked his car and came back to find that "someone" had reversed into it, and is now labelled as an "ambulance chaser"? And accused so on a popular open motoring forum?Please explain.
Mopar440 said:
rs1952 said:
I think I've met an "ambulance chaser" this afternoon
So this person has done nothing wrong, parked his car and came back to find that "someone" had reversed into it, and is now labelled as an "ambulance chaser"? And accused so on a popular open motoring forum?Please explain.
StuntmanMike said:
Mopar440 said:
rs1952 said:
I think I've met an "ambulance chaser" this afternoon
So this person has done nothing wrong, parked his car and came back to find that "someone" had reversed into it, and is now labelled as an "ambulance chaser"? And accused so on a popular open motoring forum?Please explain.
king ambulance chaser!He should have tugged his forelock and apologised to the OP for letting his car get in the way. The OP would then have looked down his nose at him and told him "to be on his way, and nothing more will be said about it." That would have protected the OP's no-claims discount.
jas xjr said:
Young lad drove into the back of me. Drove into my towbar,pushed it in a bit.
Poor bloke looked as pale as a ghost,damaged his bumper.he was shaking like a leaf. Told him to chill out and as there was hardly any damage to my car I sent him on his way.
It need not involve claims companys and compensation.
Similar situation, lady shunted into the back of my Jag, very little damage to the rear bumper.Poor bloke looked as pale as a ghost,damaged his bumper.he was shaking like a leaf. Told him to chill out and as there was hardly any damage to my car I sent him on his way.
It need not involve claims companys and compensation.
I claimed and got it fixed
Because there was f
k all damage beforehand It's not a new car either, but it's mine.
And i like it undamaged.
daveinhampshire said:
Doesn't sound like any sort of scammer, just pissed someone can't park and hit his vehicle which was stationery.
Sounds like the guy who parked six inches into the bay that the OP was reversing into couldn't park either. In the council car parks around my town you're fined if you're not parked wholly within one bay.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff