Paying cash to cover accident damage
Discussion
Hi all.
Had a little accident a few days back where someone suddenly stopped on an island and I slid into the back of them. I didn't expect it and so couldn't stop on time, my fault I know. Luckily it was only 5 mph or so I hit them.
I know I'm supposed to report it to my insurance Co, even if I'm not claiming. I offered to just cover the damage caused to their car (a tiny scratch/gouge in their rear bumper) as having a claim against me on insurance will increase my policy for a while.
The other party has said she was told by the garage its £170 in damage, which I personally can't see myself but still. If I am going to just give them the cash, is there a way I'd be best doing it to cover myself? Online, receipt etc?
I don't want to end up in a situation where I pay them and they just claim through insurance anyhow and I've been done over.
I'm not claiming for my own car, I'll just get that sorted myself also.
Cheers all
Had a little accident a few days back where someone suddenly stopped on an island and I slid into the back of them. I didn't expect it and so couldn't stop on time, my fault I know. Luckily it was only 5 mph or so I hit them.
I know I'm supposed to report it to my insurance Co, even if I'm not claiming. I offered to just cover the damage caused to their car (a tiny scratch/gouge in their rear bumper) as having a claim against me on insurance will increase my policy for a while.
The other party has said she was told by the garage its £170 in damage, which I personally can't see myself but still. If I am going to just give them the cash, is there a way I'd be best doing it to cover myself? Online, receipt etc?
I don't want to end up in a situation where I pay them and they just claim through insurance anyhow and I've been done over.
I'm not claiming for my own car, I'll just get that sorted myself also.
Cheers all
I'd try to go further and ensure that the thing they sign states that the £170 is to settle any and all claims arising from the accident (although I'm not a lawyer so don't know if that's possible)
If you just get her to say that the money covers all damage to the car then there's absolutely nothing to stop her putting in an injury claim later...
If you just get her to say that the money covers all damage to the car then there's absolutely nothing to stop her putting in an injury claim later...
Sycamore said:
The other party has said she was told by the garage its £170 in damage, which I personally can't see myself but still. If I am going to just give them the cash, is there a way I'd be best doing it to cover myself? Online, receipt etc?
I've never seen a poster on here where someone agrees to pay outside of insurance and doesn't moan about the price of the quote. FFS, you've crashed into someone so pay them. If you don't want to pay them what they're asking, let your insurance deal with it then. Anyway, yes get a receipt from them to confirm you're paying for the damage occasioned to X vehicle on Y date arising out of an incident which occurred on etc, etc.
However, there's nothing to stop them from claiming for personal injury down the line. Even if you make them sign an agreement that the £170 is in full and final settlement of all heads of damage, it won't cover you. No court is going to see that as reasonable. The third party will have up to 3 years from the date of the accident to bring their PI claim.
Edited by KungFuPanda on Wednesday 1st March 01:25
Similar thing happened to Mrs C....
The other couple were incredibly nice,understanding, almost apologetic....
Anyway I asked them to get it repaired and I paid the garage direct. It never occurred to me that they might try to rip me off but, in your situation, the fact that you had a garage invoice would cover you against future litigation IMHO.
The other couple were incredibly nice,understanding, almost apologetic....
Anyway I asked them to get it repaired and I paid the garage direct. It never occurred to me that they might try to rip me off but, in your situation, the fact that you had a garage invoice would cover you against future litigation IMHO.
It's always a scary prospect paying "outside of insurance" especially if you're not planning on informing your own insurance - as the T&C's will almost certainly say you are supposed to.
As for the high price....
About 2 years ago somebody reversed into the front wing of my Octy. Old fella gets out, tells me he'll be hammered on insurance if we take that route and would I please give him the opportunity to pay outside of it.
I agreed and went to a Skoda main dealer the following day. What looked like a couple of hundred pounds of damage at most came to around £600 on inspection. I gave the old fella all of the details and he called up the garage, negotiated a £50 discount from them and agreed to pay them directly once I was happy with the work.
All went smoothly - but a hundred and one things could have gone wrong.
As for the high price....
About 2 years ago somebody reversed into the front wing of my Octy. Old fella gets out, tells me he'll be hammered on insurance if we take that route and would I please give him the opportunity to pay outside of it.
I agreed and went to a Skoda main dealer the following day. What looked like a couple of hundred pounds of damage at most came to around £600 on inspection. I gave the old fella all of the details and he called up the garage, negotiated a £50 discount from them and agreed to pay them directly once I was happy with the work.
All went smoothly - but a hundred and one things could have gone wrong.
Had this. Bumped into someone.
Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
pidsy said:
Had this. Bumped into someone.
Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
Seems insurers will screw you over any way they can. Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
I'm perfectly happy to pay through cash and have them sign to say they've received it - I just don't want that to happen, only for them to claim anyway.
Reckon I should insist that I pay a garage directly?
Edited by Sycamore on Wednesday 1st March 09:20
pidsy said:
Had this. Bumped into someone.
Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
Not quite true, you never made a claim so can state when questioned 'no claims in the last 5 years'.Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
When asked if you have had any accidents or incidents you would have to state in the affirmative.
The number of people on here that notify an insurer 'just in case' then are surprised by an increased premium is staggering. It should be a sticky titled 'Insurance for Dummies!'
Rick101 said:
Not quite true, you never made a claim so can state when questioned 'no claims in the last 5 years'.
When asked if you have had any accidents or incidents you would have to state in the affirmative.
The number of people on here that notify an insurer 'just in case' then are surprised by an increased premium is staggering. It should be a sticky titled 'Insurance for Dummies!'
Rick!! Thanks for your kind words. I'll be sure to get you to call my insurer come renewal time and explain your above point. It's completely wrong but great input. When asked if you have had any accidents or incidents you would have to state in the affirmative.
The number of people on here that notify an insurer 'just in case' then are surprised by an increased premium is staggering. It should be a sticky titled 'Insurance for Dummies!'
You have to notify your insurer in order to protect yourself from sneaky P.I claims for up to 3 years following. Therefore there is no "surprise" caused by increased premiums - just another way for companies to increase premiums. My case was somewhat more complicated and was handled by the ombudsman with financial penalty to the insurer based on their actions for the handling of the "claim". Or incident as you would call it.
pidsy said:
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
You state there was no claim then you state you got increased premiums for a fault claim.
pidsy said:
My case was somewhat more complicated and was handled by the ombudsman with financial penalty to the insurer based on their actions for the handling of the "claim". Or incident as you would call it.
You then go on to state you went to the Ombudsman about your claim.So it sounds like there was a claim made.
Edited by Rick101 on Wednesday 1st March 10:46
Rick101 said:
pidsy said:
Had this. Bumped into someone.
Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
Not quite true, you never made a claim so can state when questioned 'no claims in the last 5 years'.Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
When asked if you have had any accidents or incidents you would have to state in the affirmative.
The number of people on here that notify an insurer 'just in case' then are surprised by an increased premium is staggering. It should be a sticky titled 'Insurance for Dummies!'
Sycamore said:
Seems insurers will screw you over any way they can.
Sister had someone scratch her Jeep when parked on the front. Motorbike swerved to avoid a car and scraped a long line of paint off with the handlebars. She rang the insurers for advice and was told if she claimed at all it would be logged as an incident, and was assured if she didn't it would be the last she heard of it. On renewal her premium had risen beyond the cost of repair. She tried complaining but you can guess how far that got her. Scum.Sycamore said:
pidsy said:
Had this. Bumped into someone.
Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
Seems insurers will screw you over any way they can. Bought them a new bumper.
Had them sign something as mentioned above.
They were happy. I was happy. Then a friendly ph'er mentions I should notify my insurer "just in case" so I do.
Long story short, I got increased premiums for 5 years as a fault claim.
Even though there was never a claim.
I'm perfectly happy to pay through cash and have them sign to say they've received it - I just don't want that to happen, only for them to claim anyway.
Reckon I should insist that I pay a garage directly?
Edited by Sycamore on Wednesday 1st March 09:20
To be honest unless they have photo evidence of you hitting them I'd just pay them and have them sign a bit of paper that you have paid for the repair of the damage to their car and no further action will be taken.
I would probably avoid saying that "you caused it". Be more vague about the cause/fault.
Sycamore said:
That's just it. She has no garage quote etc. Just what the garage told her. I can see getting myself wound deeper here so I'm leaning towards just telling her to take it through insurance.
Put it this way. You've damaged her car. You've made her take time out of her day getting a quote. Pay the f
king money. £170 is nothing for not having a claim.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff