Insurance company engineering removal of NCB?
Discussion
I had an incident a while back where an oncoming car pulled onto my side of the road to pass a lorry that was parked on their side of the road, we ended up touching (at v.low speed), which resulted in the most minor of damage - the sort of thing that even a car hire company would overlook, and definitely not the sort of thing that any sensible person would report to their insurance company. Of course, the other party decided to do so 
and I've now received a letter from my insurance company
It starts off with "From the circumstance that you reported, having assessed the available evidence we will be looking to settle this case on a non-fault basis." So far so good.
"We are looking to push 50/50 due to Third-party version of events also be plausible with the damages." (This is not a mistake or typo by me. This is exactly what they wrote. )
"This party have advised [their version of events] and and you have advised [your version of events] therefor (sic) as we cannot disprove either version of events, based on this and due to lack of independent evidence of the actual accident 50/50 settlement would be the best resolution. Your No Claims Bonus will remain affected (subject to any Bonus Protection you may have) in accordance with the terms and conditions blah blah blah..."
I can't shake the feeling that they've decided to go for a 50/50 instead of either (a) knock-for-knock, or (b) telling the other insurance company to get f
ked because, given the minimal damage, doing so isn't going to cost them anything, and it gives them an excuse to deny me my NCB and thus screw me over when it's renewal time.
Anyone had any experience with this sort of thing?
and I've now received a letter from my insurance company It starts off with "From the circumstance that you reported, having assessed the available evidence we will be looking to settle this case on a non-fault basis." So far so good.
"We are looking to push 50/50 due to Third-party version of events also be plausible with the damages." (This is not a mistake or typo by me. This is exactly what they wrote.
)"This party have advised [their version of events] and and you have advised [your version of events] therefor (sic) as we cannot disprove either version of events, based on this and due to lack of independent evidence of the actual accident 50/50 settlement would be the best resolution. Your No Claims Bonus will remain affected (subject to any Bonus Protection you may have) in accordance with the terms and conditions blah blah blah..."
I can't shake the feeling that they've decided to go for a 50/50 instead of either (a) knock-for-knock, or (b) telling the other insurance company to get f
ked because, given the minimal damage, doing so isn't going to cost them anything, and it gives them an excuse to deny me my NCB and thus screw me over when it's renewal time. Anyone had any experience with this sort of thing?
Spartacus99 said:
I had an incident a while back where an oncoming car pulled onto my side of the road to pass a lorry that was parked on their side of the road, we ended up touching (at v.low speed), which resulted in the most minor of damage - the sort of thing that even a car hire company would overlook, and definitely not the sort of thing that any sensible person would report to their insurance company. Of course, the other party decided to do so and I've now received a letter from my insurance company
It starts off with "From the circumstance that you reported, having assessed the available evidence we will be looking to settle this case on a non-fault basis." So far so good.
"We are looking to push 50/50 due to Third-party version of events also be plausible with the damages." (This is not a mistake or typo by me. This is exactly what they wrote. )
"This party have advised [their version of events] and and you have advised [your version of events] therefor (sic) as we cannot disprove either version of events, based on this and due to lack of independent evidence of the actual accident 50/50 settlement would be the best resolution. Your No Claims Bonus will remain affected (subject to any Bonus Protection you may have) in accordance with the terms and conditions blah blah blah..."
I can't shake the feeling that they've decided to go for a 50/50 instead of either (a) knock-for-knock, or (b) telling the other insurance company to get fked because, given the minimal damage, doing so isn't going to cost them anything, and it gives them an excuse to deny me my NCB and thus screw me over when it's renewal time.
Anyone had any experience with this sort of thing?
Their letter does not make any sense. and I've now received a letter from my insurance company It starts off with "From the circumstance that you reported, having assessed the available evidence we will be looking to settle this case on a non-fault basis." So far so good.
"We are looking to push 50/50 due to Third-party version of events also be plausible with the damages." (This is not a mistake or typo by me. This is exactly what they wrote.
)"This party have advised [their version of events] and and you have advised [your version of events] therefor (sic) as we cannot disprove either version of events, based on this and due to lack of independent evidence of the actual accident 50/50 settlement would be the best resolution. Your No Claims Bonus will remain affected (subject to any Bonus Protection you may have) in accordance with the terms and conditions blah blah blah..."
I can't shake the feeling that they've decided to go for a 50/50 instead of either (a) knock-for-knock, or (b) telling the other insurance company to get f
ked because, given the minimal damage, doing so isn't going to cost them anything, and it gives them an excuse to deny me my NCB and thus screw me over when it's renewal time. Anyone had any experience with this sort of thing?
They say they are settling on a no fault basis; and that they are settling 50/50.
"Your No Claims Bonus will remain affected" What does that even men?
Can you ask them to resend a properly written letter?
The content of the letter suggested you are dealing with someone who is completely inept.
From your perspective could the evidence of damage support 50/50 or you being at fault ?
Complain to the insurer. Settling claims fast is cheaper for them, but should not be at your expense.
Out of interest who is the insurer?
From your perspective could the evidence of damage support 50/50 or you being at fault ?
Complain to the insurer. Settling claims fast is cheaper for them, but should not be at your expense.
Out of interest who is the insurer?
Also, am I missing something here, or have they aent you a letter which makes it sound like they've already spoken to you about this incident when, from the way you've described it here, isn't the case? If so, even more reason to assume you're dealing with someone who's a bit challenged in the competency/wanting to do the right thing for their own customer departments...
They can't go for knock for knock - that's not a thing and hasn't been a thing for about 30 years.
They can't tell the other insurer to get stuffed unless they have evidence to show that the other drivers account is false.
Believe it or not your insurance company don't have any incentive to steal your no claims bonus because (1) if they want to put your renewal premium up they can do it anyway - they don't need an excuse and (2) if you're not happy with the way they handle the claim the odds are you'll go elsewhere next year, leaving them with no renewal premium from you, with or without a no claims discount.
Nor do insurance companies hand out money to third parties for fun, and more than they hand out money to their own customers for fun.
However, bitter experience will have told them that if you claim the other driver encroached into your lane, and he claims that you encroached into his lane, and there's no other evidence to show who is right (like an independent witness, or the pattern of damage to the cars only fitting one account) then letting it go to court results in a legal costs and an outcome which is no better than a coin toss, so 50/50 settlement is the pragmatic thing to do. You agree to allow them to make that judgement when you take out the policy, so you can try to persuade them not to settle, but ultimately if they choose to go down that route there's not a great deal you can do.
If the damage really is trivial then one option is to ask if you can but back your NCD by covering your insurer's share of the costs yourself. But those could include a share of hire car costs as well as repair costs, so might not be as trivial as you think unfortunately.
They can't tell the other insurer to get stuffed unless they have evidence to show that the other drivers account is false.
Believe it or not your insurance company don't have any incentive to steal your no claims bonus because (1) if they want to put your renewal premium up they can do it anyway - they don't need an excuse and (2) if you're not happy with the way they handle the claim the odds are you'll go elsewhere next year, leaving them with no renewal premium from you, with or without a no claims discount.
Nor do insurance companies hand out money to third parties for fun, and more than they hand out money to their own customers for fun.
However, bitter experience will have told them that if you claim the other driver encroached into your lane, and he claims that you encroached into his lane, and there's no other evidence to show who is right (like an independent witness, or the pattern of damage to the cars only fitting one account) then letting it go to court results in a legal costs and an outcome which is no better than a coin toss, so 50/50 settlement is the pragmatic thing to do. You agree to allow them to make that judgement when you take out the policy, so you can try to persuade them not to settle, but ultimately if they choose to go down that route there's not a great deal you can do.
If the damage really is trivial then one option is to ask if you can but back your NCD by covering your insurer's share of the costs yourself. But those could include a share of hire car costs as well as repair costs, so might not be as trivial as you think unfortunately.
Aretnap said:
They can't go for knock for knock - that's not a thing and hasn't been a thing for about 30 years.
They can't tell the other insurer to get stuffed unless they have evidence to show that the other drivers account is false.
Believe it or not your insurance company don't have any incentive to steal your no claims bonus because (1) if they want to put your renewal premium up they can do it anyway - they don't need an excuse and (2) if you're not happy with the way they handle the claim the odds are you'll go elsewhere next year, leaving them with no renewal premium from you, with or without a no claims discount.
Nor do insurance companies hand out money to third parties for fun, and more than they hand out money to their own customers for fun.
However, bitter experience will have told them that if you claim the other driver encroached into your lane, and he claims that you encroached into his lane, and there's no other evidence to show who is right (like an independent witness, or the pattern of damage to the cars only fitting one account) then letting it go to court results in a legal costs and an outcome which is no better than a coin toss, so 50/50 settlement is the pragmatic thing to do. You agree to allow them to make that judgement when you take out the policy, so you can try to persuade them not to settle, but ultimately if they choose to go down that route there's not a great deal you can do.
If the damage really is trivial then one option is to ask if you can but back your NCD by covering your insurer's share of the costs yourself. But those could include a share of hire car costs as well as repair costs, so might not be as trivial as you think unfortunately.
Might the costs also include the manpower they have put in (maybe better described as half-wit-power from the letter written though)?They can't tell the other insurer to get stuffed unless they have evidence to show that the other drivers account is false.
Believe it or not your insurance company don't have any incentive to steal your no claims bonus because (1) if they want to put your renewal premium up they can do it anyway - they don't need an excuse and (2) if you're not happy with the way they handle the claim the odds are you'll go elsewhere next year, leaving them with no renewal premium from you, with or without a no claims discount.
Nor do insurance companies hand out money to third parties for fun, and more than they hand out money to their own customers for fun.
However, bitter experience will have told them that if you claim the other driver encroached into your lane, and he claims that you encroached into his lane, and there's no other evidence to show who is right (like an independent witness, or the pattern of damage to the cars only fitting one account) then letting it go to court results in a legal costs and an outcome which is no better than a coin toss, so 50/50 settlement is the pragmatic thing to do. You agree to allow them to make that judgement when you take out the policy, so you can try to persuade them not to settle, but ultimately if they choose to go down that route there's not a great deal you can do.
If the damage really is trivial then one option is to ask if you can but back your NCD by covering your insurer's share of the costs yourself. But those could include a share of hire car costs as well as repair costs, so might not be as trivial as you think unfortunately.
"NCB remains affected" probably means it's going to fall to three years
Unless it was previously protected, (or lower than 5 to start with of course)
Got a shock when my first fault claim saw my NCB fall from 9+ to 3, as I hadn't appreciated they only count up to 5 (apparently) when working out what to deduct from.
I've since protected NCB, but two claims in five years will see you back to non protected status.
Unless it was previously protected, (or lower than 5 to start with of course)
Got a shock when my first fault claim saw my NCB fall from 9+ to 3, as I hadn't appreciated they only count up to 5 (apparently) when working out what to deduct from.
I've since protected NCB, but two claims in five years will see you back to non protected status.
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