Non fault accident claim companies?

[The Gauge]

Anyone any experience of using independent services that provide cover for when you are the victim of a non fault accident?

No need for this myself, but I've been reading about someone who was hit by another car and their insurance couldn't provide a like car (with towbar) for them to go on their caravan holiday, so they used a claim company who stepped in to assist. These companies claim to quickly provide you with a replacement car and handle your claim against the other party, free of charge. They must claim fees from the other party? Collision Solutions is one such company but I'm sure there are other providers.

I suppose you'd normally just use your insurance company, but for help with unique circumstances has anyone bypassed their insurers and used a claim service instead?

[ozzuk]

Had this recently and just went through the at fault party insurer. Brilliant experience and really took care of us, my car sorted, hire car supplied, no questions or pushback. Aviva - I'll likely change to them when I can.

I had more issues with my insurer Esure, nightmare cancelling the claim with them. Ignored several emails, couldn't get through on phone, ignored chats. Months later still getting texts even though they finally acknowledged no claim. Will dump them as soon as I can .

[SarGara]

They all operate via predatory hire car costs they bill back to the at-fault insurance company. Given the choice you should just contact the other insurers directly and deal with them, cutting out the accident management company.

[mmm-five]

Just search for 'accident management' companies and I'm sure you'll find a raft of conflicting tales about them all.

My insurer offers a 'basic' courtesy car if your car is in for repair, or you can pay a premium for a 'similar' vehicle to your own.

Don't know how similar it would be as I don't have that on my policy, but my last experience of an accident management company gave me an M3 as a 'like for like' vehicle when my Z4MC was getting repaired - despite me stating I only needed a econobox as a runaround - and they 'had' to provide an 'M' car (and an econobox probably didn't make them as much profit).

Edited by mmm-five on Wednesday 16th September 16:39

[The Gauge]

ozzuk said:

Had this recently and just went through the at fault party insurer. Brilliant experience and really took care of us, my car sorted, hire car supplied, no questions or pushback. Aviva - I'll likely change to them when I can.

That's good. Can I ask if you notified your own insurers, or just dealt with the third party insurer?

[Jamescrs]

The Gauge said:

That's good. Can I ask if you notified your own insurers, or just dealt with the third party insurer?

You should still inform your insurers and it will go down as an information only report, equally you still have a responsibility to report the incident for 5 years after when obtaining renewal quotes.
There's a good chance even if you didn't inform your insurer the 3rd parties insurer would record it on a database