Had an oops. Advice on how to pay the other guy?
Discussion
Very annoyingly slid into the back of someone the other day. I don't want to use the internet cliché of 'there must have been diesel on the road', but well, there must have been something like diesel or black ice (although we're talking about Lahndon and I don't think it was cold enough) on the road as the vehicle quite simply would not stop from 20mph and slid a good 15-20 meters with the ABS freaking out and the driver (me) incredulously saying to it "Come on, Stop. Stop! What the fu- why aren't you slowing down?? HEY! f
kING ST[/thud]OP!!"
Now I reeeeeeeeeeeally don't want to go through insurance because it's such a ballache, especially for a small fender bender; my mother's car has been hit twice in recent years, both non-fault, she wasn't even in it either time - but the sheer hassle and then galling premium rise afterwards just doesn't seem worth it.
Anyway the financial ramifications aren't the end of the world...I told him to ring me with a repair quote and I'd pay for it - and because I'm an honest chap I gave him my real number and WILL pay for it.
The damage was ever so minor - my bumper is scuffed on one corner, and his rear bumper had a couple of cracks in the paint.
He has called me with a quote which I'm ok with, as it's only around the amount my insurance excess would be anyway. The vehicle I was in doesn't even need to be fixed, so you see how minor it was.
But what I want to know is what's the best way of dealing with this?
Take cash and a receipt for him to sign to the effect of full and final fenderbender payment? Does his signature make any difference at all?
He lives a fair distance away though, so I'd prefer to electronically send the money to his bank account and then just forget about it...is there any reason not to do this?
Thoughts and advice welcome...
kING ST[/thud]OP!!"Now I reeeeeeeeeeeally don't want to go through insurance because it's such a ballache, especially for a small fender bender; my mother's car has been hit twice in recent years, both non-fault, she wasn't even in it either time - but the sheer hassle and then galling premium rise afterwards just doesn't seem worth it.
Anyway the financial ramifications aren't the end of the world...I told him to ring me with a repair quote and I'd pay for it - and because I'm an honest chap I gave him my real number and WILL pay for it.
The damage was ever so minor - my bumper is scuffed on one corner, and his rear bumper had a couple of cracks in the paint.
He has called me with a quote which I'm ok with, as it's only around the amount my insurance excess would be anyway. The vehicle I was in doesn't even need to be fixed, so you see how minor it was.
But what I want to know is what's the best way of dealing with this?
Take cash and a receipt for him to sign to the effect of full and final fenderbender payment? Does his signature make any difference at all?
He lives a fair distance away though, so I'd prefer to electronically send the money to his bank account and then just forget about it...is there any reason not to do this?
Thoughts and advice welcome...
I have been in a similar situation before but on the other end of the firing line. A few weeks after I passed my test I was perhaps a little hesitant (though driving a car with a tiny engine, it is to be expected) and when trying to cross on-coming traffic to turn right a rather angry man hit the back of me. After his initial rage and blaming me for the incident - to which an elderly couple who'd been stood at the side of the road came to the rescue and supported my version of events - decided to offer me £200 cash on the spot to prevent me going to the insurers.
Having not been on the road very long I wasn't sure what to so consulted my parents. They made me take his details and not accept any money until the car had been checked by a garage, I also took a few photos of front of his car to make sure he didn't make a claim a few months down the line and blame me or something. In the end he paid my repair bill directly and kept a copy of the receipt from the garage and I gave him a signed letter saying that as far as I was concerned the matter was closed and he gave similar to me.
In the end they could always turn around at the end of the day and make a claim against you, it is just relying on trust but if you've a reciept of the repair work (with a number plate on) you can prove that the damage you did was repaired by a reputable garage and therefore there's no reason for an insurance company to make a payment...
Having not been on the road very long I wasn't sure what to so consulted my parents. They made me take his details and not accept any money until the car had been checked by a garage, I also took a few photos of front of his car to make sure he didn't make a claim a few months down the line and blame me or something. In the end he paid my repair bill directly and kept a copy of the receipt from the garage and I gave him a signed letter saying that as far as I was concerned the matter was closed and he gave similar to me.
In the end they could always turn around at the end of the day and make a claim against you, it is just relying on trust but if you've a reciept of the repair work (with a number plate on) you can prove that the damage you did was repaired by a reputable garage and therefore there's no reason for an insurance company to make a payment...
Just make him signed a simple liability waiver.
a minute on google:
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I, [their name], release [Your Name] for any and all claims I may have against [your name] for damages resulting from an auto accident on [date].
/signed/
Just add more details if required.
Don't forget that your insurance may still be void if you won't report it when asked at renewal and they'll find out later.
a minute on google:
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I, [their name], release [Your Name] for any and all claims I may have against [your name] for damages resulting from an auto accident on [date].
/signed/
Just add more details if required.
Don't forget that your insurance may still be void if you won't report it when asked at renewal and they'll find out later.
Yes, this is what I'm thinking...he seems like a nice chap and it really wasn't anything you'd get an injury from, but I know how keen people are to make a quick buck.
If I pay the repairer directly and have him sign a letter agreeing that the damage is repaired as full and final settlement, can he come back later claiming a stubbed toe? Or should I really just say to hell with my premium, and just do it all through the insurance company?
ETA: that's a good point too, I'd have to lie about not being in an incident of any sort.
Damn it all to hell....I think I'll just do it the legitimate way then.
If I pay the repairer directly and have him sign a letter agreeing that the damage is repaired as full and final settlement, can he come back later claiming a stubbed toe? Or should I really just say to hell with my premium, and just do it all through the insurance company?
ETA: that's a good point too, I'd have to lie about not being in an incident of any sort.
Damn it all to hell....I think I'll just do it the legitimate way then.
Edited by Doniger on Saturday 11th December 13:55
A couple of years ago a chap went into the back of me. I was happy to put it through insurer, took all his details and told my insurance company. He called and said he didn't want to go through insurance, which as long as I was paid I was quite happy with.
I got a couple of quotes (Which where a lot higher than I expected), called him and went to his house that evening to pick up full payment and gave him a copy of the quote. Got it repaired cheaply and pocketed the remainder.
Called insurance company back and they where quite happy there was no claim made and removed it from records. I'm glad I did this, as if he didn't pay or had no insurance I would have been covered.
IMO I would go and grab the copy of the repair quote, pay it and get him to sign that no further comeback from the event.
If he doesn't fix it it is his choice.
I got a couple of quotes (Which where a lot higher than I expected), called him and went to his house that evening to pick up full payment and gave him a copy of the quote. Got it repaired cheaply and pocketed the remainder.
Called insurance company back and they where quite happy there was no claim made and removed it from records. I'm glad I did this, as if he didn't pay or had no insurance I would have been covered.
IMO I would go and grab the copy of the repair quote, pay it and get him to sign that no further comeback from the event.
If he doesn't fix it it is his choice.
Had a think about it and decided to use my insurance - that's what it's for after all, even when it's your own fault. I've got protected ncd and it's my first claim in over a decade of driving so figured what the hell.
They're going to sort his vehicle out, and as the repair cost for mine will be less than my excess they told me I may as well just get it fixed myself. This way all I've got to worry about is repainting my scuff, and if he suddenly decidesto be a dirty insurance fraud that his neck hurts they protect me from all that crap.
I feel much better about the whole thing now. Thanks for the input.
They're going to sort his vehicle out, and as the repair cost for mine will be less than my excess they told me I may as well just get it fixed myself. This way all I've got to worry about is repainting my scuff, and if he suddenly decides
I feel much better about the whole thing now. Thanks for the input.
PorkaFly said:
OP. You may have protected NCB but your insurance will now soar in price at renewal I'm afraid...
This. Plus if you change your insurance company most likely your "protection" will mean nothing to the new one. So you'll be stuck with your company ripping you off in first place, they will know you won't go elsewhere...Edited by rottie102 on Saturday 11th December 15:48
Hmmm...oh well, nothing that can be done about it now - at the end of the day regardless of what the car slid on, it was 'my' fault so I'll take it on the chin.
And frankly, I'd rather just pay for more expensive insurance next year than lose any more sleep over this (because I have)
And frankly, I'd rather just pay for more expensive insurance next year than lose any more sleep over this (because I have)
Doniger said:
Very annoyingly slid into the back of someone the other day. I don't want to use the internet cliché of 'there must have been diesel on the road', but well, there must have been something like diesel or black ice (although we're talking about Lahndon and I don't think it was cold enough) on the road as the vehicle quite simply would not stop from 20mph and slid a good 15-20 meters with the ABS freaking out and the driver (me) incredulously saying to it "Come on, Stop. Stop! What the fu- why aren't you slowing down?? HEY! fkING ST[/thud]OP!!"
Are you sure you're not just a skING ST[/thud]OP!!"t driver and going too fast?Lucas North said:
Doniger said:
Very annoyingly slid into the back of someone the other day. I don't want to use the internet cliché of 'there must have been diesel on the road', but well, there must have been something like diesel or black ice (although we're talking about Lahndon and I don't think it was cold enough) on the road as the vehicle quite simply would not stop from 20mph and slid a good 15-20 meters with the ABS freaking out and the driver (me) incredulously saying to it "Come on, Stop. Stop! What the fu- why aren't you slowing down?? HEY! fkING ST[/thud]OP!!"
Are you sure you're not just a skING ST[/thud]OP!!"t driver and going too fast?
You revived the thread just to post that?
monthefish said:
Lucas North said:
Doniger said:
Very annoyingly slid into the back of someone the other day. I don't want to use the internet cliché of 'there must have been diesel on the road', but well, there must have been something like diesel or black ice (although we're talking about Lahndon and I don't think it was cold enough) on the road as the vehicle quite simply would not stop from 20mph and slid a good 15-20 meters with the ABS freaking out and the driver (me) incredulously saying to it "Come on, Stop. Stop! What the fu- why aren't you slowing down?? HEY! fkING ST[/thud]OP!!"
Are you sure you're not just a skING ST[/thud]OP!!"t driver and going too fast?You revived the thread just to post that?
t driver, so I wanted to say it back. 
Yes, dearest Feoffle, I am quite sure.
And the difference here is that you WERE driving like a penis that day you stuck your ITR into the back of another one - I was there if you remember, and those of us who knew you around the time you bought 'Beloved' did wonder how long it would be before it happened. Still, you were young and stupid at the time....now you're just old and rude.
And the difference here is that you WERE driving like a penis that day you stuck your ITR into the back of another one - I was there if you remember, and those of us who knew you around the time you bought 'Beloved' did wonder how long it would be before it happened. Still, you were young and stupid at the time....now you're just old and rude.
Edited by Doniger on Monday 13th December 19:04
Doniger said:
Yes, dearest Feoffle, I am quite sure.
And the difference here is that you WERE driving like a penis that day you stuck your ITR into the back of another one - I was there if you remember, and those of us who knew you around the time you bought 'Beloved' did wonder how long it would be before it happened. Still, you were young and stupid at the time....now you're just old and rude.
Good good, just wanted to make sure.And the difference here is that you WERE driving like a penis that day you stuck your ITR into the back of another one - I was there if you remember, and those of us who knew you around the time you bought 'Beloved' did wonder how long it would be before it happened. Still, you were young and stupid at the time....now you're just old and rude.
Edited by Doniger on Monday 13th December 19:04
And no, you weren't 'there' at the time, you were about half a mile away parked in a car park.
Yes I was young and stupid, you've got that part right. Wouldn't say I was old now, but yes I am rude. We are all a product of our environment, after being s
t on by people that I did consider to be friends made me a lot wiser.On a more serious note, it's only metal and glad you're not hurt.
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