Insurance???

BERNADETTE · 19-08-2008, 21:03

Does anybody know how car insurance works? Somebody ran into my nieces car the other week, not her fault and police were called and she got their insurance details. Her insurance company told her which garage to use but now they are saying she has to pay £500 up front to get her car back

Well she hasn't got £500 but they are saying she "might" get it back when claim is sorted with other persons insurers

Obviously family aren't prepared to lend her money unless they are sure to get it back

Is this how insurance companies always work? Because if it is it makes me wonder why we pay it

Claire Cal · 19-08-2008, 21:19

It all depends on the excess she has to pay on her insurance. I know mine is about 200 quid if i have an accident it will all be in her insurance documents. x

cashman · 19-08-2008, 21:30

think claires summed it up, seems a lot though if its £500 excess?

Claire Cal · 19-08-2008, 21:38

Think it all depends on your age and if you are willing to pay a bit more per month on your insurance your excess is less and visa versa

Lilly · 19-08-2008, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Does anybody know how car insurance works? Somebody ran into my nieces car the other week, not her fault and police were called and she got their insurance details. Her insurance company told her which garage to use but now they are saying she has to pay £500 up front to get her car back

Well she hasn't got £500 but they are saying she "might" get it back when claim is sorted with other persons insurers

Obviously family aren't prepared to lend her money unless they are sure to get it back

Is this how insurance companies always work? Because if it is it makes me wonder why we pay it

Exactly the same thing has happened to me and I'm not happy about it either. A couple of months ago someone ran into our car whilst my husband was driving home.

He stopped, was apologetic and gave my husband his insurance details.

The ambulance was called to check the kids over and the police came aswell. The kids were both fine and the policewoman confirmed that my husband was not at fault.

The car went to a garage as specified by our insurance and we were given a courtesy car for a couple of weeks....the chap who worked on our car at the garage could also tell from the damage that the bang was the other fella's fault.

Two months later and our insurance company tells us they are still trying to contact the fella who ran into us as he hasn't replied to their letters therefore hasn't admitted liability.

We had to pay £400 to get our car back because the other bloke hasn't admitted liability yet. If he had admitted liability then we wouldn't have had to pay. If he admits liability in the future we will get the £400 back.
If he won't admit liability we won't get the money back.

We had to put that £400 on our credit card and we don't know if we'll get it back....we had another letter from our insurance the other day telling us that they are still trying to contact this bloke.

This could end up in court if he doesn't respond.....fortunately we do have cover on our insurance that would pay any costs of going to court but hoping it doesn't come to that. I just want an end to it and that £400 back so give your niece my sympathies, Bernadette. It's very frustrating.

cashman · 19-08-2008, 22:01

when i used to run decent cars, i always had "Protected No Claims" as i used to do fairish mileage, costs a bit more Lilly but i always found it ok.

now i just run bangers i don't bother with it.

Lilly · 19-08-2008, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

when i used to run decent cars, i always had "Protected No Claims" as i used to do fairish mileage, costs a bit more Lilly but i always found it ok.

now i just run bangers i don't bother with it.

The £400 was to pay for the damage and the car hire. They wouldn't give me my car until I paid. I might get it back if the bloke ever responds to letters and admits liability.

We have protected no claims. That just means that your no claims bonus stays the same if you have an accident, doesn't it?

cashman · 19-08-2008, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilly

The £400 was to pay for the damage and the car hire. They wouldn't give me my car until I paid. I might get it back if the bloke ever responds to letters and admits liability.

We have protected no claims. That just means that your no claims bonus stays the same if you have an accident, doesn't it?

probably does? the few claims i made though i was paid pretty quickly though, apart from "Churchill" who i once went with- 1 claim n they really messed me about i was stationary n indicating n a wagon hit me head on, ya can't get much less self blame than that, took me months to be paid., so i sacked em.n went back to my usual one.

BERNADETTE · 19-08-2008, 22:47

Thanks for the replies folks, still don't think it is right but what can you do? She has had a courtesy car but they are taking that back tomorrow. Just think it is wrong but if that is the way things work think her car will be staying put till things get sorted.

accyman · 20-08-2008, 00:30

has the other person admited fault ?

see a solicitor woud be my advice because i never paid a penny to get my car back after somone else hit it and was at fault

your insurance company should be sorting out the repairs and sorting out the bill with the gararge not you

my insurance company paid the gararge then got the money back from the other persons insurance

i know this because i was told i may have to make a statement in court as the other insurance company was dragging its heels in paying my insurance company the repair bill

who are you insured with so we can avoid them like the plague

PS:

a member here has a shop that sells insuranve i forget his name right now but somone will know who i am refering to so maybe a pm to him with full details may help

BERNADETTE · 20-08-2008, 00:59

Told her to get legal advice, the other driver admitted responsibility at the time but maybe they have changed their mind thus creating a court case.

Funnily enough her insurance company are saying she has to give the £500 to the garage who will then forward it to her insurers. Sounds stupid even as I type it but then they will reimburse the garage, mad or what??

The poor girl doesn't know what to do and her mam and dad are away this week. Just thought I might to be able to ring her in the morning and tell her how to resolve it. It is obviously an insurance way to keep the money in their bank accounts as long as possibly!

accyman · 20-08-2008, 01:41

tell her to get to a solicitor in the morning and they may see her that day and usualy a solicitors call can speed things up if she is in the right

im no expert but from what you said it stinks to high heaven

farleys have a good team for accidents they got me a courtesy car the same day even though my policy dosnt include one all at the other drivers expense

i reported my accident to my insurance and my next call was a solicitor as i didnt see why i shodl be without a car for somthing that wsnt my fault

Neil · 20-08-2008, 07:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilly

The £400 was to pay for the damage and the car hire. They wouldn't give me my car until I paid.

It all depends on how good your insurance policy is as to how much your excess is and if you get a free hire car or not. You need to look into your policy more at renewal time and don't just go for the cheapest quote. They are not always the best ones for you.

***Mr D*** · 20-08-2008, 08:48

If the Accident is NOT her fault you DO NOT have to claim via her own Insurance Company.

You can tell them (your Insurers) for Informaton only and persue the claim via A ULR company or solicitor (legal Cover). This should normally be included along side your policy

This way you have NO excess to pay. They can do what they call credit repair and probably give her a hire car.

Best to contact and ask them to treat the claim as if she was Third Party Only, they should then advise the way they propose to deal with the claim.

Was anyone Injured?

In reallity if the insurer is advised of the situation they should advise the best alternative, or as another way contact the other drivers insurance company yourselves, if they have been notified and see they will have to admit liability they usually will bend over to help you as this was they will have no fees to pay once your solicitor does get onboard.

jaysay · 20-08-2008, 09:31

Does actually show what a bunch of con men all insurance companies are. My Daughter got a renewal notice for her car insurance last week, she's 40 so no problem about age, she was with the AA. her new quote came through nearly £100 more than the previous year yet she has a full no claims and has not had a bump. She shopped around and got a quote for £40 less than she paid last year, not only that but she changed her buildings and contents insurance over to the same company and ended up on the three policies saving £235 pounds a year.