Anyone dealt with insurance companies re claims?

[Uncle fester]

So start of May, on a two-lane roundabout, lad to my left decides he's not turning off and is actually going all the way round. No indication. Hits my rear left passenger door with the front of his truck.

Luckily no injuries. Damage to his truck is pretty superficial but there's about 3.5 grand worth of damage to bodywork on my car so I put in a claim to their insurance company.

A month and a half later, the "investigation is still ongoing" and I've been told that to "get it completed", I need to involve my own insurance company. Liability is contested sure but it's pretty open and shut because he hit the back of my car.

I get that they are stalling and trying to get me to do the sums on losing my no claims bonus versus continuing to pursue them but is there any way to put pressure on them?

How the hell do people who end up with things like medical bills manage?

[GogLais]

So start of May, on a two-lane roundabout, lad to my left decides he's not turning off and is actually going all the way round. No indication. Hits my rear left passenger door with the front of his truck.

Luckily no injuries. Damage to his truck is pretty superficial but there's about 3.5 grand worth of damage to bodywork on my car so I put in a claim to their insurance company.

A month and a half later, the "investigation is still ongoing" and I've been told that to "get it completed", I need to involve my own insurance company. Liability is contested sure but it's pretty open and shut because he hit the back of my car.

I get that they are stalling and trying to get me to do the sums on losing my no claims bonus versus continuing to pursue them but is there any way to put pressure on them?

How the hell do people who end up with things like medical bills manage?

I’m confused, were you not dealing with your own insurance company from day one? As far as I’m aware the way it works you claim from your own insurer and they get the money back from the other party’s insurers.
Somebody nudged me in the back at a roundabout and all I had to do was tell my insurance company. Perhaps it was liability was more clear cut.

[Ymx]

Not to distract from the insurance bit ..,,

But didn’t you need to give way to him?

He was already on the roundabout and you pulled out??

Edit: oh, reading it again were you both on the roundabout already, but he was in left lane and you in right lane. You tried to turn off, and he kept going around??

Confused.

[Margin__Walker]

Where's Bimbo when you need him?

He knows roundabouts

[GogLais]

Not to distract from the insurance bit ..,,

But didn’t you need to give way to him?

He was already on the roundabout and you pulled out??

Indeed. Which country are we in?

[Sandstorm]

Where's Bimbo when you need him?

He knows roundabouts

[Margin__Walker]

But yeah, first call would be to my insurance company regardless of circumstances.

I think usually the T&Cs state you have to inform them about any accident you're involved in regardless of whether you're claiming or not.

[GogLais]

But yeah, first call would be to my insurance company regardless of circumstances.

I think usually the T&Cs state you have to inform them about any accident you're involved in regardless of whether you're claiming or not.

You also have to tell the insurer of any other car insured in your name. Or maybe a named driver of as well.

[GogLais]

But yeah, first call would be to my insurance company regardless of circumstances.

I think usually the T&Cs state you have to inform them about any accident you're involved in regardless of whether you're claiming or not.

Thinking it through you’ve no contract with the other party’s insurer so they’re not going to pay you anything. You have to go through your insurer or less practically sue the other driver.

[OomStruisbaai]

Yep your own insurance should handle the claim.

[OomStruisbaai]

I lost my claim when they broke in my house.

[GogLais]

The problem with your own insurance company dealing with it is your premium can rise in Ireland during the dispute. That can be very substantial money

Same here. I had Protected No Claims Bonus but is still affected my premium the next year even though they agreed it was a No-Fault claim.

[Enzedder]

I am with IAG (until the 24th, have moved to a broker). They purchased my old insurance company.

I had a slow roof leak which I got repaired last year. I took a few months to lodge a claim to fix the damage as I wanted to be sure the repair was a good one.

They initially refused my claim but we have an insurance ombudsman who very quickly overruled their decision (or advised them to change it). 6 months later, almost to the day, they settled the claim. Then 2 days later I cancelled the cover - fuck 'em.

[Sandstorm]

The problem with your own insurance company dealing with it is your premium can rise in Ireland during the dispute. That can be very substantial money

Surely that costs less than waiting for months while the other company dicks you around, then giving up and paying the body shop cash to fix your car??

[Uncle fester]

Not to distract from the insurance bit ..,,

But didn’t you need to give way to him?

He was already on the roundabout and you pulled out??

Edit: oh, reading it again were you both on the roundabout already, but he was in left lane and you in right lane. You tried to turn off, and he kept going around??

Confused.

Two lane roundabout coming off a busy motorway and turning off onto a two lane slip road. Everybody in that left lane is supposed to turn off onto the slip road. If they get their lanes wrong, they should be indicating. He did neither.

Two of them in the truck. He was probably yakking with his buddy, not paying attention and pulled his "I turn now, good luck everybody" manuever at the moment I was driving slightly ahead of him.

[Uncle fester]

But yeah, first call would be to my insurance company regardless of circumstances.

I think usually the T&Cs state you have to inform them about any accident you're involved in regardless of whether you're claiming or not.

I have informed them but it's for information only at the moment and they did advise that I lose no claims bonus if I progress further with them.

[Ymx]

But yeah, first call would be to my insurance company regardless of circumstances.

I think usually the T&Cs state you have to inform them about any accident you're involved in regardless of whether you're claiming or not.

I have informed them but it's for information only at the moment and they did advise that I lose no claims bonus if I progress further with them.

Definitely go through your insurance company.

You would have had this sorted and a replacement vehicle right now.

I had thought no claims was about liability of the claim.

Either way, you can change insurance later if they are overly penalising over this.

[Ymx]

Citizens advice might be of help.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consu ... -accident/

Use of a credit hire company

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consu ... our-fault/

[handyman]

I lost my claim when they broke in my house.

What was the reason?

[GogLais]

The problem with your own insurance company dealing with it is your premium can rise in Ireland during the dispute. That can be very substantial money

Surely that costs less than waiting for months while the other company dicks you around, then giving up and paying the body shop cash to fix your car??

I went hard at the other lads insurance company for a few days and the assessor quickly ruled in my favour.

I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t work in the UK. The other party’s insurers would say they don’t have a contract with you.

[Sandstorm]

I dinged another car in a car park a number of years ago. Waited until the owner came out, we exchanged details and I went home.
Waited a few weeks for my insurance company to call me to talk about it, heard nothing.
Looked at the very small scratch on my car and decided to T-Cut and touch it up myself.
Did a 98% job and was satisfied because I thought the other guy had done the same and not bothered to claim either.

8 months later get my annual renewal from insurers and its triple what I’m paying now! Call them up and enquire:
“It’s because of the accident you had earlier this year and we had to pay out, sir”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me??”
“Oh, we’re not obliged to do that. BTW you’ve also lost your 11 years no-claims bonus.”
“So why didn’t you call me 8 months ago and offer me the chance to pay for it myself or use your service?? And get my car fixed at the same time since you’re paying.”
“We’re not obliged to do that either.”
“So can I get my car fixed properly now?”
“Um…yes. But that’s a new claim and you’ll have to start over again.”

Cnuts.

So instead of getting my car fixed properly at the same time too, I had to look at my 98% fix for 2 years. Pissed me off every time I walked passed the front wing.
I’m pissed off again now!

You NPR wankers!

[Grandpa]

I dinged another car in a car park a number of years ago. Waited until the owner came out, we exchanged details and I went home.
Waited a few weeks for my insurance company to call me to talk about it, heard nothing.
Looked at the very small scratch on my car and decided to T-Cut and touch it up myself.
Did a 98% job and was satisfied because I thought the other guy had done the same and not bothered to claim either.

8 months later get my annual renewal from insurers and its triple what I’m paying now! Call them up and enquire:
“It’s because of the accident you had earlier this year and we had to pay out, sir”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me??”
“Oh, we’re not obliged to do that. BTW you’ve also lost your 11 years no-claims bonus.”
“So why didn’t you call me 8 months ago and offer me the chance to pay for it myself or use your service?? And get my car fixed at the same time since you’re paying.”
“We’re not obliged to do that either.”
“So can I get my car fixed properly now?”
“Um…yes. But that’s a new claim and you’ll have to start over again.”

Cnuts.

So instead of getting my car fixed properly at the same time too, I had to look at my 98% fix for 2 years. Pissed me off every time I walked passed the front wing.
I’m pissed off again now!

You NPR wankers!

Similar thing happened to me. I only found out because the other side wanted to claim for a broken leg as well... and the insurance company wanted to ask me if I witnessed the injury? I told them what I saw.. a lady in the passenger seat with her leg already in a cast...

We had hardly touched each other and we both agreed to repair the scratches ourselves.. except he didn't... he claimed... not only for damages but injury as well!

Bloody scamming bastards...

[GogLais]

I dinged another car in a car park a number of years ago. Waited until the owner came out, we exchanged details and I went home.
Waited a few weeks for my insurance company to call me to talk about it, heard nothing.
Looked at the very small scratch on my car and decided to T-Cut and touch it up myself.
Did a 98% job and was satisfied because I thought the other guy had done the same and not bothered to claim either.

8 months later get my annual renewal from insurers and its triple what I’m paying now! Call them up and enquire:
“It’s because of the accident you had earlier this year and we had to pay out, sir”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me??”
“Oh, we’re not obliged to do that. BTW you’ve also lost your 11 years no-claims bonus.”
“So why didn’t you call me 8 months ago and offer me the chance to pay for it myself or use your service?? And get my car fixed at the same time since you’re paying.”
“We’re not obliged to do that either.”
“So can I get my car fixed properly now?”
“Um…yes. But that’s a new claim and you’ll have to start over again.”

Cnuts.

So instead of getting my car fixed properly at the same time too, I had to look at my 98% fix for 2 years. Pissed me off every time I walked passed the front wing.
I’m pissed off again now!

You NPR wankers!

I’m amazed they didn’t ask you for your side of the story.

[OomStruisbaai]

I lost my claim when they broke in my house.

What was the reason?

I was in the process of moving my house inhoud from store to new property. Alarm system deposit was paid but they could only install a week later, was fully booked. Probably the main reason was changing insurances company from 1 April and they broke in on 28 March, 3 days to early.

[handyman]

I lost my claim when they broke in my house.

What was the reason?

I was in the process of moving my house inhoud from store to new property. Alarm system deposit was paid but they could only install a week later, was fully booked. Probably the main reason was changing insurances company from 1 April and they broke in on 28 March, 3 days to early.

Eish.

[dpedin]

I got hit by car in Aldi car park. 3 yobs jumped out and claimed I hit them even though I was stationary at the time. I took pictures of both cars, all the 3 yobs, car park, etc - basically everything. We swapped insurance details. I didnt think that the collision caused the damage. I then contacted police as I thought it was suspicious and then called insurance company and relayed info but also indicated that I thought it was a scam. To be fair to the insurance company they investigated - I had interview with their investigator who asked for descriptions of the yobs and was delighted to see my photos. Forensic engineer decided the damage to their car, as per my pictures, was inconsistent to the collision - I had a small scrape on mine. The yobs dropped claim for car damage but then claimed for whiplash injuries! They claimed £24k - when insurance company spoke to me about it I said I was amazed that they wanted £8k each but then was told that they were claiming for 4 people being injured so £6k each!!! There was no 4th person. Insurance company then asked me if I would be happy to go to court to be witness to insurance fraud, I said yes but it never reached court as their insurance company dropped all claims and offered apology. I wanted court to proceed to put these bastards in jail. TBF to my insurance company I had no adjustment or additional costs as a result and received a letter of thanks from them.

Moral of the story - collect as much info as possible at the scene of accident and pictures of everything is best!

[Slick]

I dinged another car in a car park a number of years ago. Waited until the owner came out, we exchanged details and I went home.
Waited a few weeks for my insurance company to call me to talk about it, heard nothing.
Looked at the very small scratch on my car and decided to T-Cut and touch it up myself.
Did a 98% job and was satisfied because I thought the other guy had done the same and not bothered to claim either.

8 months later get my annual renewal from insurers and its triple what I’m paying now! Call them up and enquire:
“It’s because of the accident you had earlier this year and we had to pay out, sir”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me??”
“Oh, we’re not obliged to do that. BTW you’ve also lost your 11 years no-claims bonus.”
“So why didn’t you call me 8 months ago and offer me the chance to pay for it myself or use your service?? And get my car fixed at the same time since you’re paying.”
“We’re not obliged to do that either.”
“So can I get my car fixed properly now?”
“Um…yes. But that’s a new claim and you’ll have to start over again.”

Cnuts.

So instead of getting my car fixed properly at the same time too, I had to look at my 98% fix for 2 years. Pissed me off every time I walked passed the front wing.
I’m pissed off again now!

You NPR wankers!

[handyman]

I got hit by car in Aldi car park. 3 yobs jumped out and claimed I hit them even though I was stationary at the time. I took pictures of both cars, all the 3 yobs, car park, etc - basically everything. We swapped insurance details. I didnt think that the collision caused the damage. I then contacted police as I thought it was suspicious and then called insurance company and relayed info but also indicated that I thought it was a scam. To be fair to the insurance company they investigated - I had interview with their investigator who asked for descriptions of the yobs and was delighted to see my photos. Forensic engineer decided the damage to their car, as per my pictures, was inconsistent to the collision - I had a small scrape on mine. The yobs dropped claim for car damage but then claimed for whiplash injuries! They claimed £24k - when insurance company spoke to me about it I said I was amazed that they wanted £8k each but then was told that they were claiming for 4 people being injured so £6k each!!! There was no 4th person. Insurance company then asked me if I would be happy to go to court to be witness to insurance fraud, I said yes but it never reached court as their insurance company dropped all claims and offered apology. I wanted court to proceed to put these bastards in jail. TBF to my insurance company I had no adjustment or additional costs as a result and received a letter of thanks from them.

Moral of the story - collect as much info as possible at the scene of accident and pictures of everything is best!

Good work boet.

[Brazil]

I got T-Boned by an ubereats driver right before lock down. Totalled the car, but Admiral paid out very quickly. The claim was contested, even though he was clearly at fault (jumped a red light on a junction) and I had a witness. That took three years to sort out, because his side would not accept responsibility, and I had to claim against him in court on behalf of the insurance company. To be fair to them they were superb through the whole process and handled it very well (when I got a threatening letter from the other side's lawyers it turned out they had already responded), and they even got my excess back from the other side when they conceded the week before I was due in court. Quite stressful though.

[GogLais]

Got nudged from behind at a roundabout a couple of years ago. We exchanged details and the guy said he hadn’t been driving long and could we sort it out without involving insurers. He went on to say he had £2k in cash with him. I said no as it’s a lease car.
I got home and realised I didn’t have his address and I didn’t really want any more dealings with him, although he hadn’t been aggressive. He had a unusual name and I Googled him, turned out he’d just been released after serving a couple of years for GBH. You don’t know who’s out there.

[Sandstorm]

I got T-Boned by an ubereats driver right before lock down. Totalled the car, but Admiral paid out very quickly. The claim was contested, even though he was clearly at fault (jumped a red light on a junction) and I had a witness. That took three years to sort out, because his side would not accept responsibility, and I had to claim against him in court on behalf of the insurance company. To be fair to them they were superb through the whole process and handled it very well (when I got a threatening letter from the other side's lawyers it turned out they had already responded), and they even got my excess back from the other side when they conceded the week before I was due in court. Quite stressful though.

Nightmare.

[GogLais]

Got nudged from behind at a roundabout a couple of years ago. We exchanged details and the guy said he hadn’t been driving long and could we sort it out without involving insurers. He went on to say he had £2k in cash with him. I said no as it’s a lease car.
I got home and realised I didn’t have his address and I didn’t really want any more dealings with him, although he hadn’t been aggressive. He had a unusual name and I Googled him, turned out he’d just been released after serving a couple of years for GBH. You don’t know who’s out there.

I should have said the insurers were ok with that, they had his name, insurer and registration number.

[Zig]

So start of May, on a two-lane roundabout, lad to my left decides he's not turning off and is actually going all the way round. No indication. Hits my rear left passenger door with the front of his truck.

Luckily no injuries. Damage to his truck is pretty superficial but there's about 3.5 grand worth of damage to bodywork on my car so I put in a claim to their insurance company.

A month and a half later, the "investigation is still ongoing" and I've been told that to "get it completed", I need to involve my own insurance company. Liability is contested sure but it's pretty open and shut because he hit the back of my car.

I get that they are stalling and trying to get me to do the sums on losing my no claims bonus versus continuing to pursue them but is there any way to put pressure on them?

How the hell do people who end up with things like medical bills manage?

Contact an Accident Management Company or a no win no fee Solicitor. There's a whole industry which sustains itself by handling situations like yours.

[GogLais]

I got T-Boned by an ubereats driver right before lock down. Totalled the car, but Admiral paid out very quickly. The claim was contested, even though he was clearly at fault (jumped a red light on a junction) and I had a witness. That took three years to sort out, because his side would not accept responsibility, and I had to claim against him in court on behalf of the insurance company. To be fair to them they were superb through the whole process and handled it very well (when I got a threatening letter from the other side's lawyers it turned out they had already responded), and they even got my excess back from the other side when they conceded the week before I was due in court. Quite stressful though.

Presumably you were at risk with costs and not your insurer. I usually tick the Driver’s Legal Protection box while thinking “This is probably a waste of money” but maybe not.