How do I handle my insurance company? (1 Viewer)

[Uncle Gizmo]

Another driver caught my offside wing, damaging the wheel arch, very minor damage. The insurance company say they will write my car off and pay me what the car is worth. Its an old car, only worth maybe £1000 to £2000 ... Alternatively, I can keep the car. It's just had an MOT, so I can get another year out of it at least... If I keep it I will need to tidy up the damaged wheel arch I think maybe £100 or £200... I'm thinking that the other driver who was at fault should stump up this money.

So can I go back to my insurance and tell them that yes I will keep the car but I want some compensation for the damage and time and trouble I've been put to. If I let them write off the car, I will need to find a replacement.

I'm sure that somebody here may know how the system works and could educate me on the way to approach the Insurance Co....

 

[CJ_London]

If I keep it I will need to tidy up the damaged wheel arch I think maybe £100 or £200...

get a quote before making a decision. Doesn't have to be an insurance recommended repairer, just a reputable one.

A few years ago around Xmas, we had gone to an evening event in Woodstock, not far from here. We came out and went home. The following morning when I can out I saw some damage to the front numberplate and behind - like someone had reversed into it with a towhook. Didn't look too bad and I thought probably £3-400 to fix. Too low to put through the insurance.

Went to get a quote - it was £4,000. The damage wasn't just to the numberplate and front valance. It had also torn the fixings to the front wings - so had to replace valance and both front wings plus a few other associated bits.

I could have gone the £400 route, but the risk would have been the wings could fly off at some point in the future when the damaged fixings failed. Don't know if this is an MOT issue, but wasn't prepared to take that chance

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Never walk into an insurance company for a claim without an estimate in hand. That is the surest way to get lowballed.

 

[Eljefegeneo]

Do your cars fly? More advanced then anything here in California. Ours don't have wings!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

get a quote before making a decision.

That's a good Idea! -

 

[jdraw]

You may want to get more than 1 quote just to make sure the quote is legit and you'll feel more comfortable/confident when you meet the Ins company (who have a herd of lawyers whose job is to save them money).

 

[Minty]

1. Get another couple of quotes
2. Find out what another car of similar age and mileage will cost you. You may be surprised. S/Hand car prices are bonkers at the moment due to lack of availability.
3. Use point 2 to haggle with the Ins Co about what they offer you.

 

[Cronk]

Have you read the insurance policy? It will normally list a specific value of the car or a market value. My current policy provides for no cost to me if I can identify the other driver if it was clearly that driver's fault.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

In Louisiana, identifying the other driver isn't always a perfect strategy. My wife had an accident in which she was rear-ended in a 3-dar chain collision. She was at the front of the chain. Liability flows to the end of the chain. The miscreant driver, however, was personally not insured. He was driving his girl-friend's vehicle. She had minimum liability insurance and her coverage amount wasn't enough to cover doodlum-squat. There is a rider you can get in Louisiana called "uninsured/underinsured motorist" to cover you when the other driver was inadequately covered, as was the case here. We ended up having to sue our own insurance company to get them to fork over anything. Seems like they needed a court document to justify the expenditure.

 

[CJ_London]

Yet another old thread revived

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Yep, CJ - but it was highlighted in my display like a new post. Can't tell you why - but it was.

 

[Cotswold]

This is confirmation of the old adage about insurance:
"You are insured for everything, except for what you claim for"

But seriously, you are entitled to be restored to the position you were in before the damage at no cost to yourself.
In UK you must add to your claim the increased cost of your insurance. Even in a no fault (on your part) situation,
your insurance will rise for five years. Maybe by 5% or 10%. Basically, the insurance companies are just sitting there
waiting for a claim to be made. As it gives them the opportunity to increase rates. They have their own repair shops
in tow which drive up insurance costs. Each repair results in a commission paid back to the insurance company. The
free courtesy car is the same. Which is why they want you to take one. The resulting backhanders simply increase all
of our insurance. There is so much money sloshing about in fees and commissions it is almost a mafia.

We have the misconception that in insurance we have professionals who will support and protect us from loss in the
event of a claim. The reality is the exact opposite. When you go into your insurance broker they are thinking here
comes another mug. Welcome to my parlour said the spider to the fly, is the banner on their wall. They are not there
to help you but to help themselves to as much of your money as they can.

TIP! In UK if you pick up a speeding ticket, that will remain on your license for two years. Your insurance use it
to increase your premiums by around 10% for five years. Check after five years that it has been removed because they
will try to keep the reference to the offence on your record for as long as they can. Even at 10% they are charging you
for an extra six months insurance over the five years.

It is a fact that in many cases of smaller insurance claims. Insurers will seek to recover 110% of the claim within two years.
Either directly from you, or in fees and commissions from repairers and car hire.

Bad do about the bump though Uncle. As I always say. A minor bump is a week lost and after all the aggro you are no
better off. You spent the whole week being no better off at the end than you were before it started. It is beyond annoying.