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insurance claim-what to do?

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 12:54 pm
by MilesnMiles
Should be obvious but maybe not.
I had a low speed knock with a colleagues car here at work whilst parking. He took a claim against me. I informed my broker and he recorded the conversation.
After that I have had no letters received from my insurer or the other guy's.
I phoned the broker today who said he could not legally advise me and suggested that it was entirely up to me whether I contacted the companies claims line to report it.
I simply want to know whether when it comes to re-insuring my Plymouth etc... I have to report a claim against me or not.
I'm stumped. What are my obligations?

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 1:00 pm
by GJUK
Is the claim oustanding or did it go through against you?

Either way you have to tell them information that might affect your policy, claim amounts and situations are taken into account.

writing off a F40 which you pulled out infront of on a motorway killing the driver would be a bigger mark against you than a scratch in the car park.

Could you not cash settle with him?

Jon

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 1:14 pm
by Dave-R
Report the accident to your broker when you renew. It probably will have no effect on your premium to be honest (mine didn't with the Chevy and both cars had paint repairs) and it keeps you right. That way they can't use it as an excuse not to pay out if you had a bad crash in the Plymouth.

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 2:32 pm
by V8 Sam
if it really was that small a dink

could you not of settled it 'out of court'

i did this once..was my first car, and reverse parking into a back i knocked a focus, broke the lense light and pushed some of his bumper off.

i stayed and waiting for the guy.

who said, cos i was a new driver, and the fact i waited and he wasnt to fussed, just call it £20.

:thumbright:

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 2:47 pm
by MilesnMiles
Thanks guys. Can't settle out of court. Matey made the most of a cracked headlamp and scuffed paintwork etc. and has made a claim.
Dave, I reported to my local office (Swinton) who have it on record. What surprised me is that when I phoned today the agent implied that it was up to me to let their claims line know about it, he wasn't legally allowed to advise.
I thought that by know my insurer would have contacted me to see if the event happened and what role I played in it. Otherwise any bugger could make allegations out and inform their insurance company.

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 8:34 pm
by Gareth
Take no chances, Miles. It's not worth invalidating your insurance just to avoid a minor increase in your premiums. You would be giving your insurers a golden opportunity to void your policy if the worst happened. It's just not worth the risk.

:mytwocents:

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 8:41 pm
by MilesnMiles
Gareth, I'm not trying to avoid liability. I thought by contacting my office I'd done what was required. Hence my question :?

Re: insurance claim-what to do?

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 9:03 pm
by Gareth
MilesnMiles wrote:I simply want to know whether when it comes to re-insuring my Plymouth etc... I have to report a claim against me or not.
Yes, you do!

;)

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 9:08 pm
by Mossy68
Miles. Did you not get an accident number to phone with your insurance package ?

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 14 11:20 pm
by GJUK
MilesnMiles wrote:Gareth, I'm not trying to avoid liability. I thought by contacting my office I'd done what was required. Hence my question :?
I'd have thought telling my current insurers and future insurers about the accident is all that's needed.

The guy telling you otherwise was probably smoking crack. :lol:

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 14 7:54 am
by MilesnMiles
There is a claims line to phone but that's for me to make a claim against another party I assumed.
Guess I'll just mention the incident occurred when I next insure one of my cars and be done with it.
I was just wondering whether as the other guy had fully comp and it was a knock on knock parking incident his insurance company have paid out. We're not best of mates so I haven't discussed it :roll:

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 14 8:05 am
by GJUK
and mention it now to your current policy people.

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 14 2:29 pm
by Philth
Miles - you have informed your insurance company, and as you are not making a claim, that is all you have to do.

When it comes to renewal you will have to inform them as I believe one of the questions will be "have you had any accidents or made any claims...", two which you can say, "I have had a minor accident but don't know what the third party claimed". Always best to be above board on these things.

Just watch out for your work mate to claim whip-lash for himself and the ten other passengers in his car at the time, plus the cost of a hire car for five years, and a personal claim for all the emotional stress. :roll:

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 14 2:32 pm
by Dave-R
Philth wrote:Just watch out for your work mate to claim whip-lash for himself and the ten other passengers in his car at the time, plus the cost of a hire car for five years, and a personal claim for all the emotional stress. :roll:
And then when he is at a urinal having a pee, sneak up behind him and poleaxe the Bananarama!. :thumbright:

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 14 2:47 pm
by Steve
Honesty and transparency is the best policy Miles. Tell your ins company all about it, log the details of who you speak to and when etc. Type your account of what happened in detail and email it to a friend to prove when you wrote it so you can refer to it if needed. Declare everything and you cant go wrong (and you will sleep better!) :thumbright: