63 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

I'm pretty sure at any point you can drop a claim if you so wish.

[*Raz*]

now see this is where it becomes confusing.. i didnt actually know the procedures i could take. I phoned my insurance company and they just took it on, i wasn't aware i could go directly to the other party.
I know this now. I told my insurance i wanted to go directly through the other company but they have said they couldn't as they had already started the claim. So whilst they are being difficult there isnt a great deal i could have done about it. I did check, its in the small print of the insurance documents.

So at the moment im stuck with going through my insurance company unless there happens to be a legal loophole.

but you can still chase the third party without your insurance company. If they are taking so long about it, contact the other person and try and sort it out, im pretty sure it will be a lot quicker because your not going through millions of different people. I would have done this if the driver wasnt un traced. If you want it sorted as quickly and as pain free as you can I suggest you do try this, if it doesnt work then fine, butat least you have given it a go. Im pretty sure it would help though as your talking directly to them rather than in between insurance companies and their co companies. You will realise if its anything like my claim a lot of information is lost along the way, and the lack of communication in the claims is shocking!!

[oli8925]

As for the person who was worried about telling the insurance company they passed their test and forgot to tell them, you can prove you passed your test when you said you did - simply go to the test company and aks for a copy of the pass certificate or record - they must surely keep them (even if just under the Data Protection Act). They may charge you a small fee, but hey surely it is worth it?

i dont think that person...whoever it may have been ...was worried about proving when they had passed, but that if the insurance company thought they were driving on their own yet hadnt told the insurance company they were allowed to, the insurance company might be a bit *Drunk or yellow human water*?

[Ethel]

After reading all this, it begs the question, why have you got your insurance involved? Surely you need to go through the 3rd parties company? Or are you using your insurance company to do that for you?

If thats the case, if they are being so difficult I'd just take the 3rd parties company on by myself, instead of fighting your insurance company, and then fighting the 3rd parties as well.

You do have to be a little cautious in case it turns out the other party can't pay (uninsured). Matt could have invalidated his own cover had he not informed them and then found he needed to claim as there was no prospect of the other party coughing up. If his insurers have just taken it upon themselves to initiate a claim they will have to stand their own losses - as they have no instruction from Matt. At best they might claim costs for things like the engineer's report, which Matt can reclaim from the other party.
There's a good case to argue that they are guilty of some malpractice as they are well aware that Matt's damages are greater than what they say they are liable for and you can rest assured they will attempt to recover their losses from the other insurers (unless, of course, they happen to be part of the same business).

Matt also needs to watch that they don't stick his car with a Cat C tag if he sorts this without it being written off.

In my opinion insurance companies need bringing down a peg or two, they are commercial enterprises that have been given unreasonable powers by government in attempt to tackle unscrupulous elements in the motor trade from putting dodgy vehicles back on the road. All they've done is make it harder for a few crooks to rip off the public by enabling others to do the same to line their own pockets.

Edited by Ethel, 07 February 2008 - 11:47 AM.

[Matt]

well i thought i could drop the claim at any point too?

hmm i think ill speak to the other company today and see what they suggest

[Ethel]

well i thought i could drop the claim at any point too?

hmm i think ill speak to the other company today and see what they suggest

I'd speak to your solicitor - can't see the other insurers being in a rush to settle directly with you if it's likely to cost them more, but by all means gather all the info you can...

Have your insurers made a claim off them; do they have estimates of the value of your car repairs etc?

[Matt]

well as i said before.. the assessors came out.. inspected the car went away with the details.. and sent an assesment to my insurance company... when i asked to see this assessment i was refused first off.. and then they did send it.. but had blanked out important parts such as how much my car is valued at.

[Ethel]

They would have to provide evidence to claim of his insurers and if this ever got as far as court they can be compelled to disclose all documents. I'm sure your solicitor will remind them if he asks for a copy, even so it's still just an opinion of the car's value.

[Matt]

yep ive heard that a few mins ago...

ethel you want to just stand up in court for me? lol.. you seem to know your stuff!!

[taffy1967]

I'm with Mini Magazine Insurance/Equity Redstar and today I received my policy documents.........again!

I've been with them on an agreed value policy since last June, although it took months of threats before I received my full policy and agreed value confirmation details.

So god knows why they've sent them again, unless this is the first lot and it would have taken all that time if I hadn't have kept on to them. I think I'll be changing insurers too as I can never easily get hold of anyone on the phone and god help me if I had to make a claim.

So which is the best company to choose with agreed value?

Edited by taffy1967, 07 February 2008 - 06:28 PM.

[Matt]

hmmmm they have sent me a letter saying they are going to cancel the hire car in the next 6 days... isnt that nice of them?

they obviously havent read their own policies

Guaranteed hire car for up to 21 days (Comprehensive policy)

[nurseholliday]

I'm with Mini Magazine Insurance/Equity Redstar and today I received my policy documents.........again!

I've been with them on an agreed value policy since last June, although it took months of threats before I received my full policy and agreed value confirmation details.

So god knows why they've sent them again, unless this is the first lot and it would have taken all that time if I hadn't have kept on to them. I think I'll be changing insurers too as I can never easily get hold of anyone on the phone and god help me if I had to make a claim.

So which is the best company to choose with agreed value?

They are so very slow at doing anything I am now tempted to bill them for my storage charges for my Mini while it took them nigh on 2 months to decide they weren't going to approve my claim.

[Matt]

right well i just got an interim payment of 1330....

and my solicitors have sent a worded letter... lets see what comes of it!

[Natalie]

I'm with Mini Magazine Insurance/Equity Redstar and today I received my policy documents.........again!

I've been with them on an agreed value policy since last June, although it took months of threats before I received my full policy and agreed value confirmation details.

So god knows why they've sent them again, unless this is the first lot and it would have taken all that time if I hadn't have kept on to them. I think I'll be changing insurers too as I can never easily get hold of anyone on the phone and god help me if I had to make a claim.

So which is the best company to choose with agreed value?

I went with HIC for agreed valuation insurance, got my certificate back with the agreed value about 4 days after sending them my pictures and form.

[wayneb911]

From personnal experience i would say its always better to involve your insurance company unless you have plenty of money. The reason is if the case drags on eventually the third parties insurance will pass it to there legal department so therefor solicitors are involved. If you dont continue though your insurance you will ahve to either get your own solicitor or suffer the cost of every letter, every check etc that the third parties solicitor send to you. This can soon add up. In my case i continued with my appointed solicitor from my insurance company and after 3 1/2 yrears of fighting for compensation in a case where liability was already admitted by the third party my solicitors fees were £6400! all paid for tho from the third party as they lost. Insurance companies will always try to fob you off in the hope that an offer of money will just get rid of you, and hey in some cases people are just glad to get some money back, in mine they offered not even a 1/4 of the fial figure i recieved also due to bad injuries tho.
Most insurance companies when it comes to agreed valuations will also require a certificate of inspection from a specialist when it comes to your car, if you do not have this whenj an accident occurs or its not official they may not pay. In the event you do have this then they will also issue a specialist engineer to inspect your vehicle and confirm its state prior to accident.
Unfortunately we live in a world where we have to have insurance so we have no choice but to go with the cheapest and hope that we never have to claim.
Always consider when claiming if its really worth the claim also, when ever you claim for things stolen from your car it will not only increase your premium but also have a result on the whole insurance network and affect everyones insuranec. Why do you think insurance keeps going up, because granma and pa up the road always claim when they get a stone chip or leaky light!!!

Also consider that when you have an accident regardless of fault it must be disclosed to the insurance company when you renew. You will be penalised even if you were not at fault as a claim had been made.

DONT WE ALL JUST HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES!!!!!