Howard Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 While on holiday last week, my BMW was parked in a bay at the side of the road in Bishop's Castle. A delivery driver reversed into an adjacent bay and knocked over some street furniture - a planter on a pole, which fell on my car. It split and deformed the rear bumper and cracked a tailgate light lens. I have the driver's details - insurance and registration number, and a witness. In over 40 years of driving I've only claimed once and that was 25 years ago so I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of all this. I've informed my own insurance company and they've assured me it should not affect my NCB although it's not currently protected. I would hope not as I'd be claiming against the van driver's insurance, but using my insurance company to process the claim. Alarmingly though, it's starting to sound like my premiums could go up for the next 5 years as it's classed as a 'no-fault claim". I'm not sure if making a claim on someone else's insurance counts in what you're obliged to declare at renewal. If it does, it would be a triple-whammy for me, with the Westy and the campervan to insure. From what I've researched so far, the repairs could cost anything between £400 and £1500 depending on where it's done. It seems a crazy situation that if I claim against his insurance it could still cost me through increased premiums. Or I pay for the repairs myself to avoid the increased premiums although it's nigh on impossible to predict the cost of the increase. Meanwhile, it costs him nothing as it will be on his employer's insurance, and I can't see him putting his hand in his own pocket. Has anyone else experienced similar and can share any wisdom on this? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Howard You are correct that most Insurance companies do not alter your NB in these types of case but you annual premium may increase. In my opinion its still worth claiming for that sort of repair cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark (smokey mow) Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 2 hours ago, Howard said: I'm not sure if making a claim on someone else's insurance counts in what you're obliged to declare at renewal. the question normally asked is whether you’ve had any “accidents, claims or losses”. The honest answer to that is yes, regardless of whether you claim off your own insurance or directly from the other party. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Since you've already informed your insurance company then the accident is already on your insurance records. So I believe your premiums are already gonna go up whether you claim or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsechris Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 The basic premise is the problem. Insurance companies are there to make money, not to provide insurance. They only do the latter to facilitate the former, and any opportunity to further the primary objective will be taken. The argument given is that once you’ve had a claim, that indicates you are an increased risk, so your premiums go up. That it wasn’t your fault matters not. it isn’t ‘right’, but very little in this world is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted October 22, 2022 Author Share Posted October 22, 2022 Thank you all. You've each confirmed things I suspected but secretly hoped might not be the case. I wasn't sure if I was overthinking how much I'd get stitched up. Turns out I wasn't. It really sucks doesn't it. If I was guilty of anything it was being naïve enough (initially) to believe the claim would not affect me. Thank you for instilling in me a little more healthy cynicism 😉👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenh Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Howard, it shouldn't affect the premiums on your other insurances, such as the Westfield or the campervan anyway, and so far as the BMW is concerned, if they successfully claim your losses in full against the van driver I would be surprised if it would affect that either. If you think it is at next renewal, then just shop around, and tell your insurers that is what you are going to do if they can't give you a more competitive quote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 So don't file a claim. The insurance company are informed of a non-fault incident so you have complied with their terms. You now deal with their insurance company. Offer to handle your own claim, the alternative is you employ a claims handler who will add their margin to a case you can't possibly lose... and make it clear this goes nowehre near your insurers as there is no way you are liable. Put in 3 quotes, pick your preferred supplier and tell them if they settle in 14 days you'll waive your out of pocket, or 50% of your out of pocket, or something to make them think they're getting a deal. If they drag it out, your time costs the same as any other solicitor and as you will be doing this in your far-more-valuable-to-you spare time, £100 an hour is quite reasonable for legally required admin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_l Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 The impact of a claim like this on future premiums might be quite limited. I had a no-fault accident earlier this year, no witnesses but I took his details at the scene, and photos (his car front damage, my car rear damage) I claimed, they paid between £3k and £4k for repair plus a hire car. As far as I know they had no admission of liability from the other party. My renewal premium did go up, but my quotes from other companies, having provided all of the information about the claim, were cheaper than last year, so I switched. Since the accident is already on the insurance systems, what do you lose by letting your insurance do what you have paid them to do? FYI - The forms with other insurers asked only a) If I had an accident, b) was it a no-fault claim, and c) how much was the damage. They didn't ask who ended up paying for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 1 hour ago, jim_l said: They didn't ask who ended up paying for it. Probably because they already know and/or can check with the underwriters... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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