Making a car insurance claim after I have changed to a different insurance company?

maggiemoomoo_3

Hello everyone, :hello:

I am new to posting on this forum, so I hope I am doing it right. My apols if I am not.

I would like to share my story and am hoping I could get some feedback on the best way to handle this predicament I have.

Approx 2 years ago my car was keyed all the way down the offside causing a lot of damage and at the same time my rear bumper was caved in on the offside rear corner. As no witnesses unknown exactly what happened but as I found both pieces of damage at the same time I called my insurance and put in a claim for malicious damage.
I was advised to take my car to the crash assesment centre and when they sent their report to the insurance company, the insurance company told me that I would have to make 2 separate claims ie 2 x excess. I was really annoyed by this and as the excess was £120 a pop I couldnt afford to do that, so I had the key damage sorted out and they did a fab job, but since then I am still driving around with an ugly dent in my rear bumper.
They told me I can put in the other claim at a later date if I prefer, but in the mean time I have changed insurance companies.
What I would like to know is, can I still make a claim 2 years later, and if so, who do I make the claim through? MY origional Insurance with Norwich Union or my new policy with Direct Line?
I am so confused.

Thanks for listening.

Maggiemoomoo.

Quentin

You need to claim off the company that insured you at the time of the incident. Check the policy to see if they imposed any time limits on making a claim.

And if they accept the claim, bear in mind the consequences on any NCD you now hold.

maggiemoomoo_3

Thanks for your advice Quentin. I just spoke to NU and they said they think??? I have 3 years. Then I told hem I am no longer insured with them and they said they are not sure, so I need to call back tommorrow and speak to the claims dept (I did call the claims dept but I got through to cust services in India) so I need to call them again tommorrow.
I will let you know what they say.

Thanks again.

Quentin

Whether or not you are a current customer should make no difference. You (and they) are bound by the conditions in the policy you had at that time.

maggiemoomoo_3

An update to let you know that thanks to your advie, my car is currently in the body shop now having a brand new bumper fitted and sprayed, and its being done by Norwich Union - so thanks again for your advice, I am so thrilled that I am going to be dent free finally!

shelly

In this sort of situation what happens now with regards to NCB?
Do you now have to declare to your current insurer that you have now made a claim and thus losing some NCB?
If you have protected NCB that won't matter so much but should you now let your current insurer know you have/are making a claim?
How will this affect your current premium, will your current insurer want more money as the risk has now changed?

Quentin

The risk is unchanged, as the current insurer will have been (or should have been) informed of the incident at the time of the original proposal.