Third Party car insurance claim

tali

I am making a Third Party car insurance claim against a company whose driver caused minor damage to my car whilst it was parked
I am sending the repair invoice, but how should i word my accompanying letter?- and how much time should i allow them to make payment?
If i get no response should i use an accident claim company? (although there is no personal injury) or use the County Court?
I might not be looking in the right places but i am staggered beyond belief that i can find no mention in any insurance guide of advice on a Non Fault Third Party claim .Everyone mysteriously just mentions At Fault Third Party. claims

Rolandtheroadie

Why isnt your insurer dealing with it?

tali

scotsman4th wrote: »

Why isnt your insurer dealing with it?

I thought with TPFT they only get involved in Fire and Theft claims , At Fault TP claims and Fully Comp ones?

Quentin

You are right. With TP insurance you are on your own when it comes to any damage done to your own car.

***************************************
Re Your Insured Mr XXXX

Incident date xxxxxxx

I am writing regarding the above incident for which I hold responsible your insured.

I enclose the receipt for the repairs to the damage caused by Mr XXX

Please confirm that you will reimburse me for the cost of the repairs and any other expenses I incur over this incident. .

I look forward to receiving your early reply over accepting liability.

******************************************8

If you get no response, send a letter before action to the driver personally, and if no response move on to the small claim court (MCOL online)

Rolandtheroadie

So you would be dealing with the other drivers (or his companies) insurance provider and not his employer direct.
When I used to insure my cars TPFT and had legal cover, would they not have done all this for me?

Additionally, would the insurance company not be entitled to view the vehicle before repairs were made? Or use their own contractors?

tali

scotsman4th wrote: »

So you would be dealing with the other drivers (or his companies) insurance provider and not his employer direct.
When I used to insure my cars TPFT and had legal cover, would they not have done all this for me?

Additionally, would the insurance company not be entitled to view the vehicle before repairs were made? Or use their own contractors?

Yes legal cover will do this- and if the damage is severe it is worth it, but with very minor damage on an older car cash in lieu of repair is prefrable.And yes like any claim the other party can view car before repairs.However they cannot insist on using their repairers

Quentin

scotsman4th wrote: »

Additionally, would the insurance company not be entitled to view the vehicle before repairs were made? Or use their own contractors?

They aren't "entitled" to it, but it is a good idea to offer them the opportunity, though many are happy to just get a copy of the estimate. Sometimes they can also ask to see the car after the repairs have been carried out.

They cannot specify where you get your own car repaired!

lisyloo

Just out of interest are you entitled to have cash as an alternative.
e.g. if someone put a scratch on my car but it was only cosmetic and I wanted cash, am I entitled to that and do what I want with the money, or a, I strictly only entitled to the repair.

Quentin

Yes you can ask for cash compensation.

Expect an insurer to want some guarantee that the claimant won't pocket the cash then make a subsequent claim over the same damage. (Should you be unlucky enough to suffer the same damage in a separate incident, then some evidence that the first damage has been repaired would be required).

If a car is a write off in insurance terms (maybe it's been keyed and needs a respray which is uneconomical in relation to the value), then the insurer may do a cash in lieu deal and not write the car off which may be a cheaper and better solution for both parties.

Rolandtheroadie

Quentin wrote: »

They cannot specify where you get your own car repaired!

When you sell your house, the new owners have so long to have certain things checked out (plumbing, central heating etc.) If this is found to be faulty within the time period, they cannot just fix it themself and then bill you (unless failure to fix it would cause further damage). They have to allow you time to have it assessed and fixed at your expense (and using people you appoint to do so). I just assumed that this is the safest way when dealing with cars as well.

If i admitted liability for hitting a vehicle, but 6 inches from that there is a gouge in the paintwork from a previous parking scrape, whats to stop someone getting both bits of damage repaired whilst claiming my insurance? Bit unfair that surely.

That apart, If my neighbour hits my car, I can just get it fixed and send the bill to his insurer? (i'm still not sure if the OP is dealing with an insurer or sending an invoice to a company who employed the guy).

lisyloo

When you sell your house, the new owners have so long to have certain things checked out (plumbing, central heating etc.)

Are you certain about this?
My understanding was that the responsibility for due dilligence falls entirely on the seller and it's a "sold as seen" situation.

I can just get it fixed and send the bill to his insurer?

It has the potential to cause issues.
What if they dispute the extent of the exact damage that was done?
What if they say there was some damage before this accident?
The evidence is gone.

It's always much better to get things properly approved beforehand, whether it's an insurance company or an third party.