Non fault claim penalty

jallan_2

In December 2008, a car hit my car from behind whilst mine was parked in the street. The other car was left resting on my car ( both on a steep hill ). The driver was not to be found. The police came , gave me a reference number and contacted the other party. I contacted my insurer and the matter was resolved. When my renewal arrived end of March, it was unusually high. When I asked why they told me that the claim was not resolved and still showing as my fault on their system! I contacted the underwriters who said that it was resolved and should be only for notification purposes as it was not my fault and the other parties insurance had paid up. My insurance now tell me they will contact the underwriters for an update, but until they hear differently they will tell any new insurers that I apply to that I will be giving false information if I only say I have had a no fault claim of another party. Is this correct? Also why is it that as soon as I tell a new company that I claimed off anothers insurance for a non fault accident they immediately increase the premium?

Quentin

By having a claim on your history that alters your profile, and therefore the insurer sees the risk as being different to someone with no losses on their record.

As you have been told the situation now by your insurer it wouldn't be a good idea to go against their advice when talking to different insurers - but no reason why you cannot elaborate on the claim to explain your understanding of how it will be finlised.

If it gets changed to a non fault claim, then you will get any extra premium refunded on production of the confirmation.

jeppy

Who are the underwriters you refer to? Underwriters generally are the people who work out premiums etc, ie the insurer.

Do you mean the people who dealt with your uninsured losses? If this is the case then they should have contacted your insurance company.

Until the insurers are aware that the claim has been settled by the TP, presumably including the costs to repair your car, they will leave the claim as pending. A pending claim is treat as a fault incident until it is resolved.

Who ever has recovered your costs should notify the insurers. Get them to email them!!

jallan_2

My insurers are marks and Spencers. The underwriters are AXA, who incidentally are also the underwriters for the third party. M&S tell me they can do nothing until they hear from AXA eventhough I have given them a direct dial Number to AXa and a reference number and a contact name at AXa. After numerous phone calls to M&S, they now say they will contact AXA for an update but this will take at least 7 working days and my policy runs out in 2 weeks time! So until this is resolved, I am left with a high renewal premium, a loss of a years no claims protection and am stuffed when it comes to contacting other insurers for a quote!! and on the subject of NCd protection, which I always take out, What exactly am I paying for ? cos it hasnt saved me with this fiasco?!?!?

Quentin

You can still move insurers, and can get quotes from them. To find out which is the cheapest (assuming your record will be corrected), then do virtual quotes declaring the incident (as non fault) and your anticipated NCD.

Then when your NCD is restored you will be get a refund of the extra premium you will be asked to pay.

If you have NCD protection, then the "life" you have used up will be restored as well when your record is corrected.

jeppy

Axa are the insurers. M&S the intermediary/middleman, they get paid a commission for placing the business through the insurance co.

Speak direct to Axa and ask them for Proof of Bonus.



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