No claim made for car incident but premium still increased

david39

If you're not satisfied with the way your existing company are treating you find another - there's plenty of choice.

You have no reason to believe that Admiral are worth sticking with - it seems that the first time you have had to contact them they have not treated you to your satisfaction.

Shop around for other quotes - 13 years no claims makes you attractive to most insurers.

However, I do concur with previous posters who said that by reporting that you have been involved in an accident, even though not your fault and even without making a claim, their perceived risk assessment of you will have increased and therefore would be likely to affect your premium.

You did right to report it because, if the other driver reported to his company, and yours and his corresponded on it, Admiral would have it on file that you had been involved in an accident you had not reported - thereby jeopardising your position if you claimed in the future.

pedgepuk

lisyloo wrote: »

Two issues:

In general I don't agree about No fault.
Most accidents are avoidable.
In you've been involved in one then you are very probably at fault for not avoiding it.
That's harsh as there are a few that are very difficult to avoid like rear enders.
If you are involved in one of the minority that cannot be avoided then you jsut ahve to regard that as very bad luck but MOST are avoidable by ANY party according to the police (I've been on riding courses with the police).

As I mentioned in my original post the driver in front accidently reversed into my car when I was waiting in traffic. I really can't see how these incidents can be avoided.

Admiral have told me that the "claim" has been closed and classed as a "No Claim" to which they have said is the correct way of dealing with these types of situations.

Yes I can go to another provider but after getting quotes from others in recent weeks, they all come back above the renewal premium set by Admiral and these quotes don't take into account the incident. So my assumption is that they'll be even more expensive.

lisyloo

As I mentioned in my original post the driver in front accidently reversed into my car when I was waiting in traffic. I really can't see how these incidents can be avoided.

Please refer to my second point.

There are RULES.
Would you prefer an investigator spend £1000 investigating your accident fully to decide it's not your fault and passes that cost onto you, or would you prefer that they appy the RULES for free.

It may be unfair in your case, but ultimately I'm sure you can see the logic overall.

No-one (even the police) has ever said that every accident is avoidable.

Have to say though that I leave a gap in case in someone rolls back onto me.
In some situations this may allow me to react.
I'm sure it would not work in every case, but it might work in some cases and hence is worth driving/riding that way for me.

The same thing happens for quotes.
Insurers apply rules and for some individuals that's unfair.
The alternative is to give every driver a medical and a driving assesment at great cost.
Would you pay hundreds of pounds for a completely fair quotation system?
My guess is that you would much rather phone an 0800 number for free.
So you jsut ahve to accept that sometimes life is not fair.
At least you live in a very privileged posistion of worrying about such things rather than worrying about food & water.
In that sense you are on the very privileged side of lifes unfairness.

pedgepuk

Dan_Thomas wrote: »

An insurer would argue that you were pulled up too close.

I agree, but this wasn't the case at the time.

I also had 3 passengers in the car when the incident occurred where at least the front passenger can vouch for my distance. The driver who reversed did admit that she made a mistake and was in a state of shock.

lisyloo

everyone makes mistakes occassionaly which is why they are called accidents

They are actually starting to be called collisions and not accidents by the police.
My info comes from a full time MET police "collision" investigator (previously "accident" investigator).

olly300

pedgepuk wrote: »

As I mentioned in my original post the driver in front accidently reversed into my car when I was waiting in traffic. I really can't see how these incidents can be avoided.

Admiral have told me that the "claim" has been closed and classed as a "No Claim" to which they have said is the correct way of dealing with these types of situations.

Yes I can go to another provider but after getting quotes from others in recent weeks, they all come back above the renewal premium set by Admiral and these quotes don't take into account the incident. So my assumption is that they'll be even more expensive.

I read somewhere that car insurance premiums where going up this year anyway.

BTW has Admiral stated whether your "No Claims" was intact? Is your "No claims" protected?

If so shop around for new quotes and read the small print regarding incidents and claims. The small print is not the same for every company.

Also I don't know with Admiral but with most other insurance companies you can apply to them as a "New customer" even though you were a customer the year before.

All you have to do is sent them your renewal notice in the post stating how many years "No Claims" you have.

pedgepuk

lisyloo wrote: »

Please refer to my second point.

There are RULES.
Would you prefer an investigator spend £1000 investigating your accident fully to decide it's not your fault and passes that cost onto you, or would you prefer that they appy the RULES for free.

It may be unfair in your case, but ultimately I'm sure you can see the logic overall.

I understand you're explanation and agree in principle, however, surely an investigator would only need to carry out any such investigation if both parties disagreed as to who was at fault, if a claim was being made and being pursued.

In my case I contacted Admiral to let them know that incident took place and I didn't wish to claim. The insurance company of the driver at fault did not contact Admiral about a claim or to notify of an incident taking place so I don't see how anybody would be required to investigate the incident.

lisyloo

I also had 3 passengers in the car when the incident occurred where at least the front passenger can vouch for my distance. The driver who reversed did admit that she made a mistake and was in a state of shock.

We all agree you weren't to blame.
But insurers have to work according to rules as it's too expensive to invetigate every case individually.

Sorry your unfairly affected by that, but it's a reality of commercial insurance.
It's not fair.
They work on a fair basis, they do what's cheapest ultimately for the motorist.

You might not like this, but if it was fair then it would be more expensive for all of us as they'd spend loads of money in legal fees, quotes, and investigations.
I don't like it either, but I accept that's the way it is.

lisyloo

so I don't see how anybody would be required to investigate the incident.

If you don't accept the explanations given, then I would suggest a formal comaplint.
If you get to deadlock then go to the ombudsmand.

Personally I don't think you will win
But at least it would give you peace of mind because you know that you have done everything you can and it won't cost you anything.

I costs the company about £350 if you go to the ombudsman so cynically I would say there is a chance of a "goodwill gesture".

You must appreciate however that this ultimately puts up the cost of motor insurance as this costs your insurer.
But that shouldn't put you off if you really feel strongly.

I've made complaints before where I haven't been totally sure, but I did it because if the answer came back as NO, then at least I would have closure and know I've done everything I could.

pedro123456

Pedgepuk
I have been elsewhere fishing…………at first glance you appear to have valid points, in that the immorality of the Insurance Industry is affecting you.

I’ll reserve my observations and comments untill your thread has calmed down , however I intend if its ok with YOU to try and cast some light about the Insurance Industry. And hopefully how to address your particular problem

Z