car door dented in car park..claim or not?

neilmcl

sam1970 wrote: »

thanks...my insurer said that although i will have to declare this claim in the future it will not affect my premium as i am not at fault!!! but i cant understand how they are prepared to proceed with the repair before even speaking to the other driver insurer or hearing the other driver side of the story!!!what will happen if he denies everything after they repaired my car?will they record the claim on me and ask me to pay the excess?

The short answer is yes. I'd think you'd be lucky if the other driver admits liability, in which case it will be treated as a fault claim and you'll have to pay the excess. Also, they're not being very upfront in saying that no-fault claims don't affect your premiums, there is plenty of documented evidence that any type of claim will cause your premiums to rise next time you renew, whether you're at fault or not.

If there's no paint damage then it may be worth looking at companies like Dentmaster to pop the dent out, it'll be cheaper in the long run.

WTTM

sam1970 wrote: »

this morning i parked my one month old car in a supermarket car park for some shopping...I always park away from busy areas to avoid irresponsible people damaging my car. came back an hour late and the passenger door was dented with clear evidence of paint from the car parked next to me. I was furious as the other driver did not bother putting an apology note...I left him note saying that i will report him to insurance company and I recorded his car details. I contacted my insurer who straightaway booke my car in a body shop tomorrow and arranged a courtsey car. they said that they will recover costs from the other driver insurer so i dont have to pay excess and the claim will not affect my next year's quote. I have some questions please:
1- I was surprised at my insurer response as i thought that they will need to contact the other insurer and that the other driver needs to admitt liability before they can do any thing!!!what people think?

2- I dont think the car needs respraying as it is only a small dent but I am sur the garage will do that to milk money. how can i convince them just to repair the dent which although small is very annoying on a new car.

3- what if i go with the repair and then the other driver denies responsibility?????

can you advise me please

Jesus, you don't have much luck

Better hope the other driver admits or you will have a fault claim on your record - best to hold off, you would have been even better dealing with it outside of insurance due to the minimal damage.


MOMENT

McKneff

Have you got it in writing that it will not affect your quote for next year.

Even on a no fault claim there is mostly always a rise in premium.

Hope fully some one will be along to contradict me but i have seen it happen so many times on these forums where people have been upset because they have to pay more even for a no fault accident.

vikingaero

What if the car driver next to you car was completely innocent and someone else with the same colour car was parked there before? Some parking spaces have pretty high turnover of vehicles.

vaio

sam1970 wrote: »

thanks...my insurer said that although I will have to declare this claim in the future it will not affect my premium as I am not at fault!!! ……..

Some companies load for non fault accidents, some don’t

sam1970 wrote: »

…….. what will happen if he denies everything after they repaired my car? will they record the claim on me and ask me to pay the excess?

They’ve recorded the claim already, whether it goes down as no fault or fault (and you end up down on excess & ncb) depends on whether the other driver’s company pays up, do you have photographs or other evidence to deal with the other driver just denying all knowledge of the incident?.

If it’s a dent rather than a crease and the paint isn’t broken I’d certainly get an opinion from one of the dent away people

sam1970

thank you all for advice...i decided to phone the insurer in the morning to cancel the claim..bite the bullet and pay for dent removal service

savemoney

Its so annoying isn't when this happens. I have had it done to me but a small dent and I too park at near far end of car parks where possible, although I have noticed last few months more and more people seem to be doing same

Last year parked car outside house and some one hit my car 2nd time this has happened

I have 9 years NCD and protected no claims but I suspect I get hit when I renewal anyway and they always ask have you had any claims even though I am protected