Salt gritter chipped my windscreen - what to do?

Quentin

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

Just one of those things, most insurance will repair with little / no cost and no effect on your no-claims.

Not so (at least with swiftcover).

If you have a "free" chip repair done via swiftcover, then you don't get any NCD awarded for the policy year in which you make the claim. (Others may also do this - check your policy).

And with all insurers a chip repair is a claim, so can affect next years premium and must be declared when changing insurers.

Gloomendoom

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

Just one of those things, most insurance will repair with little / no cost and no effect on your no-claims.

I've just had a renewal notice for one of my cars. It says in the small print that there will now be a £20 excess on each chip repair claim.

Don't assume chip repairs will be 'free'.

ifan.goch

Why do people think they can claim for everything - its not free money, we all pay in increased costs. If you claimed successfully against the council the money would come from council tax and there would be less for essential services. You may think your claim is small and would make no difference to the council, but add up all those small claims and councils are paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation. I admit that sometimes a claim is justified, but this is just profiteering. And if the gritter had not been out, would you make a claim if you skidded on ice and damaged your vehicle (or cycle, motorcycle, child, uncle Tom Cobley and all)?

cyclonebri1

I've been trying to get this message over for a couple of years now. Wifey works for Autowindscreens so has some input. The number of insurers, (lead by DL), that now charge is rapidly overcoming those that don't:T

tomstickland

Either fix it or leave it.
I had a few small cracks in the windscreen of my old car - stones from lorries and other stuff. Passed the MOT so it didn't bother me.

gorgeousgirlie

I had a similar experience 3 years ago; an oncoming gritter was throwing great big chunks out which smashed my back window and peppered the side of the car.

I contacted the council who admitted the gritter was there but insisted I couldn't prove they broke the window. I contested that it must have been defective as it was throwing such big lumps and fairly high, but they pointblank refused to accept liability.

My biggest concern was that I had a newborn son who on any other day would have been on the back seat, and I was horrified about what COULD have happened. It also would have been hazardous to pedestrians or cyclists.

But despite repeated letters and calls the council completely ignored my concerns as I 'had no proof' they caused the damage - whats a girl to do?!