Think I Am Being Done Over?

Gene_Hunt_2

simone2109 wrote: »

Thanks for everyones advice. I now know report everything!

What should I do now tho? Do I contact my previous insurers and explain the situation or do I just speak to these people direct and pay for the works?

I have never been in a collison of any kind before so kind of feel like im drowning and am panicking as the lady was really aggresive.

Did you tell the new insurance company about the collision when you took out the policy?

simone2109

No as I didn't see it as an incident or accident...

(which now reading everyones replies I should of)

I literally saw that there was no damage the other owner said its fine dont worry about it and then to be honest I forgot it occurred as it was so minor.

I feel like just giving up on the whole driving and insurance business

Gene_Hunt_2

You better declare it and pay the extra, if this other person makes a claim and you have any futher incidents you may find problems with your cover.

Gene_Hunt_2

simone2109 wrote: »

3 Weeks ago I went to pick my daughter up from school skidded in the snow and went into a parked car I cracked my headlight but as far as I could see there was no damage on the parked car spoke to the owner who agreed that there was one light scratch and said not to worry and off I went.

Today waiting outside school was the woman I ran into she told me that (3weeks on) she had a massive scratch along the whole of the car that I had done and she wanted £200 which is what she was quoted for the works. I told her that as we had agreed there was no damage before and she was happy to go on I wasnt prepared to pay £200 for a scratch which in my opinion has miraculously appeared.

So where do I stand? I got nothing in writing nor took any pics on the day as I saw no issue and trusted that that was the end of it.

I am worried this lady is going to try it on as as I was leaving she started ranting about how she was going to make me pay and how she had been trying to catch me for 3 weeks? (Bear in mind she had my details which I left with her on the day on the incident and have had no contact until today).

Where do I stand? And what will the insurers do? I only have 2 years no claims and do not want to lose them.

simone2109 wrote: »

No as I didn't see it as an incident or accident...

(which now reading everyones replies I should of)

I literally saw that there was no damage the other owner said its fine dont worry about it and then to be honest I forgot it occurred as it was so minor.

I feel like just giving up on the whole driving and insurance business

Which one is correct?

simone2109

There looked to be a light scratch on the rear bumper which I there and then offered to sort and pay for the woman then rubbed the area and said it was just dirt/paint marks and not to worry. I then left her my details and said if you cant get them off then let me know etc.

However now 3 weeks on she has said there is a mark all along the car that was caused by me. However 3 weeks ago we BOTH inspected the car and it was the light scratch on the rear.

Does that make a little more sense?

Sorry just as far as I was concerned there was no damage as she said oh its fine. Yeah there was a light scratch but she said not to worry etc and now 3 weeks later it is apparantly a scratch all the way long her car.

Am I better off paying her direct and getting it sorted that way so as not to tarnish my insurance or should I let the insurers sort it?

Gene_Hunt_2

simone2109 wrote: »

There looked to be a light scratch on the rear bumper which I there and then offered to sort and pay for the woman then rubbed the area and said it was just dirt/paint marks and not to worry. I then left her my details and said if you cant get them off then let me know etc.

However now 3 weeks on she has said there is a mark all along the car that was caused by me. However 3 weeks ago we BOTH inspected the car and it was the light scratch on the rear.

Does that make a little more sense?

Sorry just as far as I was concerned there was no damage as she said oh its fine. Yeah there was a light scratch but she said not to worry etc and now 3 weeks later it is apparantly a scratch all the way long her car.

Am I better off paying her direct and getting it sorted that way so as not to tarnish my insurance or should I let the insurers sort it?

Well as it stands you made a false declaration to obtain your current insurance and you are no longer with you previous company, so you best get on the phone to both.

Orrin

If you are certain she's trying it on then you could just tell her to sod off. I don't think that your insurance company can settle without your permission, so in theory if you don't involve them she'd have to pursue you directly for the money. I'm not sure I'd recommend that though. If you involve your insurance company then they will probably admit liability automatically and arrange for her car to be repaired, regardless of what you tell them about there being no damage at the time.

colino

If you have cheap insurance through Admiral or their many cousins, you may find yourself severely out of pocket somewhere down the line, when they get a claim from the woman and pay out without your knowledge. They did it with me and that was in a situation in perfect daylight (I took pictures) and there was not a single mark on either car - the bumpers did what they were meant to do at 5mph. That had, and has, the knock-on effect of reducing my NCB for two years and costing me that undeserved extra.

You should objectively work out that if your car was damaged (the headlight) is it conceivable that her car sustained some damage that she is now taking umbrage about. Even if the answer is no, and it sticks in my craw, but it might still be cleaner and cheaper to pay her off, get her to sign a statement that the payment is in full and final settlement of the "incident" and move on.

Gordon_Hose

I'd tell her to jog on, right after I'd told her to prove the damage was caused by you.

If she's got a problem tell her to go through her insurance, she already has your details. Don't get into any discussion about agreeing to pay to get it done etc

tbourner

Gene are you being sarcastic? I can't tell on this forum!!
Don't phone any insurance company unless you want to claim through them, just ignore the woman and if she bugs you keep telling her you agreed at the time that there was no damage, and she needs to prove that the damage she's claiming was there at the time of the incident and not caused in the 3 weeks interim. If she can't prove this with photographic evidence dated and signed by a witness then she'll just have to fight it in small claims court.