Getting me down, had an awful weekend...

in_over_my_head_2

Hi everyone, I'm just looking for some sympathy really because I'm soooooo peed off...

On Saturday I was involved in my first ever car accident; me and my 3-year-old both fine tho :T
The car in front slowed down sharply for some reason, and so did I, hardly an emergency stop but had to brake quite firmly... but the guy behind me was driving too close and went into the back of me and I hit the car in front (an off-duty policeman, so a good witness anyway!). The guy who hit me didn't want to involve the police (too late!) or insurance companies and wanted to sort my car out, but my father-in-law had a look under the carpet in the boot and the body of the car has actually been crumpled so we think it's a write-off (it's a fairly old little runaround). So the bloke who hit me got very shirty and showed up at my house with his dad and told me that he's not insured, hasn't got a job, and will have to pay £2 a month when the police fine him.

I called the insurance company this morning as the dispute dept wasn't open on Saturday, and told them I've found out he's not insured, so now:
- I won't get a courtesy car, because they can't claim that back from his insurers.
- I have to pay £100 excess or receive £100 less if the car is a write-off, and reclaim it from a central insurance fund.
- AND I lose 2 years of my no-claims because the insurance company have to pay me themselves!!!!!!!!! (money-related question: does that start right away, will they put my insurance premium straight up??)

How unfair is that?? and what is the point in this lad EVER getting insurance if he can just drive around anyway and pay just £2 a week??
:mad: :mad: :mad:

fefesaver

Hi, can you not claim under the Motor Insurers Bureau unisured drivers scheme expecially if you were injured? Website is www.mib.org.uk. I think solicitors or Citizens Advice should be able to help you with this. At least then you will get some proper compensation.
Hope this helps.

Jumps

Oh Hun, I can sympathise with you. The main thing is that you and your litle one are ok. DH an I had a similar experience when DH was on his way home from work at 1:15 in the morning (he works shifts) and he hit a cyclist who had no light or reflective clothes and we later found out that he had been out drinking and was wearing his MP3 player. He cycled right out in front of DH. But because he does not have insurance we have had to claim on our insurance and really had to push to get a courtesy car.
It does seem so unfair.
Anyway chin up and I hope you manage to get it sorted.

rog2

Really sorry to hear that iomh. I hope the guy did not intimidate you too much, and you really should report his 'visit' to the police. :grouphug:
Car Insurance is a pain, but this should not deter you from going to the police as the third party was actually committing a crime by driving without insurance, and this could be further compounded if he made any veiled threat or intimidation.

raq

so unfair.

One thing that really annoys me is that when our car was broken into 2 weeks just after I had a baby the cost was £300.00 or pay £69.00 and the rest insurance. I sit here some times and think why do I pay £37.00 every month for my insurance when there are so many idiots out there who can't even be bothered to pay up. Very hard at the time because we had to pay the £69.00 so my husband over time for the week went on this.

Rules should definately be changed.

Chin up girl

itsarichmansworld

That really annoys me ! Why should we have to pay for bloody idiots like that you should go to the police and tell them he was harrassing you at home.

Wee pillock seriously

But I'm glad to hear you and your wee yin are ok

(((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))

Snaggles

I have had my car hit 4 times by people who have just driven off (in 4 different locations, so I'm not just parking badly lol). I'm now paying huge insurance premiums for a 12 year old car, because I have no no-claims discount. The annoying thing is I've been driving for 15 years, only ever had one crash, and that wasn't even my fault. It does make me wonder why I bother sometimes.

Sorry to hear about your crash in-over-my-head, glad you are both okay though.

sheraz2

the police are involved^^^

It is a ridiculous situation. You get fined a few hundered pounds when if you had paid for the insurance you would have paid significantly more than the fine, sowhere's the incentive?

Molanole

Firstly, I'm glad to hear that you are both ok.

rog2 wrote:

Really sorry to hear that iomh. I hope the guy did not intimidate you too much, and you really should report his 'visit' to the police. :grouphug:

Car Insurance is a pain, but this should not deter you from going to the police as the third party was actually committing a crime by driving without insurance, and this could be further compounded if he made any veiled threat or intimidation.

I absolutely agree with this. By turning up at your house this was a (badly) veiled attempt at intimidating you and you really should take it to the police. I'd mention to the police also that they have your address in case you are worried about repurcussions.

in_over_my_head wrote:

How unfair is that?? and what is the point in this lad EVER getting insurance if he can just drive around anyway and pay just £2 a week??

This is where the system lets the majority of us who are legit down. People like this will only learn if they have a prosecution on the cards.

Once you get all this sorted rest assured the DFW's will be on hand to advise on how to reduce your premiums if they do get increased as a result of this.

Mola x

Mrs_pbradley936

Well glad to hear that you and little one a OK. If you put this on the insurance thread you will gets loads of help - just make sure you put something like "car insurance help please". They are all really good and if Astaroth replies you will be sorted in no time.

in_over_my_head_2

Thanks for the support - I knew I'd get sound advice here!

I've just been to the police station as we both had to take our documents there, and I dropped into the conversation that I needed to make a claim with the motor insurance bureau and my insurance people said I need a form from them; I got carted off to an interview room so I could give them details of the guy coming to the house and telling me to my face that he has no insurance (my father-in-law, mother and friend were all there to witness this). They said they're going to prosecute and that I should claim the £100 from him instead of the MIB. Policeman was really nice and asked if I could come in after 10pm and specifically speak to him next week after the garage have told me if the car is a write-off or how much it's going to cost, I get the feeling he's had this happen himself cos he seemed livid!