Car damaged twice this month, what to do please!

Spiderham

Have to say I agree with McKneff. The question is asked whether you've had any incidents (whether your fault or not). Insurance is written under the principle of uberrima fides (utmost good faith), so if it comes to light later you have non-disclosed you could have problems.

This could range from having to pay an additional premium to them not paying the claim to in the most extreme cases (albeit unlikely) them cancelling your cover and keeping your premium for fraudulently non-disclosing. As I said options less likely as I went on however if they knew that you knew you had to disclose but didn't, I'd expect harsher treatment.

It may be a pain short term but having insurance cancelled or non-disclosure discovered is a lot worse. Also, usual advice applies, make sure you shop around at renewal. Some insurers will load for initial non-fault claims, some won't.

no-oneknowsme

McKneff wrote: »

McKneff gives that same speech to EVERYONE who comes on here asking about this kind of situation....

But it's correct advice. So what is your point.

And i really wish people would read posts properly, not all insurance companies up their premiums for
a non fault accident.

I have had 3 in 15 months with the Coop and Aegis and they have not upped my premiums at all.
apart from the normal annual increases.

For someone who wishes that people would read posts correctly you dont do a very good job of that yourself McKneff!

If you have to ask me what I mean when I say that you give the same speech out time and time again......

Its almost like you have it on copy and paste :rotfl:

DCFC79

mrme wrote: »

Ok so looks like I should only have informed them of the 2nd accident - they would never have known about the first. It has increased my premiums by over £200 already so god knows what a 2nd will do... I'm 22 so that is the problem I suppose.

The whole system is unfair, not only have I got 2 lots of damage to my new shiny car which will not look right (it's white... enough said) I am going to be paying a fair bit more to insure next time even after finding the best quote.

The main thing is you were honest, when it comes to renewal time just get a cheaper quote, use comparison sites, use insurers not on them. You could get some quotes now to give yourself some kind of idea how much it would be. Better get saving then.

Alter_ego

McNeff, I'm pretty sure that insurance companies cannot invalidate a third party claim against their insured under any of the circumstances you outlined earlier in post 5

Maidenover

I really feel for you as you are penalised twice - once for someone else damaging your car and twice for being young.
My experience of being honest and advising the Insurance company also backfired horribly for me.................

An old guy reversed into my car in a car park and wont accept liability for it because it says on his Insurance policy (Do not accept liability under any circumstances) How is that being 'honest'? He begged me to get a quote for the damage as he didn't want it to go through his insurance (I had already done the 'honest' thing and notified my insurance company because I thought thats what you have to do. I have not had a claim in over 30 years of driving and no points on my licence. The insurance company told me it would probably be considered a 50-50 claim because we could not prove he was responsible - end result my premiums would increase :mad:
I have a big dent in my passenger door and have been quoted over £400 to repair it or £1000 for a new door. He was not happy with either quote and now says he cant understand how it happened or why it should cost so much. His paint is all over my car and he has minimal damage. I have since been advised to tell my Insurance company that the information I have supplied is "For Information Purposes Only" and that I do not wish them to process it as a claim....is it too late for you to do this? You could then use an accident management company (recommended by your garage - they all use them) to handle your 2nd claim.
At the moment I am waiting to see if Accidents Happen will handle my claim - if not I will put a claim in against his company direct.
It infuriates me that no fault victims get penalised by the insurers all the time. They are stitching us up and we are just letting them get away with it. If it was my fault I would say so and accept the penalties - if we all did that this situation wouldn't arise.....thats what I call being honest!

lisyloo

It infuriates me that no fault victims get penalised by the insurers all the time.

I sympathise with your situation but this doesn't happen all the time.
Sometimes people have witnesses, CCTV, photos or video (did you take any photos at the time?)

If it was my fault I would say so and accept the penalties

Sometimes people do genuinely remember things differently (hard to justify a reverse though).
Some people are fearful of financial or other consequences e.g. violence from the car owner.
I'm not trying to justify it and I agree it's incredibly frustrating and unfair.

Have you considered buying a video camera?
Would maybe cost around £150 or less if you went 2nd hand/ebay.
Might sound like a cost initially but you know yourself that it would easily be justified by a single small incident.

Alter_ego

lisyloo wrote: »

I sympathise with your situation but this doesn't happen all the time.
Sometimes people have witnesses, CCTV, photos or video (did you take any photos at the time?)



Sometimes people do genuinely remember things differently (hard to justify a reverse though).
Some people are fearful of financial or other consequences e.g. violence from the car owner.
I'm not trying to justify it and I agree it's incredibly frustrating and unfair.

Have you considered buying a video camera?
Would maybe cost around £150 or less if you went 2nd hand/ebay.
Might sound like a cost initially but you know yourself that it would easily be justified by a single small incident.

There are cases where a video camera or witnesses are ignored.
Take for example, last year, a delivery van drove 50m up our private drive and hit our parked car, the car was unoccupied, delivery company admitted liability and their insurer paid out. We informed our insurance for information only. This year our schedule shows a no fault and a premium increase. Insurer says having had one incident we are statistically more likely to have more.

scheming_gypsy

i wonder if one will introduce a premium increase because you haven't had a claim for 10 years, so you must be due one.

Quentin

Alter_ego wrote: »

McNeff, I'm pretty sure that insurance companies cannot invalidate a third party claim against their insured under any of the circumstances you outlined earlier in post 5

If your insurer has to pay out to a third party, but find that they can void your policy for any reason, then although the third party is unaffected, you as holder of the voided policy will have to repay the insurer all their outlay to the third party.

mikey72

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

i wonder if one will introduce a premium increase because you haven't had a claim for 10 years, so you must be due one.

No, it'll be statistically you must have had one, and not reported it.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Good job no one views speeding in the same way as sorting out an accident privately, then feeling the need to report it to the insurers anyway.

Could you imagine the queue outside police stations?
"I've acidently gone over the limit, I slowed down again and no one else saw it or knows about it, so it's all right, but please can have the ticket anyway"