Non Fault Accident Today - Help

kerby_crawler

Quentin wrote: »

Well, what has happened has been the rise of the "accident claims management company", who innocent third parties (or their insurers!) can instruct to deal with their claim without paying them. But they are very expensive!! And use astronomically high credit hire cars. As well as credit repairers ,and encourage injury claims etc. etc.

A third party insurer offers to help out innocent third parties so that all this extra cost is avoided.

And these days, getting a hire car off your own policy isn't normal (some may offer it, though most that do offer it as an "extra" you buy on top off your policy if you need the option).

Usually all you get is a small courtesy car (subject to availability, and you using the repairer your insurer directs you to).

I have heard some of this stuff on consumer advice programmes etc, and I can understand that insurance comanies will engage in all sorts of shenanigans in order to maximise their profits. It is quite likely that I paid extra for the free car-hire option, but I am confident that, had the need arisen, I would have received the 'service' for which I had paid - any kind of car, and any repairer, would be fine, just so long as I don't have to pay.

Let me add that one of the reasons I gave up driving is that, once it became no longer essential for my daily needs, it became unaffordable!

draiggoch

From experience I would avoid Albany Assistance, I had to use them a couple of years ago via Bell Direct / Admiral insurance and they were a pain in the backside.
As you have said you have to sign the hire contract for the hire car and if there is a dispute with the insurer of third party you are claiming against, you may have to claim against another part of your insurance policy to cover the cost of the car.
The cost of the car is also astronomical, along the lines of £100 a day. It took 16 months for the car costs to be accepted by the other insurer and that was only after I agreed to begin and attend court proceedings against them.
If you can use the third party's insurance company straight away it will be easier all round.
All the best
D.

mattyprice4004

I used EasiDrive when I had my non-fault claim - seemed OK to me.

Always good to have a backup plan!

I'd go through the 3rd party insurer, however.

bagand96

Thanks for everyones advice. I'm dealing with the 3rd party's insurance company direct now. My insurance company have all the details on file and I can open the claim on my policy if I wish at any time should I feel the 3rd party lot are not helping me.

Getting a hire car has been a complete and utter farce. The 3rd party's insurance company agreed to it very quickly, however they use our good friends Albany Assistance to manage the hiring (not on a Credit Hire though, its covered by them). There are no less 4 companies involved between the 3rd party insurance and the company that actually delivered the vehicle.