Car insurance (admiral) charging me for change in occupation

repoman123

Going from the logic from this thread:
http / forums.moneysavingexpert.com/ showthread.php?t=4455969

(I've put some spaces in the link as I can't post links)

The fact that I had an incident (whether I claimed or not) will still increase my premium as my insurance company now thinks I am a higher risk individual.

Just an FYI I'm not paying an excess in this instance. Admiral gave me the opportunity of not claiming through them but instead letting a 3rd party company step in and deal with my claim. They still fix my car and give me a courtesy car in the mean time. Advantage for me is that I'm not claiming through admiral and therefore I don't pay any excess. The 3rd party company recovers their costs from the opposing party's insurance company.

Incase anyone is interested by the way, they are called albany assistance (I think!)

Quentin

PHP1703 wrote: »

Sorry I don't quite understand what you mean.

Whether I claim or not through my insurance is regardless though, surely? Reason being, now that the insurance company of the party at fault has got involved and will pay for the damages to my car one way or another, I am always going to have to declare this accident when I am filling out a form for a quote come my renewal date? As soon as I state that this accident has occured (despite it being a not at fault accident) my quote will increase.

If I don't say anything then the insurance company can void my policy for not disclosing this accident?

Many thanks

You do have to disclose any loss (not just "claims")

But when liability is clear, and the third party are going to pay, then there are advantages in making your claim directly to the third party insurer.

When you make a claim off your own insurer, then you are bound by the policy - eg, the insurer may only let you have a courtesy car if you use their repairer, you must pay your excess, (then reclaim off the third party along with all other uninsured losses, car hire etc).

Also a claim will be considered a fault claim until your insurer is fully reimbursed from the other side. This can cause problems if your renewal comes due before the claim is settled (your NCD may be temporarily reduced, meaning moving companies is not straightforward, and your renewal premium is higher than anticipated (though subsequently corrected when the claim is concluded).

Quentin

PHP1703 wrote: »

Incase anyone is interested by the way, they are called albany assistance (I think!)

Read up on Albany (here and across the net)

If not too late you may want to reconsider!

(You aren't now making a claim against your policy, but using a claims management company to claim off the third party)!

repoman123

Quentin wrote: »

Read up on Albany (here and across the net)

If not too late you may want to reconsider!

(You aren't now making a claim against your policy, but using a claims management company to claim off the third party)!

what is the disadvantage to me for using this route?

Quentin

PHP1703 wrote: »

what is the disadvantage to me for using this route?

See Albany's reviews!!

dacouch

PHP1703 wrote: »

what is the disadvantage to me for using this route?

They make their money from loaning you a credit hire car at inflated cost or claiming for injuries.

The longer your repair takes the more money they make, if you add into the mix that they're very inept and will lose most of the correspondence you or the other Insurer send them it makes for a long claim.

The other Insurer often argues about the cost of the hire car which can involve you needing to attend court to assist them claim the money (You have no choice).

Admiral will receive circa £600 from Albany for passing them the business, even more if you claim for injury

repoman123

Breaking News!!

I read the reviews on Albany myself, needless to say I crapped myself.

I cancelled the claim through albany, and my own insurance company (admiral). I specifically told them I don't want to claim through them and that I am going to sort this myself with the opposite insurance company.

I got a call from the opposite party's insurance company on Monday offering to repair my car and give me a hire car (I declined). I called them back and took them up on the offer. Their garage is going to contact me in the next day or two.

My questions now though is, do I still state this when I am filling the form out for a new quote this June when my car insurance is close to running out? I have now done what Spacey2012 advised I should have done in the first place so hopefully I won't experience such an increase in my renewal, correct?

Quentin

You do have to disclose this.

Most insurers do load premiums after any loss regardless of blame or whether or not you made a claim.

(You don't have to use the insurers garage. You can use any repairer you want to)

repoman123

I thought so, well, atleast it seems to be going smoother and I have abit more peace of mind.

As much as I would love to use Renault themselves to sort my bumper out, the truth is their customer service sucks big time (the one near me anyway). I would need to drop the car off myself, they wouldn't keep me in the loop with what's happening and then I would need to go and pick my car up from them too. Plus they are only open at times that I can't get there (I work in a different city).

The garage they've recommended uses genuine parts and paint from Renault (I will get this confirmed) plus they give a lifetime warranty on the paintwork and 5 years warranty on parts or other workmanship (by which time I imagine I will no longer own the car). Plus they will also come to me to get an estimate, and then drop a courtesy car off and take my car from my home and then do the same when they want to pick up the courtesy car and return my car.

Thank you all for your help.