£650 worth of damage, worth claiming?

Quentin

Daz2009 wrote: »

I keep reading this on here 'you must inform your insurance company even if you're not making a claim'

Let me tell you a little story.
My car was parked at the side of the road and it was hit by another car who's driver had lost control.
I got a quote from a main dealer (even though I'm in the body repair business).
I gave this to the other driver and he passed it on to his insurance company.
For weeks/months they pestered me for my insurance details.I refused on the basis that their insured was 100% at fault and I was claiming off them.
I was getting nowhere until I threatened them with legal action.
They paid up immediately.
At no point did I inform my insurance company.At no point did his insurance company say I had a legal obligation to inform my insurance company.
Now this happened probably 20 years ago but unless the law has changed I would do exactly the same thing again,I wouldn't involve my insurance company unless I was at least partially at fault and even then only if the other party wanted to claim against me.

Nowadays there would be no need to pursue you for your details as they are available to insurers via the MID.

The third party insurer will add the details of your claim to the CUE database, then if you don't disclose it to your insurer you then give them the opportunity to void your policy when they find out (maybe after some future claim when they are checking you out).

In short, no-one should follow your route, and you should think again before completing an application and missing out your claims where you weren't at fault!

Ultrasonic

Ultrasonic wrote: »

I must admit I was unsure at the time, and got conflicting advice from different people. But pleased to see that common sense has prevailed .

Just thought I'd add that a bit off playing one quote off against another tis morning got my renewel down to £52 less than last year (£256 vs £308). I did have a quick look for quotes on one comparison site without declaring the 'accident' which was a tiny bit cheaper (about £6 for cheapest) but not much in it.

Not quite sure why it's come down so much. Perhaps being 36 now means they've finally dicided I'm not a 'boy' racer. Or it's the gender equality change? Either way, I'm happy .

Daz2009

Quentin wrote: »

Nowadays there would be no need to pursue yiu for your details as they are available to insurers via the MID.

The third party insurer will add the details of your claim to the CUE database, then if you don't disclose it to your insurer you then give them the opportunity to void your policy when they find out (maybe after some future claim when they are checking you out).

In short, no-one should follow your route, and you should think again before completing an application and missing out your claims where you weren't at fault!

Thousands of motorists every week are having their vehicles repaired without making an insurance claim.
How many of these do you think are informing their insurance companies they have had an accident/incident of some kind but do not wish to claim ? I'd guess it's zero.
On that basis pretty much every motorist who has ever paid to have a dent repaired out of their own pocket is technically voiding their future insurance,is that what you're saying ?

If everyone followed your route premiums would go through the roof

Quentin

Daz2009 wrote: »

Thousands of motorists every week are having their vehicles repaired without making an insurance claim.
How many of these do you think are informing their insurance companies they have had an accident/incident of some kind but do not wish to claim ? I'd guess it's zero.
On that basis pretty much every motorist who has ever paid to have a dent repaired out of their own pocket is technically voiding their future insurance,is that what you're saying ?

If everyone followed your route premiums would go through the roof

In the circs you told us about (you were blameless and claimed directly off the third party insurer) then you are bound by your policy conditions to inform your insurer and others you go to for quotes.

As I pointed out even if you decide not to, your details will get put on the cue database by the insurer you claim off, thus your deception will get found out. Especially if you make a claim in future when insurers then check you out!

Ultrasonic

Daz2009 wrote: »

Thousands of motorists every week are having their vehicles repaired without making an insurance claim.
How many of these do you think are informing their insurance companies they have had an accident/incident of some kind but do not wish to claim ? I'd guess it's zero.
On that basis pretty much every motorist who has ever paid to have a dent repaired out of their own pocket is technically voiding their future insurance,is that what you're saying?

Have you read your insurance policy? I suspect you'll find the answer to your question is technically yes in your case, and I suspect everyone elses. Although so long as neither party tells an insurance company no-one will know... The situation Quentin is describing is a little different.

Aretnap

Daz2009 wrote: »

Thousands of motorists every week are having their vehicles repaired without making an insurance claim.
How many of these do you think are informing their insurance companies they have had an accident/incident of some kind but do not wish to claim ? I'd guess it's zero.
On that basis pretty much every motorist who has ever paid to have a dent repaired out of their own pocket is technically voiding their future insurance,is that what you're saying ?

I'd guess not many tell their insurers. Doesn't mean they're not breaking the terms of their policy, and doesn't mean they'll get away with it if they get found out.

My policy at least is quite clear that I have to tell them "if you or any driver are involved in an accident or loss, no matter how trivial and even if you do not wish to make a claim". You can insert as many imaginary clauses as you like to justify not telling them to yourself, but the wording is clear and even a minor scratch would, strictly speaking, have to be reported. In practice I suspec a certain amount of common sense would be applied and I doubt whether anyone has actually had a policy voided for fixing a minor scratch with a chipstick from Halfords and not telling his insurer, and I've certainly done that myself. However there's quite a jump from that to not declaring an accident which resulted in a £600+ repair bill and a whole new door. I doubt whether that would be overlooked as trivial if it came to light.

Not saying that'd tell my insurer in the OP's shoes either, but I certainly wouldn't be telling him that he can keep it quiet and be legally 100% clear. Whether he wants to take the risk is up to him... the chance of getting caught is probably low, but the consequences could be severe if he did get found out somehow.

If everyone followed your route premiums would go through the roof

I doubt it. The amount the insurance companies were paying out in claims wouldn't change, and the ratio of premiums to payouts is set by market forces (so much so that of late it's been negative). IF more people told insurers about no-claim accidents there'd be no increase in claims, therefore no increase in overall premiums. Doubtless the people who admitted to whacking posts while parking would pay a bit more, but could park without hitting posts would end up paying a bit less as it would be easier for insurers to identify the risky drivers..