Financed new car - getting minor 3rd party damage fixed

ordinaryJoe

Help! I have a new car, under a finance deal, that incurred minor damage (a dent and a scratch) whilst left parked in a private car park. The accidental damage was caused by an employee of the company that owns the car park, and the company have (verbally at least) accepted liability. However, it seems that I have to make a claim on my own insurance in order to get the damage repaired. Even though it is (theoretically) certain that the third party's insurance will pay out, it still means that a claim will go on my insurance record, which potentially affects renewal premium, no claims bonus and is a general pain. I have got a quotation for repairs from a manufacturer-approved body repair shop, but if I claim through my own insurance, it seems I will have to get the repairs done at my insurer's repair shop, which is not manufacturer-authorised.

This all seems far more complicated than it ought to be. I know who was responsible for the damage, they accepted responsibility for it and I have a quote for the repair - why can't I just send them the bill when it's done? Oh, and I guess I'll need a courtesy car whilst the repairs are being done - surely the bill for that goes to the responsible company too?

Hope someone can point me in the right direction,
Joe

Quentin

Contact the third party insurer and see if they have an innocent third party claims department. If so they will sort you out.

Failing that instruct a claim handler who will sort it without claiming off your own insurance.

Third party is responsible for all your costs assuming liability is accepted.

Whoever you use you can insist on your choice of repairer.

The incident does have to be reported to your insurer, even though you aren't claiming off them.

ordinaryJoe

Thanks Quentin. Sorry if this seems a bit dim, but bear with me please. For clarity, then, I'll need to contact the third party and get a contact number for their insurers - and possibly a policy number and a claim reference? And then I'll call the insurers and ask whether they have an "innocent third party claims department"? If they have, everything else should fall into place, but what if they haven't?

Thanks again
Joe

Quentin

You just need to know who the third party insurers are. They will trace the policyholder via the name/reg number which you presumably have.

If they won't play ball your choices are to instruct a claim handler or make a claim on your own policy.

ordinaryJoe

Quentin wrote: »

You just need to know who the third party insurers are. They will trace the policyholder via the name/reg number which you presumably have.

If they won't play ball your choices are to instruct a claim handler or make a claim on your own policy.

Thanks again Quentin.
Bear with me again, please, but what's the difference between "instruct a claim handler" and "make a claim on your own policy"? What other claim handler might I instruct?

Quentin

Your own independent claim handler who will handle your claim against the third party.

Assuming liability is clear cut they will deal with everything for you including sorting a replacement car.

A local bodyshop will recommend you a claim handler.

You don't need to claim off your own policy if you are not to blame and you know who is!