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Accident - other party's inusrance offers to arrange repairs

rexmedorum
rexmedorum Posts: 782 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
Hi all
just had a lorry in the back (small bump no injuries). The other party's insurance is offering to arrange the repairs and I was wondering what the views are whether this is a good idea or whether it would be better to involve my insurance?

I suppose I'll have to report it to my insurance either way?

Comments

  • Aretnap
    Aretnap Posts: 5,521 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Using your own insurance means having to pay your excess up front (and then claiming it back from the third party) and temporarily losing some no claims bonus until the claim is resolved (can cause complications if it's not resolved by your renewal date). Using the other party's insurers avoids those issues. So yes, it's generally a good idea. You should still inform your own insurer, but tell them it's for information only and you don't expect to make a claim.
  • rexmedorum
    rexmedorum Posts: 782 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Aretnap wrote: »
    Using your own insurance means having to pay your excess up front (and then claiming it back from the third party) and temporarily losing some no claims bonus until the claim is resolved (can cause complications if it's not resolved by your renewal date). Using the other party's insurers avoids those issues. So yes, it's generally a good idea. You should still inform your own insurer, but tell them it's for information only and you don't expect to make a claim.

    Thanks yes that's what I was told I was just wondering if there would be any disadvantage to doing this?

    It's the 2nd time this has happened in 2 years :(
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    In your situation it sounds like the quickest and easiest way forward... can't think of any disadvantages personally. Third part insurers are usually pretty good at dealing with such issues simply because they don't then have to fork out unnecessarily when you go to your insurer and they pass you on to a claims management company - because that's all your insurance company will do anyway
  • mcjordi
    mcjordi Posts: 4,238 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    the costs for them would be less, they'd want to avoid the credit hire cars

    if they are sorting you out a replacement car id let them crack on. inform your own insurer for info only
    Sealed pot challenger # 10
    1v100 £15/300
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    Insist on using your choice of repairer.


    The only downside of dealing with the third party is that you lose the right to take any complaint over the repair to the FOS if the insurer won't accept responsibility for a poor repair.


    If you use your own choice of repairer rather than the insurers appointed repairer then at least you are more likely to be seen as the customer by the bodyshop and will hopefully work with you to keep you happy in the event of any issues
  • InsideInsurance
    InsideInsurance Posts: 22,460 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Quentin is absolutely right to point out the one downside of losing the FOS protection but in practice for the vast majority of cases the benefits of not having an open claim on your insurance nor having to pay an excess and claim it back greatly outweighs the risk.

    If for whatever reason you do decide to claim off of your own insurance be careful that you do actually do this and dont go down the credit route as some insurers in non-fault cases pass you off (aka sell your details) to the likes of Albany Assistance who then do everything on a credit basis at massively inflated costs. This is ok when its your "only option" but is an issue when you've already been offered assistance directly by the Third Party Insurer
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