High Court Writ, what do i do?

Helen-Back

I have a letter saying its high court writ agianst my name for £5500 and how this came about is very strange.

Really need help with this so any comments and thoughts are welcome..

8 years ago I had another drive into my BMW and refused to stop. I followed the driver and called the police who refused to do anything, the driver got away and i reported the incident and put it through my insurance obviously had the drivers plate and my ins dealt with it.

My car was repaired and I was offered a like for like car whilst my car was being repaired from a company called accident exchange. I had actually been through this very procedure before and the cost of the vehicle is paid for by the persons at fault ins.

I did get a few phone calls from accident exchange and something to sign to which i really cant remember what it was, and was within 12 monthhs of the accident.

Since that time i moved house 3 times and heard no more.

Then a few days ago i received a high court writ for £5500 and it relates to the hire of the vehicle where I had a BWM for 10 days i think it was.

The date on the writ says i have up until the 15/07/2014 to make payment.

What do i do?
I would never have hired a vehicle for £500 a day.

The really crazy thing is that a couple of days ago I had a vehicle run into the back of me whilst i was stopped at a rounderbout. Tomorrow they take my vehicle and have offered a like for like car for the duration of my car being repaired or until payment is made should my car be written off.

This is not through accident exchange this time but im not sure i should trust this service? I also just read some of the terms and conditions and they want to hire a vehicle to me for £350 and the other ins company pick up the bill just as before????

Even if the other ins company do pick up the bill, why would they use a hire company that charge £350 a day for a vehicle I can go and rent for £45 a day? And thats a price I found straight away?? Im sure I could find it even lower if i tried, so why would my ins (direct line) agree or even offer this to me?

Can someone help me suggest what I do?

Tixy

I would start by contacting your insurance company from the date of the accident today to find out what details they have on the supposed debt and what records they have of whether the claim etc.

hohum

The other thing that springs to mind is an article I read a while back on car insurance and inflated prices for hire/courtesy cars

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18268650

hohum

And this one, could this be what happened here? http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-1692116/Beware-the-car-insurance-courtesy-car-trap.html

Helen-Back

Yeah the 2nd liink sounds like i was lucky to only have the car for a week.
I phoned my ins company of 8 years ago, the claim was only £670 damage on my vehicle and I have worked out that Accident Exchange was offered to me when I took my car to BWM main dealer to get it repaired. Think they called Accident Exchange and kindly started the process for me.

Helen-Back

Anyone know when i can expect a high court enforcement agent to turn up on my doorstep?
And how can i dispute this?
I got no idea what to do?

dancingfairy

See this factsheet here from National Debtline:

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/31%20EW%20High%20Court%20enforcement/Default.aspx

You will need to apply to the county court. I presume for it to have gone to the high court for enforcement that an original judgement was made against you in the county court. Do you have any paperwork regarding this?
You're also going to need to contact the insurance people at the time and get copies of all paperwork.
It might be worth doing a check with the trust online registry (I think that's the right people) who can tell you whether you have a ccj (you must do but it might shed some light on the details which you will need to appeal it).
You can also phone National Debtline or Stepchange for advice.
Bailiffadviceonline is also meant to be good and should be able to help you.

df