car got scratched by someone who took 30 minutes to paralell park and scratched my

arcon5

No harm in contacting their insurance directly and try making a claim. If they manage to persuade their insurer they are not responsible then you can just drop it - if the insurer pay out then bonus. But either way it won't involve a claim on your insurance and won't affect your NCB like it would if you claimed off your own insurance company and asked them to recover the costs.

Strider590

OP you need to be realistic, if the damage is only a scratch, then this is going to bump your premiums by more than it'd cost to get it fixed (even if your found not at fault).

It sucks I know, but that's how it is. Once you make a claim, your statistically more likely to make another and so your premiums will go up.

londonTiger

Strider590 wrote: »

OP you need to be realistic, if the damage is only a scratch, then this is going to bump your premiums by more than it'd cost to get it fixed (even if your found not at fault).

It sucks I know, but that's how it is. Once you make a claim, your statistically more likely to make another and so your premiums will go up.

Yeah, I understand that. But I think in this instance I need to go ahead and make a claim. To protect myself from a fraudulent counter claim from the other side.

I have read it happening before where two people had a collision, then the "vicitim" party agreed to ignore it and then the third party that caused the accident made a fraudulent claim. Just by the virtue of them making the claim - the third party won - uncontested. The "victim" party wasn't even notified by their own insurer that they had a claim against them - they just paid out.

At this stage I have to notify the insurer and if I'm going to do that I might as well make a claim if it's not going to affect my premiums any more than a notification only.

Also - body shop is going to charge minimum £100-£200 for this job. It's deepd scratches - 5mm wide about 20cm long

Strider590

londonTiger wrote: »

Also - body shop is going to charge minimum £100-£200 for this job. It's deepd scratches - 5mm wide about 20cm long

And the repair shop working for the insurance company will turn that into a £900 claim.

Your premiums, you can expect to go up until the claim is off your record (5 years), by anywhere between £50 and £100 a year.

I'm not being a d**k, this is just what these hateful insurance companies do to their customers.

At the end of the day, you need to be aware of what can happen and forewarned is forearmed.

topdaddy_2

Half an hour to park? No, I dont belive that.

jimjames

londonTiger wrote: »

Also - body shop is going to charge minimum £100-£200 for this job. It's deepd scratches - 5mm wide about 20cm long

If that really is the case then hard as it may seem I'd recommend paying it yourself and not involving any insurance company.

Had very similar happen to me but was witnessed and got car reg. Third party admitted liability and their policy paid out for the damage and no change to my NCB. I'd been quoted price to repair of £200 and the actual cost via insurance was about £800 with the legal costs added.

I've now been charged £250 in higher premiums as a result of having a claim - despite it being not my fault and not driving at the time. So I would have been better off just paying the £200 for repair myself. Recommend anyone to think carefully before claiming in such situations.

rs65

londonTiger wrote: »

Isn't that evidence in itself?

You originally said that it was your word and against theirs. Now you are talking about evidence which is obviously better. Do you have photographs of the damage on their car and yours.

londonTiger wrote: »

To protect myself from a fraudulent counter claim from the other side.

What exactly do you expect a counterclaim to be? Your car was parked and unattended wasn't it?

topdaddy_2

Simple question: how much is your excess?

Quentin

londonTiger wrote: »

....At this stage I have to notify the insurer and if I'm going to do that I might as well make a claim if it's not going to affect my premiums any more than a notification only.

Also - body shop is going to charge minimum £100-£200 for this job. It's deepd scratches - 5mm wide about 20cm long

How much is your excess?


Making a claim over a max £200 isn't worth it - you will have to pay your excess (which you will then have to pursue the third party for if you can prove their negligence) as well as lose NCD (unless the third party accepts liability).

londonTiger

Quentin wrote: »

How much is your excess?


Making a claim over a max £200 isn't worth it - you will have to pay your excess (which you will then have to pursue the third party for if you can prove their negligence) as well as lose NCD (unless the third party accepts liability).

yeah the excess is 350 so it makes no sense. I will speak to insureance about my options.

Before paying the excess can I find out if the third party insruer accepts blame or do I have to take a gamble pay the excess and hope it comes in my favour?