car insurance claim

moe_money

hi i need help my other half rolled back into the neighbors car causing very minimal damage. With her being a dogooder she knocked on the neighbors door they came out looked and said it would be fine our lass insisted if their was any damage she would pay for it. so a couple of days pass and the neighbors have been using their car without any problems when a letter drops through the door from a solicitors saying they are representing are neighbor. their claiming for what i can only say is (highly over exaggerated) damage to their vehicle. but thats not the worst thing the thing that has really got to me is they are claiming for loss of earnings and a courtesy car when they are using the vehicle everyday. i mean i am more than happy to pay for any damage but i think they have seen this as an opportunity to get a large cheque. does anyone have any advice thanks

nidO

You could always take a photo out the door to the road when your neighbours are driving past in their car making sure to get them, their car, and the letter you've received in the photo.
Then post the letter back to the solicitor along with a print of the photo, and a cover note telling them that you've enclosed photographic evidence that their client's claim for loss of earnings and a courtesy car are fraudulent, and you expect to hear no more about it or will be raising the issue with the SRA.

dacouch

nidO wrote: »

You could always take a photo out the door to the road when your neighbours are driving past in their car making sure to get them, their car, and the letter you've received in the photo.
Then post the letter back to the solicitor along with a print of the photo, and a cover note telling them that you've enclosed photographic evidence that their client's claim for loss of earnings and a courtesy car are fraudulent, and you expect to hear no more about it or will be raising the issue with the SRA.

The more sensible solution would be to inform the Insurers and leave it in their hands after giving them as much additional information as you have

arcon5

I agree with post #2.
Some people never seem to understand
insurers are out for themselves only
insurers decisions impact the policy holder
insurers often lack sense

I wouldn't be rolling over to being affected because of what amounts to fraud.

After getting the photos I'd also be confronting the neighbour.

What next, a bloody PI claim!

keith1950

Whilst I agree with most of what has been said , remember that they are entitled to have the car repaired to the condition it was in before the accident and have it repaired by a proper bodyshop.

They are also entitled to a courtesy car whilst it is in for repair.

What appears to be a scratched bumper can easily amount to £300 and a damaged bumper that needs replacing could be at least £600. Sometimes the car might not be worth that much but they are entitled to being returned to their original state.

The unsettling thing here is that they have employed solicitors without even discussing the situation.

It sounds as if it might be a ruthless accident management company who will try to claim for everything.

InsideInsurance

The letter will be a generic letter that all and sundry are sent.

The courtesy car will be for when the car goes in for its repairs, someone will be passing (aka selling) your neighbour's details to a credit hire company to provide a like for like replacement for them at inevitably 2-3 times market rate due to the credit aspect.

Loss of earnings (LoE) will most likely disappear from the claim but at most is going to be an hour or two dealing with getting the vehicle to the garage/ collecting it etc.

Unfortunately whilst you may think the claim is inflated they are entitled to be reimbursed all of their reasonable costs and there are many companies out there, like credit hire providers, that will ensure they do this as far as is reasonably possible. The neighbours themselves will see none of the money themselves if the LoE doesnt go ahead.

OddballJamie

If I bumped a neighbours car and wanted to avoid insurance I would pay for their choice of repairer direct and hopefully they would provide a courtesy car. After it's sorted I'd take round some flowers or nice bottle of wine for the hassle.

It's not worth arguing over with people who live close, if they make unreasonable demands, I'd point them at my insurance and wouldn't blame them if they want their vehicle repaired correctly to a high standard.

Much the same if a child smashed your house window with a football, you'd hope the parent would pay for a new window to be fitted and not a nailed up board.

Strider590

Are you sure this isn't just the insurance company taking the p***?

There is going to be animosity with the neighbours now anyway, so i'd get around there and find out what's really going on...............