axa underwriters

miraine

Husband reversed the car out of the driveway, hit the gate post, panicked and caught the gate at the other side. Bearing in mind that everyone parks so close to our drive and it is difficult to get out. Insurance is with RAC, AXA are the underwriters. They say this is 2 claims with 2 excesses because it was 2 bumps even though it was done at the same time. This can't be right??

InsideInsurance

Based on what you said it would normally be interpreted as two events as there was a deliberate/ controlled action after the first collision that resulted in the second rather than it being a case of the vehicle bouncing off one onto the other or spinning out of control etc.

That said, you have nothing to lose to register a complaint if you think this is unfair. Unfortunately the other cases that have gone to the FOS on if something is one or multiple incidents arent relevant - eg one case of a shed attacked by a bird/ insects (cant remember off hand which) and the insurer argued each of the 100+ holes were separate claims

Quentin

The insurer is correct - 2 claims.


So check out how much this would be to repair yourself at a back street bodyshop.


This will save you 2 excesses and losing 4 years of NCD (unless yours is protected).


You will still have 2 losses to disclose to future insurers, though if you do end up cancelling your claims then they should be down as no fault incidents on your record.

miraine

I think it is ridiculous that it is 2 claims - obscene actually. I have protected NCD the damage would be over £1000 apparently? It hardly looked like anything too. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Quentin

If you do claim then don't pay for protected NCD at renewal (check your policy, but normally you will have used up your protection "lives" so any new claim will still mean you lose NCD even if you have paid extra to protect it)

InsideInsurance

miraine wrote: »

I think it is ridiculous that it is 2 claims - obscene actually. I have protected NCD the damage would be over £1000 apparently? It hardly looked like anything too. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Check the rules on your policy for NCD Protection. Many only allow 1 claim in a year and no more than 2 claims in 3 policy years. By making these two claims would still result in loss of NCD as they are both in the same year.

OnanTheBarbarian

Is there proper metal damage here or has he just "traded paint" with the gate post?

If it is the latter, it may be worth getting it looked at by one of those mobile smart repair outfits like chips away etc.

miraine

For some reason the front was worse than the back. I have spoken with a solicitor who says they are being overly harsh and there is something called proximate cause. I.e he hit the back and bounced forward and hit the front within seconds. Therefore one claim

InsideInsurance

miraine wrote: »

For some reason the front was worse than the back. I have spoken with a solicitor who says they are being overly harsh and there is something called proximate cause. I.e he hit the back and bounced forward and hit the front within seconds. Therefore one claim

As per the previous note, put the complaint to them and if you have had solicitors advice then use their rational as to why they think the proximate cause was the first collision.

You however did not originally say they bounced into the second collision, I did say had this happened it would be one claim, but you originally said that they panicked and then hit the other one suggesting that it was their actions that caused the second impact and thus two claims.