Car damaged by leaking car park - small claims?

Clive_Woody

I would be letting your insurance company sort this out, that's why you have insurance. Ultimately you may find it gets settled as a no fault claim and your insurance company take the hit but with one claim I doubt your premiums are going to increase by more than £1500.

Quentin

Clive_Woody wrote: »

Ultimately you may find it gets settled as a no fault claim and your insurance company take the hit but with one claim I doubt your premiums are going to increase by more than £1500.

if it ends up as a "no fault" claim then the insurer won't be out of pocket at all!


(Fault/Non Fault claims are nothing to do with "blame" - just whether or not your own insurer incurs any costs over the claim or all costs are reimbursed from a third party)

Quentin

thescouselander wrote: »

OP - if you have legal expenses cover you your motor insurance policy they will likely cover the solicitor's costs. Its worth giving your insurer a call in any case.

"Legal expenses" cover on a motor policy is a misnomer.


It doesn't provide you with a solicitor to deal with a claim for something your policy covers.


You need to make such claims off your own policy, or directly against a third party.


All "legal expenses" is for is getting uninsured losses reimbursed when you are not liable.


In this case that would be the excess and any other uninsured losses experienced.

chrishill16

Clive_Woody wrote: »

I would be letting your insurance company sort this out, that's why you have insurance. Ultimately you may find it gets settled as a no fault claim and your insurance company take the hit but with one claim I doubt your premiums are going to increase by more than £1500.

Thanks. My insurers are aware and have investigated. They couldn't help and want to get it resprayed, which is going to cost me 2 years of my no claims and an extra 50% on top of my premium. Thanks Esure!

Quentin

chrishill16 wrote: »

Thanks. My insurers are aware and have investigated. They couldn't help and want to get it resprayed, which is going to cost me 2 years of my no claims and an extra 50% on top of my premium. Thanks Esure!

Bear in mind that if your insurer is saying they cannot pursue a successful claim against the car park owner/their insurer then you may have a battle ahead trying it yourself, so do definitely get legal advice before issuing a court claim.


Also now that you have reported this incident/loss to your insurer it will have been put on your record and the shared database meaning you have this to disclose to any insurers you go to for quotes over the next 3/5 years (depending on the length of history required) as well as you now needing to ensure any insurers where you are a named driver on a policy are also informed. (Your premium may well be impacted as a result)


(Always best to be sure you intend making a claim before contacting your insurer like this)

chrishill16

Quentin wrote: »

Bear in mind that if your insurer is saying they cannot pursue a successful claim against the car park owner/their insurer then you may have a battle ahead trying it yourself, so do definitely get legal advice before issuing a court claim.


Also now that you have reported this incident/loss to your insurer it will have been put on your record and the shared database meaning you have this to disclose to any insurers you go to for quotes over the next 3/5 years (depending on the length of history required) as well as you now needing to ensure any insurers where you are a named driver on a policy are also informed. (Your premium may well be impacted as a result)


(Always best to be sure you intend making a claim before contacting your insurer like this)

I actually had no plans to claim, I contacted them because I wanted to make use of my legal protection! I've not had any work done yet and they've already started charging me an increased premium.

If I get it sorted myself and don't claim do I need to tell insurers in the future?

dacouch

maninthestreet wrote: »

http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-lime-scale-from-a-car/

Is the advice you should be following first.

Quentin

chrishill16 wrote: »

I actually had no plans to claim, I contacted them because I wanted to make use of my legal protection! I've not had any work done yet and they've already started charging me an increased premium.

If I get it sorted myself and don't claim do I need to tell insurers in the future?

Nevertheless you reported your "loss". This will have been recorded on your record of claims/losses

You will need to tell insurers in future if they ask about your "claims and losses" history. Most do.


(But why have they put your premium up? Any loading as a result of this incident should not hit till renewal time)

chrishill16

Quentin wrote: »

Nevertheless you reported your "loss". This will have been recorded on your record of claims/losses

You will need to tell insurers in future if they ask about your "claims and losses" history. Most do.


(But why have they put your premium up? Any loading as a result of this incident should not hit till renewal time)

Because my renewal happened in March and the damage happened in Feb, so they were kind enough to backdate it for me! They said had I claimed in Feb that is what the new premuim would have been.

chrishill16

dacouch wrote: »

Have you tried diluted lemon juice on it?

Thank you so much! This did the trick! Bit of warm water and juice from a whole lemon, all sorted. :j

Can't believe Audi told me the paint was corroded!

Massive thank you to everyone for your advice, I really appreciate it. :T