Insurance claim coming back to haunt me

Gorbstein

Thanks for all the replies.

I thought as much, and it seems I'm maybe just fretting over the terminology. It's galling to be classed as 'at fault' and thus high risk in this case. Essentially if I'd lost control and hit a couple of cars and a tree on the way out I'd be in the same risk category?

I check my bonnet catch every time I check fluids and lube up as required. I triple check the bonnet every time it's closed by giving it a tug, plus I seem to recall the catch is part of the MOT ? Even if I deliberately pulled the lever while driving, the safety should have caught it. It's been known to happen inexplicably on any make of car. The repairer's report was sadly vague (replaced catch, panels, resprayed) and didn't give me a reason why it opened. I would have liked to have known for future peace of mind.

The car I'm looking at is in a lower insurance group, and if I delete the claim history from comparison websites the price reverts to what I'd expect.

Sadly there was no recall AFAIK, it's a 56 plate Seat Ibiza. It was bought from a family member years ago so no comeback from a recent dealer purchase.

Admiral are still offering me quotes in line with what I expect (+15% or so over claimless) whereas all others are shooting up about 50%-100%. However I don't want to have to be stuck with one insurer indefinitely and being unable to haggle at renewal because I can't compare like for like.

FWIW Admiral did handle the claim really well. Can't say the same for Arnold Clark who bodged the repairs 3 times and didn't have enough courtesy cars to fill a driveway.

Johno100

Gorbstein wrote: »

Admiral are still offering me quotes in line with what I expect (+15% or so over claimless) whereas all others are shooting up about 50%-100%. However I don't want to have to be stuck with one insurer indefinitely and being unable to haggle at renewal because I can't compare like for like.

Where do Admiral sit in the 'league table of prices' if you run a quote without the claim? It may be that your insurance profile i.e. age, occupation, post code etc. puts you in the 'sweet spot' for Admiral and they are the best fit for you at this time.

Another thought, if you change from Admiral now you will lose the 'progress' you have made this year to re-build your NCB.

arcon5

Quentin wrote: »

No.


"Fault" just means the insurer had to pay out themselves, and is nothing to do with "blame".


You get a fault claim against you even when you are totally innocent but there is no third party to claim off.

All of which doesn't change the fact op was at fault

facade

I had the bonnet come up on the motorway once, on a P6 Rover.Luckily, it was made of flimsy aluminium, so it simply folded back to the roof, and I could peer through the gap at the bottom. Quite a shock though.
Straightened out enough to shut it and secure with wire then a "new" bonnet from the scrappy.
Never occurred to me to claim on the insurance at the time.

mcjordi

if it just took out the screen i would of just replaced bonnet from breakers and claimed on insurance for a screen #= no loss of ncb...

gilbert_and_sullivan

If Admiral handled the claim well and are offering fair quotes for the forthcoming vehicle swap i can't imagine why you don't bite their arm off, and continue till they start to up the premiums, by which time hopefully the claim will be nearing expiry for declaration.
One known good insurer, one unknown, no contest.

dacouch

Is the replacement car you're buying much newer than your old car?

s_b

on this model car as on all cars this last 40 years + there is bonnet catch controlled by a cable followed by a mechanical device you have to move to open the bonnet,its highly unlikely both failed and would be an advisory on an mot or fixed when you take your car for servicing every year,its down to you as a fault claim as you could have killed someone due to negligence on your part in not maintaining your vehicle in a roadworthy condition,are there buses you could use instead ?:p

bartelbe

s_b wrote: »

on this model car as on all cars this last 40 years + there is bonnet catch controlled by a cable followed by a mechanical device you have to move to open the bonnet,its highly unlikely both failed and would be an advisory on an mot or fixed when you take your car for servicing every year,its down to you as a fault claim as you could have killed someone due to negligence on your part in not maintaining your vehicle in a roadworthy condition,are there buses you could use instead ?:p

All the cable does is allow you to get the bonnet open when it is shut, otherwise you couldn't get you hand under it to open ii. It has sod all to do with securing the bonnet, that is what the latch is for.

Since bonnets don't reguarly fall off cars it is unlikely it will fail, but not impossible, even on a well maintain ed car. So if a bonnet flys off a car and hits you under your bridge, it might not be the owners fault.

marlot

bartelbe wrote: »

All the cable does is allow you to get the bonnet open when it is shut, otherwise you couldn't get you hand under it to open ii. It has sod all to do with securing the bonnet, that is what the latch is for.

No.

There is the bonnet catch, which is operated by cable.

Then as a fail safe, there is a secondary device.

Both would have to fail for the bonnet to come open.