Experiences of directline when making a third party claim

2357

My stationary vehicle was hit by a direct line policy holder.
He did not report the accident to them.
After they were informed they contacted him and he didn't respond several times until they said they'd pay for my repairs.
Then he decided to respond and say it wasn't his fault.
Now directline said they won't pay.
They have a statement from a witness who saw what happened and confirmed it was the other drivers fault and my car was stationary but they say they won't pay until they have received their policy holders formal statement.
He's obviously lied so far and been dishonest by not reporting the accident in the first place.
I just don't see why they are delaying, either he'll have a turnaround and admit it (if he bothers to respond) in which case they'll have to pay up or he'll lie again in which case as his version and mine differ the witness statement should be the deciding factor and in that case they'll also have to pay up so why can't they just get my car fixed now!

jonesMUFCforever

Why not claim on your own policy then claim any excesses back if/when they agree your claim?

2357

My excess is high so I'd rather claim as a third party on his insurance so I don't have to pay it and then wait however long for a refund.

huckster

My neighbour claimed against DL as a third party and they were really good. They provided a similar hire car while their car was in for repair and the car was delivered back within the time expected, with a quality of repair they were happy with. There was no hassle at all.

Quentin

2357 wrote: »

My excess is high so I'd rather claim as a third party on his insurance so I don't have to pay it and then wait however long for a refund.

Are you prepared to wait "however long" for them to agree to pay you (bearing in mind they are not jumping at the chance to deal with you now)


An alternative is to see if an accident management company will take you on


If that fails then you may be stuck with claiming off your own policy (in future don't agree a voluntary excess too high that you can't pay - you paid a lot for your comprehensive cover and now find yourself stuck with your damaged car fighting the third party when you should be getting it repaired)

FutureGirl

They have an obligation to their policyholder. So if their policyholder is denying what you're saying, then they have a duty to their insured to investigate that first.

2357

Spoke with a friend who's a police officer today, seems the witness statement would be more than adequate for a conviction of driving without due care and attention for the other driver so if the insurance company aren't forthcoming accepting liability I'll go down that route as they can hardly maintain a dispute if their policyholder is convicted.

Quentin

Getting the tp convicted of a criminal/driving offence is going to take time! (You say your witness has stated the third party is to blame, though it isn't for witnesses to decide on liability, and that part of their statement won't carry any weight with the insurers).


Have you tried an accident management company?

2357

I've just called a claims management company today and emailed the witness statement, they said it should be fairly straight forward since I was stationary when he hit me at an estimated 30 mph.

jonesMUFCforever

2357 wrote: »

I've just called a claims management company today and emailed the witness statement, they said it should be fairly straight forward since I was stationary when he hit me at an estimated 30 mph.

They would say that would they not?
They want to make money out of you - they are certainly not going to say you have no chance of winning so claim on your own insurance.

Quentin

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

They would say that would they not?
They want to make money out of you - they are certainly not going to say you have no chance of winning so claim on your own insurance.

Accident management companies don't usually "make money" out of the innocent third party.


The guilty party's insurer may end up making them some money though!