Churchill reopening settled car insurance claim

dillie

In April I had a car accident which resulted in a 50/50 settlement and on April 22nd I paid Churchill £175 - half my excess- by debit card over the phone.
Today I had an email from Churchill trying to reopen the claim saying the other party now claims to have 'an independent witness and is willing to go to court to prove it'.
Churchill renewed my insurance on 27/9/17 with a big jump due to the claim they said.
Are car insurance companies allowed to reopen a claim at the whim of the other side after accepting my excess payment and accepting a renewal of insurance?
I'm staggered!!

Car_54

dillie wrote: »

In April I had a car accident which resulted in a 50/50 settlement and on April 22nd I paid Churchill £175 - half my excess- by debit card over the phone.
Today I had an email from Churchill trying to reopen the claim saying the other party now claims to have 'an independent witness and is willing to go to court to prove it'.
Churchill renewed my insurance on 27/9/17 with a big jump due to the claim they said.
Are car insurance companies allowed to reopen a claim at the whim of the other side after accepting my excess payment and accepting a renewal of insurance?
I'm staggered!!

If the other side take them to court then they have no choice!

dillie

I shall tell Churchill what I told them in April when the other party claimed to have an 'independent witness'...they didn't.
This was a lie.
Immediately after the accident we both drove to a quiet cul de sac, exchanged details whilst my son and I waited for our breakdown company to replace my tyre.
This was over an hour and the other party remained nearby with no other witnesses coming forward.
No independent witness statement was produced between the date of the accident and the date of the closure.
As the other party was young and extremely abusive I think he is trying it on.

rs65

dillie wrote: »

Are car insurance companies allowed to reopen a claim at the whim of the other side

They can re-open it for any reason - especially to defend a claim.

dillie

They accepted my payment of 50/50 so as far as me the customer is concerned that's it- closed.
If they get taken to court that's not my problem, they can have my evidence and that's it.

Car_54

dillie wrote: »

They accepted my payment of 50/50 so as far as me the customer is concerned that's it- closed.
If they get taken to court that's not my problem, they can have my evidence and that's it.

If anyone gets taken to court, I think you'll find it is you, not the insurer!

The insurer will have the right to take over the claim and fight (or settle it) on your behalf.