Need help after accident

Supastar87

Hi all.

First off, I’m new to this and not sure if this is the correct way to go about things. I’m really worried and I always appreciate good advice, tia.
Ok so today I had a minor accident, I slightly hit the back of a bmw at traffic lights. No damage, other party really nice about it. Exchanged numbers, said no insurance he did say there was a small scratch he would like me to repair, which is fine I said yes no problem.
Anyway I contacted my insurance just to do the right thing, they adviced me they wouldn’t contact other party but needed the details. I was honest and told complete truth and details. The call advisor actually said “I give you my word we won’t contact them unless they claim”.
Anyway to my horror the lady contacted me today to say my insurance had called to offer a repair and to ask who was hurt. The lady is now angry at me as we said no insurance and I fee like they have encouraged a claim.

What I’m asking is do I have a leg to stand on? Is what they did ok? I’m very worried about next steps, any advice would be so appreciated

Thanks:o

McKneff

You and your insurance company have done exactly the right thing. Tha lady should be informing her insurance company too. She is bound by her terms and conditions. As you are.
Stop worrying. She will be frightened her premiums will go up...

Block her number and let the insurance companies deal with it

DocQuincy

I had almost the exact same thing happen to me — although the third party was fine about it. What I resented was they tried to flog him extra services. It annoyed me but didn't have the time or the inclination to do anything about it.


As McKneff said, you did the right thing. This is what you pay insurers for; they know how to deal with it and protect you from people trying to pull a fast one.


When I notified them they got a recorded call of the person saying they weren't injured (makes it harder to do a whiplash claim) and they also have their own trusted repair centres so if the third party gets a suspiciously high quote for repair work they get called out on it.


Also, if you don't declare it and then insurance company find out (e.g. third party decides to go to their insurers and not tell you) you're in trouble.


Basically from now on just let the insurers worry about it.

Supastar87

Thanks guys appreciate that, but what I’m saying is the insurance company advised me they wouldn’t call & did... that put me in an awkward position, is this right?

The advisor said “you have my word we will not contact them unless they try to claim” and they did. I mean I’m lucky the lady was so kind yesterday and she was angry today I had told insurance her details when she said she had no intention of claiming. I feel like my insurance company has encouraged this claim now.....

Supastar87

Sorry doesn’t really make sense I mean they said they would only contact them if they try to claim - they haven’t tried to claim yet they contacted them.

Cash-Strapped.T32

Of course there were going to call her, regardless of which individual you spoke to and what they said, they were simply never not going to call her, and enter the incident onto the CUE database for all the other insurers to see - the person in the call centre has no control over anything the company does, they simply read from a script and take down your answers for other people to action.
Occasionally in very clear-cut cases of fault they'll say if it's likley to be yours or the other party's fault.


From the wider insurance co's point of view, you've just called to say you hit someone and it's clearly going to be your (read "thier") liability, so they're obviously going to call her to try & get her to follow thier own course of action to try & mitigate the cost (they'll try & get to her first, before her own insurance co get her to milk it with claims management).

Unfortunately, now for the next 5yrs both you *and* her are having to say "yes" to the "have you had any claims in the last 5yrs" question every time you renew insurance.

Supastar87

I appreciate what your saying and understand what the insurance had to do. But my point is that when I called - he said they would ONLY contact 3rd party if a claim was ever made. He said my NCB bonus won’t be affected if nothing comes of it. He also assured me they WOULD not call.
When I called insurance to ask why the person I spoke to said this was not usual process and logged a complaint. So although I understand what your saying, I think your missing my point.

I accept that if a claim goes through then yes my insurance is going to increase etc, what I’m trying to get advice on is how it’s handled, if this is standard procedure why would they assure me they wouldn’t call - an then log a complaint?

Supastar87

Also I stated there was no damage, my car was going no faster than 5mph and the third party had told me they didn’t want to go through insurance. So why would they then call them after telling me actually saying the words “you have my word we will not call them unless they claim”.

Zorillo

It sounds like the first person at the insurance company you spoke to made a mistake. Keep complaining about it to them, you might get an apology at the end of it :j

Supastar87

Yes I agree I definitely think he made a mistake, and I don’t think my complaint will go far. I just wondered if perhaps anyone else had a similar situation and what the outcome was - will update mine for anyone who may be in a similar situation one day

Cash-Strapped.T32

Supastar87 wrote: »

I appreciate what your saying and understand what the insurance had to do. But my point is that when I called - he said they would ONLY contact 3rd party if a claim was ever made. He said my NCB bonus won’t be affected if nothing comes of it.

Yeah, I do hear you, that you're interested in the fact he said one thing and they did another - my point is, that what he said simply was not true, it would never have been true, even if he meant it at the time he said it.

Regardless of if a claim goes through, the incident goes on CUE, and therefore every insurance company will see it when either of you apply for insurance - claim or no claim.

To pick up on the point they mentioned when they say "only if a claim gets put in" - for the insurance company, that's too late.

If they don't take action and get the other driver on-board straight away, then the first your insurance co will hear about it is when a claims management company come knocking on thier door for money - so they'll always try and take the initiative , and steer the other driver down a route that will mitigate their own costs - that will cost them the least in the long run.

Even if the other driver is honourable, and doesn't try it on, they have to assume she will. So they throw the first punch, so to speak.


The original guy on the phone should not have said they won't call the other driver unless there is a claim - it will be this specific point that is against policy.