Claim that I hit parked car months ago

forgotmyname

brineybay wrote: »

Dear all,


Thanks for all your quick and helpful responses. Just to clarify that to my knowledge I did not cause the damage.
Damaged it without noticing?

I have my own driveway and so I mostly park on there, but there are some rare instances when I park in neighbouring roads (including the alleged road) as my street can be particularly busy.


I do think that the scuffs on my car were per-existing to this alleged incident, but I have no way to prove it
The previous owner could maybe answer that question for you?

- I have never been around my car photographing minor dents and scuffs (presumably people don't normally do this?!)


Although it is difficult to remember exactly my movements on the day in question (it being 7 months ago) I was out a few times that day seeing family and friends, as it was a weekend.
So highly possible you were at the scene on the day in question?


I would have thought the burden of proof was on the third party to prove that it definitely was me. There has been no claim as of yet of any eye witnesses, CCTV footage, or even an exact time that the alleged incident took place. Considering that someone has clearly been around to photograph my car outside my house, why didn't they knock the door or have a word with me at the time? This is the first I have ever heard about it.
Are you suggesting they spent 7 months scouring the neighbourhood for a vehicle with the exact colour and with damage that relates to the damage on their car, and a vehicle that parks in that location yet does not live there?


Also, would it have taken nearly 7 months for the insurance companies to process this claim? Or is it more likely that they claim has only just been made?

Why 7 months, who knows. Other party reported it and it took their insurer time to contact your insurer and your insurer awaiting for you to report the incident/claim before contacting them back?

Jumblebumble

AdrianC wrote: »

Your insurer just needs to be satisfied that somebody covered by your policy was indeed responsible for causing the damage.

Sounds like they've done that.

Remember - if they're convinced, they pay. If they aren't convinced, they don't pay. So it's hardly in their interest to pay out on spurious information, is it?

If the OP was convinced they did not cause the damage they could and should go to the police to log a fraudulent claim
I would suggest that waiting 7 months is very dodgy
I also thing their proof is absurd

Jumblebumble

AdrianC wrote: »

Your insurer just needs to be satisfied that somebody covered by your policy was indeed responsible for causing the damage.

Sounds like they've done that.

Remember - if they're convinced, they pay. If they aren't convinced, they don't pay. So it's hardly in their interest to pay out on spurious information, is it?

If the OP was convinced they did not cause the damage they could and should go to the police to log a fraudulent claim
I would suggest that waiting 7 months is very dodgy
I also thing their statement is absurd and this implies they have nothing else
"Based on these images, you were present at the incident location"
If they do pay then assuming you are innocent involve the ombudsman

brineybay

Dear all,



Thank you again for your continued posts and opinions.



I take on board the comments that mine is "not the most convincing denial" and "at best you believe you may have unknowingly hit the car."



I didn't come on here to prove anything to anyone. I am not a dangerous driver and have never had anything like this. If I hit another car and caused damage, I will fully accept my fault.



The damage being presented to me is what appears to be a minor scratch / dent in another vehicle. The only information I have at hand is that someone claims I did this damage to their car in a nearby road many months ago. They have provided some questionable photos of some damage to their car and an image of my car parked outside my house.



I think it would be arrogant of me to claim 'I definitely didn't do it'. I have no recollection of it, but I accept there is a possibility that I could have hit or scraped someone else's car and didn't realise. It's not out of the realms of possibility. As I've already said, if that's the case then it's my fault and I will accept it. That being said, I'm not going to admit to something which I didn't do.



Evidently someone does think I hit their car, and it seems that my ex-insurance company finds the 'proof' supplied to be convincing. I don't find the photos provided to be convincing, and I will respond to my ex-insurance company accordingly.

brineybay

If you personally think I did it or that my posts seem 'dodgy' or whatever then that's honestly okay. I didn't come on here to claim that I'm a superhuman driver who has never made a mistake. I just don't find the length of time involved (seven months before I received this claim) or the 'proof' (photographs of two different cars in two different places) to be very convincing.



But I would genuinely like to know, for the sake of argument, what will happen if my ex-insurer decides I am liable for this claim? Presumably this outcome would increase my future car insurance premiums? I also presume I would have to contact my new insurance company to declare this?



Your advice appreciated. Thanks

born_again

brineybay wrote: »

D
I didn't come on here to prove anything to anyone. I am not a dangerous driver and have never had anything like this. If I hit another car and caused damage, I will fully accept my fault.

Look at it like this. If non insurance people are taking this view. Then how do you think a hardened ins staff member will look at it.
They will have heard it all before.

If you think it was not you. Then go back and say "It was not me"
As far as you are concerned a photo of your car on your drive with a scuff proves nothing.

TBH. If I felt that someone had damaged my car. I would not be taking pictures. I would be knocking on the door to ask...

AdrianC

brineybay wrote: »

But I would genuinely like to know, for the sake of argument, what will happen if my ex-insurer decides I am liable for this claim? Presumably this outcome would increase my future car insurance premiums? I also presume I would have to contact my new insurance company to declare this?

Yes. You would need to declare an at-fault claim, and probably also lose some of your NCB.

brineybay

born_again wrote: »

Look at it like this. If non insurance people are taking this view. Then how do you think a hardened ins staff member will look at it.
They will have heard it all before.

If you think it was not you. Then go back and say "It was not me"
As far as you are concerned a photo of your car on your drive with a scuff proves nothing.

TBH. If I felt that someone had damaged my car. I would not be taking pictures. I would be knocking on the door to ask...

That's a fair point. I came on here to get the opinion of others, and I will respect all opinions given. You're right, I'm sure car insurers must face many similar claims to this on a daily basis!



As suggested, I will be going back to my ex-insurer and saying exactly that - it wasn't me and the evidence isn't convincing. I don't think these photos prove anything. And if someone thought I caused any damage to their vehicle and has been outside my house photographing my car, I don't know why they didn't have a word with me at the time.

m0bov

They really need a proof, such as a statement or photos of your car in contact with their's, the pic taken of your car when its on the drive just proves it was taken after the event. Sounds like they have gone walking up and down the road trying to find something that matches up. I would deny and as others have said, log it with 101 as fraud. Also make sure your current insurance knows.

Did the other party go onto your property to take a photo?

Shaun_of_the_Dead

m0bov wrote: »

They really need a proof, such as a statement or photos of your car in contact with their's, the pic taken of your car when its on the drive just proves it was taken after the event. Sounds like they have gone walking up and down the road trying to find something that matches up. I would deny and as others have said, log it with 101 as fraud. Also make sure your current insurance knows.

Did the other party go onto your property to take a photo?

While there is still a possibility the op could have hit the car there is no fraud to report.