Non fault car accident and injury

ps124

Thanks everyone. There are a lot of acronyms here which I'm struggling to understand. The Credit company is Auxillis and I've been reading some of the reviews online and they don't seem to be very flattering. Having said that though, I work from home (even before lockdown) and the garage said they could fix the car within 4-5 days so I don't think I'll be needing a car or a very expensive one either.

Yesterday evening I had made up my mind to go with Auxillis, but now I'm replaying the conversations I had to Admiral in my head and the reviews online and maybe they pushed me towards Auxillis. Oh man...this is stressful...even when its not your fault! :-)

Can I go with the TPI for my insurance claim and Admiral for my legal stuff? The Admiral Legal team were great and, and I deal with Admiral direct as opposed to a sub company.

I also like the local repair shop recommended by Auxillis, if I went to the TPI, could I insist on using them and how do I ensure I get the best service out of them?

Sandtree

Yes you can use them for you uninsured losses including the injuries and the TPI for the car damage and hire if you need it.

If you probably dont need a car you can always claim for loss of use instead of a hire car which is normally in the £10-£15 region per day for the inconvenience of living without the vehicle (or a replacement)

RBN20

It is a common misconception that the third party insurer will do the cheapest job possible on your vehicle. They offer services to you to control the costs, yes, but this isn’t by cutting corners or doing it cheaply. They have agreed rates with their repairers and the hire companies that they use, which keeps the costs lower for them. Whereas accident management companies (who admiral are pushing you to go through), like previously stated will be pushing you down the credit route, so credit hire and possibly credit repairs, which both inflate the costs of the claim which the third party insurer then have to pay. (Higher claims costs = higher premiums across the board for motor insurance) as previously mentioned, a lot of people who are dealt with by third party insurance companies then end up insuring directly with them later down the line, as they often get treated very well, as the TPI is keen to keep them happy as they know that if they lose them to an AMC it will cost them a lot more. 

Quite often the TPI will offer to pay you directly for injury claims as well, to save the hassle for you, and cost for them of solicitors. Have you mentioned to them yet that there are injuries? 

You don’t have the rights to the financial ombudsman with the TPI as technically you aren’t one of their customers, so there are pros and cons to both sides. 

I personally would not feel comfortable if my insurer was pushing me towards an AMC, I would want them to deal with my claim directly without outsourcing, as I wouldn’t want to be caught up in credit agreements, and most AMC’s do not have very good reviews, and aren’t always the most pro active. 

As previously mentioned, if you do go through the AMC make sure they are completely aware of what services the TPI have offered to you, because of the TPI have offered you hire for example, which would be at their rates, and the AMC then puts you into hire at double the cost, the TPI are within their rights to not pay for this hire, and it can end up with you needing to go to court with the AMC 

Sandtree

RBN20 said:

I personally would not feel comfortable if my insurer was pushing me towards an AMC, I would want them to deal with my claim directly without outsourcing, as I wouldn’t want to be caught up in credit agreements, and most AMC’s do not have very good reviews, and aren’t always the most pro active. 

Admiral group have taken this approach for years... because customers often mix up brokers and insurers I didn't want to presume it was Admiral as its not an uncommon behaviour for brokers but if its definitely an insurer its most likely Admiral.

AXMs have little incentive to be proactive... if the garage takes its sweet time and adds on another 2-3 days on the repairs thats another £100 or 2 in credit hire fees they get to charge (or even more if its a non-GTA firm).

chanz4

what they really mean is they will get a bonus for reffering you to a claims management as they get commission 

chanz4

My car was smashed by a driver, admirals body shop was really poor, just ask the third party to use genuine parts

[Deleted User]

I would recommend going through the third party insurer.  They will be much more flexible with you, going direct through them as that means they can keep the costs down.  You will get a perfectly acceptable repair done.  Any personal injury claims will be paid out promptly.  You may need to haggle a bit there but that would be the same with any insurer.

The last time I had a management company involved they were useless.  I also found out that they had paid my insurer 1k for the claim!!  They took forever to do anything, didn't listen, didn't care and I was on about 2 years getting everything sorted out re injury compensation.  Never again!

In contrast, dealing direct with the third party insurer in a different claim was a breeze.  They were more than fair with me and I would happily do the same again.

ps124

Thanks everyone...this is really useful stuff and I appreciate it. I have received a letter from the TPI admitting liability and offering their services. But they didn't put on the letter how to get in touch with them! Stupid really. The guy who initially called me on Sunday said they would send an email through and they didn't even do that. I'll have to follow it up with them.

So if I tell Admiral that I'm going with the TPI, I just need to inform them they should only note the accident as "info only"?Is that correct?

Sandtree

I'd be surprised if the contact details aren't on their somewhere... it'll be a stock letter and a major error if they are no where at all (check on the back etc in case its gone over the page fold). Ours, from my distant memory, were top right under our address but some put them in the body, some under the signature etc etc.

Your insurers should have already noted the incident and you can just tell them you are taking up the TPI's offer of handling the claim. Expect a sales pitch as to why its a bad idea.

ps124

So I've spoken with the TPI, they didn't seem too bothered whether I went with them or the credit company. I thought they would have sold it to me more...maybe it was just the rubbish operator. Anyway, they want me to use their preferred repairer Rye Street. Never heard of them and they said they'd come and take my car, drop off a courtesy car and bring it back once its repaired. Anyone heard of them? And once they take the car, I won't even know whats been done to it. At least with my local repairer, when I went for him to take pictures etc, he told me what he'd do and how they'd repair it.

I did ask if I could use them, but the agent didn't sound too keen...suggested I use their preferred repairer who they have a 'relationship' with and if I went with my own, while it is possible...it would take longer as they need to see the pics and what repairs will be made before they authorize. Any thoughts on this?