Accident claims companies

[Deleted User]

Hi I am in need of urgent advice.
i was in a non fault car accident yesterday. I was driving on a main road and was hit by a driver pulling out of a side street. When I got home I was shaken up but wanted to sort insurance out. I googled my company number and rang them. They went through all the regular questions. Then asked if I would like to claim through my insurer or third party where I wouldn't have to pay excess. I opted for the later not realising what it meant. It turns out that I have filed a claim with a accident claim company, I didn't realise this till after the car was collected and the courtesy car(which turned out to be a hire car) arrived. I'm really worried now as the company isn't fca regulated. I know this was a silly error but I didn't even know these places existed and thought i was chatting to my insurers. I just want to know how vulnerable I am? The accident was cut and dry non fault but I am really worried now. Any help or advice. Will be much appreciated. I spoke to my insurer and they said if the car has been taken and claim has been filed it's best to see it through as any charges incurred so far will be billed to me

Sandtree

What is the name of the company on the credit agreement you signed for the hire car? Did you read the agreement properly before signing it?

Credit hire/accident management companies get a lot of bad stick, and I'd argue rightfully so, but most of the claims they manage go through smoothly. As you will see on the second tab of CHC & Insurer Details - GTA Technical Committee (gtacredithire.com) there is a very long list of companies that have signed up to the ABI standards of credit hire/repair provisions and an even longer list of insurers that agree the same. If you hire company and the third party insurers are both on the list then there is even less to worry about because both sides have agreed protocols to follow.

As your insurers have said, you are somewhat committed to having them deal with both the repairs and hire at this point in time. They inevitably at a later date will start asking about your injuries or loss of earnings etc; unless you agree for them to deal with those you are not locked in beyond the services you have already signed up for.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the reply, the company handling the hire and the claim are spectra drive. They appear on the second tab but no longer appear on the insurers list. I am unsure as to whether I should cut my losses and cancel the claim and pay whatever costs there are for salvage and hire (roughly 1000) then go through my insurers. 

Sandtree

They wouldn’t appear on both. First tab is insurance companies and there you’d be looking for the other driver’s insurance company. The second tab is the claims companies and the fact they’re there doesn’t mean it’s all plain sailing but clearly their not the worst ones out there