Car insurer referred me to Enterpise repairs services after no fault - cautious

whatatodo

I was hit by a delivery van (rental/contract hire I suspect) recently. I got photos, driver name and bosses contact details, no witnesses. Next to no damage on their vehicle, fair bit on mine (but drives). Reported to my insurer (Hastings Direct) and ask them to progress claim - I have a bad feeling that the other party may not report or not admit liability. Don't know who their insurer is.

They connected me to enterprise repair services (who I believe would manage the claim). Who after speaking with them are talking about collecting my car, replacement hire car, asking me about my finances etc. I have not signed anything with or arranged collection etc. I am wary about proceeding with this at the moment, since there is no admission of liability (as far as I am aware), and I don’t want to be on the hook for inflated costs should this turn sour. I also have a relatively low value car and am keen to avoid a write off.

I know the theory is that costs would be recovered from the other party, but what if they aren’t ? I was kind of expecting my insurer to assess damages, establish/agree liability before incurring collection / hire car (not courtesy car) costs etc. Is this how it’s done now ? Does anyone have any specific experience with the companies I mentioned ? Or advice ? 

Ectophile

The important bit is "talking about collecting my car, replacement hire car, asking me about my finances etc".  What they are interested in, more than anything else, is renting you a massively over-priced hire car in the expectation that they can get the money from the third party.

Other things, such as repairing your car, aren't really important (though the longer they can drag things out, the more profit they make from the car hire).

Hastings Direct will have referred you to them because they get a kick-back.

neilmcl

Claim directly from the TP insurer if that's an option.

daveyjp

Insurance companies work on the priority being getting your damaged car fixes as for most owners that is what they want.  It also means the claims (mis)management companies can get their pound of flesh.

However if your car is driveable and isn't dangerous in terms of damaged panels which may cause injury to others, you are well within your rights to tell your insurance company to sort liability first and then get your car repaired.  That way you have nothing to pay upfront.

Alternatively as above straight to the TP insurance company and let them deal with it.

missile

I would never again go via a claims management company

Get it examined by your insurers assessor and repaired at your preferred body shop. Most will provide a free courtesy car, if you ask nicely.

Nobbie1967

Get the others drivers insurance details from MID and contact them to explain that you would like them to repair the car, or give you a financial settlement if you are happy to leave the car dented. Tell them that your insurer wants to refer you to Enterprise, but you will be happy for them to repair/cash settlement.

How much is your car worth?

Tiexen

Ectophile said:

The important bit is "talking about collecting my car, replacement hire car, asking me about my finances etc".  What they are interested in, more than anything else, is renting you a massively over-priced hire car in the expectation that they can get the money from the third party.

Other things, such as repairing your car, aren't really important (though the longer they can drag things out, the more profit they make from the car hire).

Hastings Direct will have referred you to them because they get a kick-back.

Direct Line has a seven day repair promise   - (or you get £10 a day) -  free hire car, didn't lose any no claims  - so not all insurers are the same.

whatatodo

Nobbie1967 said:

Get the others drivers insurance details from MID and contact them to explain that you would like them to repair the car, or give you a financial settlement if you are happy to leave the car dented. Tell them that your insurer wants to refer you to Enterprise, but you will be happy for them to repair/cash settlement.

How much is your car worth?

Cars worth about £3K. Damage is bumper, grill, bonnet, re-enforcement behind grill - but not rad/wings/lights from what I can see. I think its repairable.

AdrianC

whatatodo said:

Nobbie1967 said:

Get the others drivers insurance details from MID and contact them to explain that you would like them to repair the car, or give you a financial settlement if you are happy to leave the car dented. Tell them that your insurer wants to refer you to Enterprise, but you will be happy for them to repair/cash settlement.

How much is your car worth?

Cars worth about £3K. Damage is bumper, grill, bonnet, re-enforcement behind grill - but not rad/wings/lights from what I can see. I think its repairable.

It'll be repairable, definitely. If they do write it off, it'll probably go CatN so long as the crush members don't appear to be bent - just bolt-on stuff.

But it's very unlikely they'll bother. Parts, paint, labour, hire car - EASILY £2k+, which is probably where they'll just shrug and close the file rather than risk there being hidden damage on strip-down.

daveyjp

Over 10 years ago the estimate for insurance specified new rear bumper and repaint on our Aygo which suffered a slight graze was over £2,000, this excluded the cost of the no doubt overpriced hire car, so nudging £3k.

To expect bonnet, bumper, grill and hidden to be less than £3k a decade later is hopeful.

I still see the Aygo, its now almost 15 years old and the repaired bumper looks fine after the £250 respray which was all it needed.