Who to call immediately after an accident - insurer or "assist service" or breakdown cover?

Bikeboy

okay folks, thank you all.  It seems like calling the insurer is nearly always best, and that my insurer (Direct Line) have done a good job for at least one of us. 

Sandtree

Bikeboy said:

It seems like calling the insurer is nearly always best

Its a contractual requirement, but calling them and informing them is separate to necessarily allowing them to deal with the claim.

Grey_Critic

Sandtree said:

Bikeboy said:

It seems like calling the insurer is nearly always best

Its a contractual requirement, but calling them and informing them is separate to necessarily allowing them to deal with the claim.

Cannot undertsnad that part - They are the insurance company - they are paying for the repair. They have approved repairers to ensure work is carried out to their standards - I was asked to sort out a property repair last year when a car drove through the lounge. The house owner was going to get a mate of a friend to do it and **they all expected to make money.** I had to intervene and insist that the insurer appointed the repairer. If the insurance company is paying they can dictate the terms.

Sandtree

Grey_Critic said:

Sandtree said:

Bikeboy said:

It seems like calling the insurer is nearly always best

Its a contractual requirement, but calling them and informing them is separate to necessarily allowing them to deal with the claim.

Cannot undertsnad that part - They are the insurance company - they are paying for the repair. They have approved repairers to ensure work is carried out to their standards - I was asked to sort out a property repair last year when a car drove through the lounge. The house owner was going to get a mate of a friend to do it and **they all expected to make money.** I had to intervene and insist that the insurer appointed the repairer. If the insurance company is paying they can dictate the terms.

Why can't you?

For a start in the OP's case and indeed the one you mention there are at least two insurance companies in the picture so for a start which "the" are you talking about?

Secondly, due to the monies to be made there are plenty of other people willing to deal with your car, provide you a hire car and claim on your behalf from the third party insurer if you wish... the OP mentioned two such companies. If you're insured with Admiral and call them about a non-fault claim they equally will push you to go down the accident management company route too.