Car accident

jj061216

Ok, this has been talked about on here before, (google is your friend), cut a long story short, 
So in lockdown june 2020 I bought a new/ secondhand car for the family, my wife was furlough/ working from home so I bought the insurance sdlp, as she was no longer in the office, fast forward june 21, I renew as normal, 

yesterday she had a bump in the car, her fault  she had been to work,  finished at 2 and then picked our dogs up at 2.10 from her mums chat etc, then left to come and pick our son up from school, on the way she had a bump on a roundabout about 2:30ish maybe 2:45, let’s me know about 3, I call insurance company let them know, perhaps I should have waited until I got home from work/full story etc, for me then to say what happened to the claim handler, wife was on way home from work etc etc, on way to pick up child and then told that the car was not insured for commuting, I was totally gutted. So they said that they would not process the claim, so asked if they could put that she was coming from parents house? As none of this is an actual commute? They said no as the calls are recorded etc etc, 

I called the customer services again today and reiterated the facts and they said call the claims team, I did, saying that my wife works from home mainly and only went into the office that day to get something, but then they asked if I could get a letter from her company saying she wasn’t working that day, obviously I cannot? 

Now I know it’s my fault for not adding in the commute, I have done this now in case she goes in going forward? 

Any advise 

Sandtree

Direct Line's definition of commuting is:

Commuting is driving to and from a permanent place of work, for either part of the journey, or for the whole journey. This includes driving to and from a car park, railway station or bus stop as part of your journey to and from a permanent place of work.

They key part is that it doesnt have to be a singular continuous journey for it to be considered commuting, it doesnt even have to be all by car. She was driving from work to home but stopped to do some errands on the way... I unfortunately would agree with your insurers that she was ultimately part of her commute. 

SDP, SDPC and Business Class 1 tend all to be virtually the identical price with most insurers unless you are a very high risk driver already and so not including at least commuting was probably false economy even without considering the pickle you are in now given the time, effort and often admin fee to make the mid term adjustment to add commuting. 

Who was at fault for the bump? What did she bump into?

jj061216

Small old transit connect, 100% her fault, he was on the roundabout, first car was slow so she waited, second glance was too late, and hit the van in the nsf door rear 1/4, I have added the commute as of 4.30 yesterday, just in case this situation happens again, 

thanks for the reply

jj061216

She is a named driver on my insurance 

mattyprice4004

I'd just wait and see what they say - when this happened to me I was just given a small ticking off by the insurance company but they paid out fine (Ageas through a broker). 

jj061216

We decided we are not claiming on our car, I’m in the trade so will repair it myself, it’s the 3rd party I want to be looked after

jj061216

Any ideas? 

[Deleted User]

You kinda screwed yourself already by asking if they could change the story, they are unlikely to be inclined to let it go now. Just hope they don't cancel your insurance.

The third party will have to claim on their own insurance, and they will contact you directly to recover their costs.

You could try making a complaint to your insurance company but it probably won't get you very far. You will just have to pay and get your insurance changed to include commuting ASAP.

jj061216

rigolith said:

You kinda screwed yourself already by asking if they could change the story, they are unlikely to be inclined to let it go now. Just hope they don't cancel your insurance.

The third party will have to claim on their own insurance, and they will contact you directly to recover their costs.

You could try making a complaint to your insurance company but it probably won't get you very far. You will just have to pay and get your insurance changed to include commuting ASAP.

I’ve already changed the usage as of 4.30pm that day, 

is it worth me speaking to the 3rd party directly? 

Clive_Woody

Sandtree said:

Direct Line's definition of commuting is:

Commuting is driving to and from a permanent place of work, for either part of the journey, or for the whole journey. This includes driving to and from a car park, railway station or bus stop as part of your journey to and from a permanent place of work.

They key part is that it doesnt have to be a singular continuous journey for it to be considered commuting, it doesnt even have to be all by car. She was driving from work to home but stopped to do some errands on the way... I unfortunately would agree with your insurers that she was ultimately part of her commute. 

SDP, SDPC and Business Class 1 tend all to be virtually the identical price with most insurers unless you are a very high risk driver already and so not including at least commuting was probably false economy even without considering the pickle you are in now given the time, effort and often admin fee to make the mid term adjustment to add commuting. 

Who was at fault for the bump? What did she bump into?

Long shot maybe, but if she WFH most of the time would this not be classed as her permanent place of work rather than an occasional trip into an office? Would she then need business travel cover....?

[Deleted User]

jj061216 said:

rigolith said:

You kinda screwed yourself already by asking if they could change the story, they are unlikely to be inclined to let it go now. Just hope they don't cancel your insurance.

The third party will have to claim on their own insurance, and they will contact you directly to recover their costs.

You could try making a complaint to your insurance company but it probably won't get you very far. You will just have to pay and get your insurance changed to include commuting ASAP.

I’ve already changed the usage as of 4.30pm that day, 

is it worth me speaking to the 3rd party directly? 

You could call the 3rd party and ask to pay for the repair yourself, not involving insurance. Accidents must be declared and when you come to renew you MUST report this because it will be on the system now.

If the 3rd party is willing you could save some money by paying for the repair yourself, it will likely be cheaper than an insurance job.