No Fault Insurance Claim

drlabman

Yesterday, my car, which was parked on the road outside my house, was hit by a runaway car that had rolled down the hill into the rear of mine (handbrake failed, I suspect).  There is damage to my car - not extensive, but it needs repairing.  I'm not sure if I've made a mistake but I contacted my insurer (LV) immediately after the incident - mostly because I had no idea whose car it was and they were happy to arrange repair (having confirmed that the other car was insured).  I've since spoken to the other owner and he's admitted liability to his insurer (esure).  Today I received a call from esure.  Now I seem to have caused a quandary for myself - esure want to deal with the repair but so do LV.  esure tell me that I'd be better off using them because it'll then be "notification only" rather than "no claim" for my insurer.  LV tell me that I'd be better off getting them to sort it out (reclaiming costs from esure, obviously) because if there's an issue with the repair, they will handle it on my behalf, rather than me have to fight with someone else's insurance company.  So, are esure telling me porkies regarding notification only?  What would you do - claim via your own insurance or the third party's?

Sandtree

Assuming you dont have to renew between now and the claim settling then its unlikely that there is any difference between claiming off either insurers. If you were to renew mid claim then esure would be right with most insurers but some will treat a clear non-fault claim with no issues as non-fault even before its closed.

The advantage of going via your insurers is your right to go to the FOS if there is any issues where no such right exists with a third party insurer.

facade

Are you sure you are dealing with LV and not their favourite claim management company who will get you to accept a hire car at £1000 a day for 3 weeks, leaving you with the bill when Esure quite rightly refuse to pay?

If it is definitely LV then the only difference is you will end up claiming your excess yourself from Esure, as LV won't be interested in helping you get it back unless you have legal cover. As Sandtree says, if the repairer does a right bodge job you can unleash the FOS on your insurer if they dealt with it, if Esure do it then you are left with asking them to help, and finding they are deaf as you are not their customer.

FWIW, I'd go through my own insurer.

shiraz99

The main difference between using your own or the TP insurer is you're likely have to pay excess for the claim on your insurance whereas you wouldn't if you dealt directly with Esure. You'd also have to comply with your insurer's T&Cs with regards of where to get the repair done etc, eg, they may not give you a courtesy vehicle if you take it to a repairer of your choosing, going to the other insurer, usually avoids all this.

The con for going with the TP insurer is that you're not covered by the insurance ombudsman should things go wrong.

drlabman

facade said:

Are you sure you are dealing with LV and not their favourite claim management company who will get you to accept a hire car at £1000 a day for 3 weeks, leaving you with the bill when Esure quite rightly refuse to pay?

If it is definitely LV then the only difference is you will end up claiming your excess yourself from Esure, as LV won't be interested in helping you get it back unless you have legal cover. As Sandtree says, if the repairer does a right bodge job you can unleash the FOS on your insurer if they dealt with it, if Esure do it then you are left with asking them to help, and finding they are deaf as you are not their customer.

FWIW, I'd go through my own insurer.

Yes, definitely LV.  I don't need a hire car.

I'll check regarding excess, but I was pretty sure LV said they'd waive the excess - but you've made me doubt that now.

drlabman

shiraz99 said:

The main difference between using your own or the TP insurer is you're likely have to pay excess for the claim on your insurance whereas you wouldn't if you dealt directly with Esure. You'd also have to comply with your insurer's T&Cs with regards of where to get the repair done etc, eg, they may not give you a courtesy vehicle if you take it to a repairer of your choosing, going to the other insurer, usually avoids all this.

The con for going with the TP insurer is that you're not covered by the insurance ombudsman should things go wrong.

Again, I need to check about the excess.

You're right about repair - I've been assigned an approved local garage by LV, which isn't particularly local.  But they come and collect the car and deliver it back.  I don't need a courtesy car.  I assume collection and delivery is covered but you're making me doubt everything now!

lisyloo

I would check about the courtesy car.
that is actually easier for them otherwise they need to send 2 people to drive 2 cars back.
they might want to leave one with you just so the dropper off can get back again.

worth checking

drlabman

shiraz99 said:

The main difference between using your own or the TP insurer is you're likely have to pay excess for the claim on your insurance whereas you wouldn't if you dealt directly with Esure. You'd also have to comply with your insurer's T&Cs with regards of where to get the repair done etc, eg, they may not give you a courtesy vehicle if you take it to a repairer of your choosing, going to the other insurer, usually avoids all this.

The con for going with the TP insurer is that you're not covered by the insurance ombudsman should things go wrong.

OK, checked with my insurer - LV.  They won't be withholding any excess because it wasn't my fault.  As the lady said on the phone, "some insurers withhold an excess then claim it back from the TP, then give it to you - what's the point in that".

drlabman

lisyloo said:

I would check about the courtesy car.
that is actually easier for them otherwise they need to send 2 people to drive 2 cars back.
they might want to leave one with you just so the dropper off can get back again.

worth checking

I checked with LV.  I won't be charged for collection/delivery.  LV will recover those costs from esure.

Sandtree

drlabman said:

lisyloo said:

I would check about the courtesy car.
that is actually easier for them otherwise they need to send 2 people to drive 2 cars back.
they might want to leave one with you just so the dropper off can get back again.

worth checking

I checked with LV.  I won't be charged for collection/delivery.  LV will recover those costs from esure.

More often there isn't a charge to be recovered... dealing with a larger insurer admittedly but there was a queue of garages that wanted to become an approved repairer/part of the network and so things like free collection/delivery was a fairly standard requirement if you wanted any hope of being accepted.

Courtesy cars at the time was £1/hr extra labour rate for the better garages which is why you dont get a courtesy car if the vehicle is unrepairable but its the garages rather than the insurer's problem if parts are delayed etc as the courtesy car is used longer but no extra paid for it.

drlabman said:

shiraz99 said:

The main difference between using your own or the TP insurer is you're likely have to pay excess for the claim on your insurance whereas you wouldn't if you dealt directly with Esure. You'd also have to comply with your insurer's T&Cs with regards of where to get the repair done etc, eg, they may not give you a courtesy vehicle if you take it to a repairer of your choosing, going to the other insurer, usually avoids all this.

The con for going with the TP insurer is that you're not covered by the insurance ombudsman should things go wrong.

OK, checked with my insurer - LV.  They won't be withholding any excess because it wasn't my fault.  As the lady said on the phone, "some insurers withhold an excess then claim it back from the TP, then give it to you - what's the point in that".

Withold the excess is an odd terminology but they are correct, however the majority of mainstream insurers waive the excess if its a clear cut case, all TP details are available and they are insured. It is however a discretionary favour they are doing as policy wordings will say its always payable (possibly excluding some things like vandalism or uninsured driver). More bottom barrel companies will make you pay the excess and its recoverable from the third party... if you have Legal Expenses then the insurer will assist you, if you dont then its up to you.

lisyloo

drlabman said:

lisyloo said:

I would check about the courtesy car.
that is actually easier for them otherwise they need to send 2 people to drive 2 cars back.
they might want to leave one with you just so the dropper off can get back again.

worth checking

I checked with LV.  I won't be charged for collection/delivery.  LV will recover those costs from esure.

I wasn’t referring to a cost.
it was just if you minded a car being left on your drive.
im not saying they will, but when they person drives back to collect they will be careless after dropping it off. For short jobs sometimes it’s actually easier for them to leave a car with you so they can travel back, even if you don’t want the car.
otherwise they’ll have to drive 2 cars back so they have one to drive back in.