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Does this count as a claim or loss?

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Hi all

Bit confused on this and need some guidance please!

I was driving in the dark last week in a part of the country I'm not familiar with - lots of single carriageway, lanes etc.  There were some roads closed so Waze was taking me on a merry little dance through tiny streets and lanes....until it directed me onto a road which wasn't a road, and instead was bridleway.

Long story short....my car got stuck, nasty situation, insurance logged it as accident recovery, and after 4.5 hours we managed to get the car out. 

Amazingly it's working fine, but some of the paintwork is damaged....it will buff out mainly (small part of the bumper needs respraying) and I've had a quote of £600 to fix it.

My insurance excess is £400, and my renewal is in 2 week's time (which I'd already agreed with my current insurance company).

I spoke to insurance yesterday and they said if I sort out the repairs they will just close the file down and it won't show on any records, thus protecting my premiums from rising (I have protected NCD but I know future premiums will still go up).

BUT.....I'm not sure if the insurance company have given me the correct info.  The last thing I want to do is shell out £200 over my excess, then have an accident in the future and have it invalidated due to something showing on my record that would count as non disclosure. 

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks
Matt

Comments

  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 119,660 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    You have to declare it a claim but the amount is zero.   It won't affect your NCD but it may impact on the gross premium of future renewals.

    Basically any notification to an insurer of an incident is a claim whether you proceed with the insurer or arrange it yourself.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 18,613 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    the question is if you have suffered a loss irrespective of if you claimed or not? Sounds like you've lost £600 and so it is declarable as a non-claimed loss which may have an impact on premiums depending on the insurer but not your NCD
  • MrGrumpie
    MrGrumpie Posts: 13 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Sounds like I'm better off claiming on insurance and paying the £400 excess!
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