Does reporting an incident count as making a claim when renewing car insurance?

Yarop

A bit of an interesting one, as I was driving away from a Tesco carpark some lady stopped me and accused me of hitting her car, she called me a few colourful words took pictures of me and my car, when I pulled over she drove away, the kicker is I didn't hit her car, I thought maybe I didn't notice but I checked the car and there is no damage anywhere. Anyhow, I gave my insurance a call just incase this goes further and they've logged it as an incident report, I thought this was the right thing to do, however at the end they have told me that I will need to report this when getting a new insurance policy, just like most people I go with a new insurer every year, so my question is, when the comparison sites ask if there have been any claims, accidents and so on, do I have to specify this incident? There was no accident, there was no claim made, it was just a report. Or do I have to call the insurer individually and explain the situation?

DullGreyGuy

Have you had your renewal documents through yet? Presumably they were generated after your call to them? They will be your best guide as to how Tesco have recorded it and so how you would repeat it elsewhere. 

Most insurers have a relatively basic computer system, some have built flashier front ends that sit over the top of the ancient system but its still theback end thats important with these things as its what feeds into CUE and technical systems downstream. Most insurance systems I've used, and there have been a few, didnt have a concept of a "notification" and so they were registered as a claim, the claim value set to £0 and the claim closed. In some places the letter to the customer could be tailored between notification or non-fault claim but either way what went to CUE was a claim closed the same day as opening with no costs. 

Yarop

My current insurance is still valid for 2 month, the incident happened about 2 hours ago. I have not recieved any emails or docs since my call, I feel like I've done the right thing here so it feels a bit weird that my premium might go up for well no reason since there was no accident.

DullGreyGuy

Yarop said:

My current insurance is still valid for 2 month, the incident happened about 2 hours ago. I have not recieved any emails or docs since my call, I feel like I've done the right thing here so it feels a bit weird that my premium might go up for well no reason since there was no accident.

So its all a bit premature then... you may get notification in a months time that she's put in a claim against you and they then ask for more details to prove you didnt cause damage etc. Were that to happen you'd certainly have an open claim on your record and it'd probably show as fault as almost all open claims do. 

At least it will be a minor consideration in your premiums if there is no claim made. Twice my last car was in a hit and run whilst parked and unattended and both of those count as a fault claim because the third party is unknown so my insurers had to carry the costs. Probable of parking a big car in a carpark with tiny spaces. 

will1952

car insurance website asked "any claims in past 5 years?" answer "no".

confirmation paperwork received after signing up said "any claims or incidents"!!

I rang to query this as we had had an accident, other party paid in full, no claim by us.

Addition premium payable.

renewal offer just received records the incident as a claim.

I am irritated

DullGreyGuy

will1952 said:

car insurance website asked "any claims in past 5 years?" answer "no".

confirmation paperwork received after signing up said "any claims or incidents"!!

I rang to query this as we had had an accident, other party paid in full, no claim by us.

Addition premium payable.

renewal offer just received records the incident as a claim.

I am irritated

Which website @will1952? Haven't seen any in the last decade at least that only asks about claims