False Accident claim against me Hastings Direct

frustratedbyscammers

Not impressed by Hastings Direct
i had an email asking for information about an accident I had supposedly been in Hastings  did not provide the date the place the time or any other details . As I hadn’t been in any accidents . I was worried and perplexed.They didn’t reply to any of my emails. It took over 15 minutes to get through on phone wirh no direct route to the claims department I needed . Finally I spoke to somebody and it transpired that I was in Cornwall at the time of the accident having lunch with friends when I got back to London there was no damage on my car and the car had not been moved so it obviously was an error . Despite sending them details of this they  failed to acknowledge my emails yet again I was in a queue to speak to them. The gentleman on the phone told me that unless the other person closes the Claim they cannot close the claim and that means my premium will go up. It could take six years even though it’s pretty obvious I am not to blame it is early doors and I am just hoping that it is sorted out satisfactory but I am worried to see that over two years ago other people have had similar problems and Hastings direct do not seem to have improved their customer service or the way they respond to these sort of problems. Is there anything anyone can suggest?

FlorayG

Quite possibly the accident involved someone who had cloned your numberplate

Hoenir

On the basis that the other insurer has no evidence to pursue the claim. The matter will soon be dropped. 

Your insurer only has your word at the moment. People do openly lie. Hence why nothing is ever taken at face value. 

DullGreyGuy

frustratedbyscammers said:

Not impressed by Hastings Direct
i had an email asking for information about an accident I had supposedly been in Hastings  did not provide the date the place the time or any other details . As I hadn’t been in any accidents . I was worried and perplexed.They didn’t reply to any of my emails. It took over 15 minutes to get through on phone wirh no direct route to the claims department I needed . Finally I spoke to somebody and it transpired that I was in Cornwall at the time of the accident having lunch with friends when I got back to London there was no damage on my car and the car had not been moved so it obviously was an error . Despite sending them details of this they  failed to acknowledge my emails yet again I was in a queue to speak to them. The gentleman on the phone told me that unless the other person closes the Claim they cannot close the claim and that means my premium will go up. It could take six years even though it’s pretty obvious I am not to blame it is early doors and I am just hoping that it is sorted out satisfactory but I am worried to see that over two years ago other people have had similar problems and Hastings direct do not seem to have improved their customer service or the way they respond to these sort of problems. Is there anything anyone can suggest?

Presumably Hastings are your insurers or are they the insurers of the claimant?

It happens all the time, people note down registrations incorrectly, CCTV is unclear so they take a best guess, people having cloned plates, people choosing a random car to blame etc. When its reported to their insurers they do a MID check, comes back with your policy number with your insurer and so they push out an initial letter saying they're holding you liable to your insurers. 

Your insurers have to take it seriously so register the claim based on whatever details are in the letter which can be modest to almost none. They then reach out to you to find out what's going on. 99% of the time its a genuine claim the policy holder calls and says they're sorry for late notification and we deal with the claim or the 1% are like yourself saying you've no idea. 

Either simultaneously to reaching out to you or after you deny knowledge they go back to the other insurer and ask for more detail. 

The third party legally has 6 years to issue court proceedings, or 3 if there are injuries, the reality is claims dont last that long. Sometimes when they go back to their insured they admit a mistake and they forget to let us know, other times their insured will then provide more evidence etc. 3-6 months is the typical duration. 

Your insurer must hold reserves for its potential liabilities, it's how the PRA monitors that they are solvent etc. As such they will keep the claim open to be able to hold a reserve against it until either 1) its resolved and confirmed you weren't involved 2) you remember actually it was you and they settle the claim or 3) they go a few months without communications and so assume the matter is closed and so close the file