Legal cover with car insurance

Shaanbles

Is there any point in paying this extra fee? The answer for me is NO!

I was hit from behind by a moped 4 months ago and the rider rode off. However I got the registration details, reported it to the police and spoke to Diamond, my insurance company (not anymore!).

Because of the excess on my policy I didn't want to claim of it so they passed it over to their legal company who are supposed to help me recover the cost of damage. The damage quotes are only £250.

They can't get the insurance information for the other driver but because I have fully comp they won't pursue it further as I can claim of my own insurance, which according to them is fine as I have no claims protected - but it'll cost me £350 in excess.

I should have saved the legal costs and phoned up one of these "no win no fee" companies!

Any ideas what else I can do - besides going round to her house and demanding the money!

telly-addict

What the legal expenses insurer is telling you sounds absolute nonsense. If the repair quote is only £250, then you can't claim through your comprehensive insurance as it will fall within the £350 excess.

Don't let the matter go. Get the matter referred to a supervisor and ask for a satisfactory explanation. If you've paid for the cover and liability is clear-cut, then they should be prepared to pursue the matter on your behalf.

If you're still having problems, complain to your insurers. They sold you the policy with the legal expenses add-on, so get them to exert some leverage.

Good luck.

Shaanbles

telly-addict wrote:

If you're still having problems, complain to your insurers. They sold you the policy with the legal expenses add-on, so get them to exert some leverage.

It was the supervisor at Diamond Insurance that told me there was nothing more they would do..."these things happen and it's unfortunate" were her words. You won't ever get me insuring with them again - and I'll tell every other female I know not to! Won't help, but it'll make me feel better!!

Looks like they are advocating a hit and run to me. :mad:

Poppy9

Complain to the insurance ombudsman. You have reported to the Police so they should have her insurance details. Ask to speak to an inspector and ask him what action was taken after the incident as you have failed to obtain insurance details etc.

I thought all insurance companies shared information too on who is insured with who etc so they should be chasing her insurance company.

Else go to the small claims court and issue proceedings against her to recover your costs.

Shaanbles

Poppy9 wrote:

You have reported to the Police so they should have her insurance details.

The police passed on the insurance details to me, and I passed them onto Diamond, but they say that her insurers deny they have any record of her and that she is not on the central database - which means she's probably uninsured.

But because I have fully comprehensive insurance I can't claim from their uninsured funds. Not gonna give up - just so frustrating

Bossyboots

Poppy9 is right, they can easily obtain her insurance details - unless of course she is not insured.

I agree that the OP has been wrongly informed. There is no law that says you have to use your own insurer. If you want to claim direct from the other driver or her insurers then you can. There may a specific exclusion in the legal expenses policy so that this needs checking but I cannot see why that should be.

The irony for me in this is that I had an accident on the 11th July. The other driver was insured by Diamond. They contacted me direct, arranged a valuation of the car and paid me. Although I notified my insurers, they have had nothing to do with the settlement. Diamond were almost pathetic in their desire to get me to deal with them directly and not go through my own insurance. It seems ironic that the legal expenses bods should be saying go through the OP's own insurer when those very insurers did not want me to go through mine.

Incidentally, I have activated the legal expenses policy which I took out for this very circumstance. Solicitors have been appointed for me (I was allowed to choose my own but chose not to) and they have been very good so far. I think they have saved me a lot of hassle and the premium well worth the money.

Poppy9

Shaanbles wrote:

The police passed on the insurance details to me, and I passed them onto Diamond, but they say that her insurers deny they have any record of her and that she is not on the central database - which means she's probably uninsured.

But because I have fully comprehensive insurance I can't claim from their uninsured funds. Not gonna give up - just so frustrating

If the Police have passed on her details ask them for a copy of their records noting her policy number, start date etc. Then go back to the insurers telling them this information is as supplied to the Police. If they still deny knowledge write to the Police pointing out inaccuracies in the details they have recorded, else a fraudulent policy document has been provided.

Keep copies of all correspondence. Suing through small claims court is cheap and easy if your Legal Policy won't help out. Do you have legal protection through your home insurance? They may help you.

You can also contact the insurance ombudsman to complain about your insurance company.

Shaanbles

Poppy9 wrote:

write to the Police pointing out inaccuracies in the details they have recorded, else a fraudulent policy document has been provided.

Great idea - thanks. I had passed on all the info the police gave me and went back to them to check. Shall contact them again saying the Insurance companies are saying she's not insured. Still hope they will prosecute her for not stopping - I'm bitter and twisted as she hasn't taken the opportunity to settle this privately!

Poppy9

Shaanbles wrote:

........... I'm bitter and twisted as she hasn't taken the opportunity to settle this privately!

aren't we all when we have been wronged:D

Shaanbles

Great - just got a letter from the Police today saying they are not going to prosecute her for failing to stop after an accident.

Waiting to hear back from the police that the insurance company is saying she's not insured - wonder what document she showed the police a couple of months ago?!?

madfrenchgirl

I hope it gets better for you Shaanbles, dont let it go! you should not have to pay a penny for this!