Zurich Car Insurance not paid damages

aimingforadebtfreelife

I had a small bump back in Jan when at low speed (5mph) I went into the back of the car in front. Minor damage but the driver claimed whiplash and I was sent a letter from a firm of ambulance chasers claiming compensation. I passed onto Zurich and left it at that. Yesterday I get a letter from the solicitors claiming that although compensation has been agreed they had not been paid and if still unpaid in 14 days I would be served a court summons. Today in post received the court forms from Croydon County Court claiming the original £400 compensation agreed + court fees and interest so now £485. I have spent over an hour trying to get hold of Zurich claims and on hold all the time - they open 8-6 M-F and on an 0870 number!! Any advice what to do with the court forms as Zurich should have paid. Many thanks in advance

V_tricky

Hi,

This is a pretty common scenario and there's two ways you can deal with it:

1) You can send it in to the address on the last letter from Zurich's claims department with a covering letter giving your name & address (although this will be on the Claim Form), & your own claim number

or

2) You can sit on the phone and wait for them to answer, have them confirm the definate correct address & give them the Claim Form number, the date of issue and which court it was issued out of so that they can send instructions to their solicitors straight away to avoid potential delay. Then either fax, scan and email or post ALL the paperwork you've received to the insurer who in turn will pass it to their solicitors, or arrange settlement ASAP.

Both are probably fine, so long as you ensure that your claim number is on your covering letter, and it is worth the extra to send the paperwork by recorded delivery.