All Life Insurance Tips

I knocked someones car but he claimed for a lot more and now my insurance has gone from £400 to £900 - help!!?

Back in June I knocked into a stationary vehicle in a car park. I waited for the guy to come back and apologised straight away. (when its your fault in life own up) He was initially annoyed (fair enough) but went on to tell me that someone else had knocked into his car recently and caused £600 worth of damage (the other driver had sped off and hed already had a quote for the work). I cant remember the exact wording of the next bit - but it was understood that I would pay whatever it cost on top of that to fix the area (bumper / side corner area) We exchanged details. I told my insurance company what had happened and the previous damage. There were also photos taken at the time that I forwarded on (not sure if they were actually any help) Next I hear his insurance company has approached mine with a bill for £700. The total amount for fixing his car. I brought up the matter of the previous damage - couple of conversations between insurance companies - his asking him directly if there was any previous damage and him saying no. I told my insurance company that there was a friend with me (we were walking our dogs in the park) who had heard the whole conversation - in fact she was the one that took the pictures. She is a responsible, respectable person who was happy to make a statement. I was told by the insurance company that as it was someone who knew me - they couldnt be seen as an impartial person and they ended up paying the whole amount to his insurance company. I have just received my new insurance quote. Last year it was £437 and now that I have lost my 3 years no claims bonus (I have been driving for much longer but have only owned a small van for 3 years (practicality for my dogs muddy feet) and insurance starts again for vans) but I also have this £700 fault against my name this year. My insurance quote is now £960. Is there anything I can do. Does anyone have advice for any further action I can take? I believe in taking responsibility for your actions - but I am being cheated here out of a lot of money and I dont know what to do. If £100 was down to me then I could have just paid that amount directly and not lost my no claims bonus. But as it stands it will cost me around £500 this year and more again on the consequent years of insurance. Sorry for this being a long one but I really am lost. My insurance is due on 7th Jan. Is there any way to make this a civil law issue? Just to stress the point that my insurance company agreed that if I had paid the amount myself (ie the £100) then I would not have lost my NCB.

Public Comments

1. It's tough I'm afraid. You reported the incident to your insurance company and claim went ahead. It doesn't matter whether that claim was for £10 or £10,000 you'd have lost your no-claims discount either way. Shop around, like starting now, before you get stuck with the high quote.
2. Being ethical isn't always fair is it. You did the right thing, you're insurance company is at fault as much as the other owner is. I would take my case to the insurance agent in charge. Go as far up the ladder as possible. You said the damage originally was 600 pounds what was already on the car. You didn't really expect him to take money out of of his pocket when he had your insurance company on the hook. Do you ever take matter like this to the police. Stop being Mr. Nice guy. Good luck my friend, I wish you well.
3. Trust me if your insurance company could of got out of paying for this "previous damage" then they would have found a way..they dont want to pay anymore than was required by them ...than you wanted them too..its a matter of proof and as your insurance company has pointed out they have nothing to use including your "non-impartial" friend...the only witnesses useful in these cases are complete strangers who are not going to take any parties side intentionally... . But as someone said where it be a £10 claim or a £10,000 the figure is not ultimately resonsible for your insurance hike but the fact you made a claim in the first place.. My insurance went up this year almost £100 even thought i have had no accidents and 7 years no claims bonus and having the same car..so you may find much of that figure is the industry just rising there prices...a good comparision is to go onto those sites and do a qoute without disclosing the accident and see what qoutes you get..then re-edit the qoute with the accident and compare the two prices..you may find a slight rise/difference
4. Best thing to do is shop around with other companies for quotes. The amount makes no difference anyway, once the claim went ahead you lost your 3 NCB.
5. As said the amount means nothing, it is your no claims you have lost. The increase would be the same whatever the other cars repairs came to. Not sure what you want you make a civil law issue??
6. You made a claim, and it was your fault, on your insurance and lost the NCB - nothing more to say than that means without the bonus you have to pay more. You have no case to bring in law that would get you anywhere. All that has happened is a standard insurance claim, a payout , and a loss of discount. happens to some people everyday.