Insurance - claim or not to claim?

[Kath600]

Some of you would have seen on face ache that I had a 'bump' into a back of a car last weekend thanks to a bullying on coming coach. Ironically I know the girl I hit, driving her Dad's car.

Damage to the R6 was indicators, paint scrapes, engine casing scrapes and clutch lever.

Damage to car - bumper scraped but can't remember if I dented it or not. ( was all of a dither to take pics as was she )

Obviously not much to live with the scrapes and replace lever and lights.

She's now come back with best part of £700 to fix or replace bumper on a laguna estate +VAT but is getting a second quote.

My excess is £350 and even though I have protected no claims, insurance say through that I lose 5yrs of my 9yrs.

I haven't had it confirmed yet but she is saying if I only claim for the work on their car then I shouldn't have to pay the excess unless I claim for the work on the bike too? I've never heard of that before?

So do I claim and get everything done or try and settle it away from insurance?

Sorry if this is all numpty stuff but I've never been in the wars before lol

[ash]

£700 is an insurance claim figure....ask a body shop to sort it, and you can guarantee it would be no more than £250 for a bumper scrape. If they give a loan car, they will probably charge £100+ per day and drag it out for 3 weeks.
Better to be nice, and see if you can negotiate with her for the repair.

[Manic636]

As per Ash, speak to a bodyshop yourself and see if you can arrange for your friend to take car there for quote, if your happy with the quote then get the work done. Car will probably be off the road for a day for a bumper only repair if its paint only. Speak to local car hire company about price for a day's hire to offer a car to her if required. If you claim on insurance then yes your risk cost goes up but protected NCB means you still get the full discount but premium will be higher as you have a claim.

[Kath600]

I've asked if she is happy to go to a body shop as my mates husband does all that but she hasn't come back to me regarding that. They seem like the sort of people to do things 'properly' 

[Jonesy]

Do a couple of online insurance quotes using 4 & 9 years no claims and see what the difference is.

I'd pay the £350 and get them both sorted, cant see insurance over 5 years costing you the extra £350 you might have to pay out?!

[Millhouse]

sorry to hear about the bump Kath!

as far as repairs go, her car = her choice of repairers so softly softly and see if she'll accept a "smart repair" if there's no dent (should be roughly £150 for a bumper scuff) but personally i'd just lump it through insurance and get the bike sorted as well...

[Froggy]

don't forget your claim will also be affecting any other policy you might have.

me, I'd try and sweeten it, suggest a smart repair + a lump cash for the inconvenience and be done with it.


edited to say, its also in their interest, even non fault claims have to be declared when taking up policies and although I don't actually know it for sure, i'd be very surprised if they didn't have some sort of impact on your premiums.

[Kath600]

Thank you, that's my thoughts exactly but now I've 'enquired' about it with Premium choice, even if I don't claim, I still have to delcare it. 

I've still not heard back from her but my thinking is just pay the excess, not have the nice things I wanted for the new kitchen just yet  and get on with it as always in life 

[MOzZereLLa]

The fact that she has been involved in a non fault incident & claim will also increase her premium next year so tell her to play it sensible, visit a bodyshop with you and assuming the bumper is not damaged and is just paint pay for her repair.

"Properly" does not have to involve insurance companies.

[Froggy]

Thank you, that's my thoughts exactly but now I've 'enquired' about it with Premium choice, even if I don't claim, I still have to delcare it. 

really? I'd question that. If you aren't claiming there will be no paper trail or verification of the fact. Who says you aren't trying to work out the potential cost of a fictionnoal accident?

I know it sounds a bit far fetched, but remember that only you and the other party know for a fact what happened.

[Gobert]

Thank you, that's my thoughts exactly but now I've 'enquired' about it with Premium choice, even if I don't claim, I still have to delcare it. 

really? I'd question that. If you aren't claiming there will be no paper trail or verification of the fact. Who says you aren't trying to work out the potential cost of a fictionnoal accident?

I know it sounds a bit far fetched, but remember that only you and the other party know for a fact what happened.

You are now asked by a lot of companies if you've been involved in any incidents irrespective or whether or not a claim was made.

[Kath600]

It's all going through the insurance now anyway 

Seems insurance is all good until you need to claim, then it's a nightmare.

Rocking in the corner banking phone on forehead springs to mind!