Accident Management Company recommendation?

[Wardy78]

Quick background:

My wife got reversed into yesterday. Minor bump, under 5mph. Scratched bumper and broken plastic front grill. His car has a scratch on the bumper.

Other part admitted liability, no question (they had stopped, then reversed and didn't see her). Swapped details, all good.


His car is a company car, so he (apparently) has to go through the company insurance, so they want to go through our insurance. Her excess is £700, quick estimate by bodyshop is the repairs will be c£4-500. (£200 parts, £2-300 labour)

So if we do that, we'll have to pay the excess (or full cost of repairs if lower), then as non-fault, claim back the excess using the legal cover on her policy, however many months that will take. It will also be classed as a claim until recovered (her policy renews in 7 weeks) AND will have to be declared for the next 5 years.

None of that is tenable.


So, it's been suggested we go through an accident management company. bds of the insurance sector, bumping up repair and hire car costs and thus premiums, but we're left with few options.


SO...... Any one got any recommendations for ethical (or slightly less unethical) Accident Management Companies?

Thanks

[Boringvolvodriver]

I used a company called Auto Claim Assist when someone kindly ran into the back of me and ultimately wrote the car off.

They were pretty good at dealing with it all, letting me use a body shop of my choice and getting the best price for my car.

Usual word of caution for when they offer the hire car - only have it when your wife really needs it since the terms are pretty clear and if the other party disputes the claim, your wife may be liable for the hire costs.

It might be worth going to to your body shop of choice as they will probably have a company they use.

[Wardy78]

Yeah, I'm aware of those pitfalls. Good idea about asking the bodyshop we know if they have a recommendations. Thanks!

He'd really struggle to deny liability, I've got him admitting liability via text message and there was a witness that showed him reversing and my wife's car stationary.

[mmm-five]

You'll still have to declare it, so that's a moot point.

But you'll likely see a longer resolution using an AMC.

I'd just do it all through your own insurers, and let them sort it out. In most cases you won't pay any excess until the repair is completed...and that's only if your insurer demands it.

[irc]

Will you not still need to declare the accident for the next 5 years?

I thought AMCs and insurance companies worked closely. Who knows what info they share.

Assuming the car is drivable I have claimed third party insurance. Just put the car in for repair at place where they paid repair.

As for the other driver not wanting g to involve their insurance? Tough. Unless they want yo give you cash in hand for the repair.

Edited by irc on Friday 11th July 16:50

[blue_haddock]

Why would they go through your insurance if they were at fault?

Personally i would speak to their insurance comapny and ask if they would deal with you direct, that way you pay no excess and in my experience htey will bend over backwards to help you out to save the cost of you using a blood sucking accident management firm.

I had a BT van roll into my old saab a few years ago and they couldnt have been any more helpful. I got a couple of quotes which was slightly harder than it should have been because saab no longer existed so parts only available second hand.

They were happy to go with the slightly more expensive quote because it was easier for me due to the firm being local to work, they provided a hire car for the duration and sent me a cheque for the full cost of the repairs which i then paid a portion of that to the garage and decided to leave a minor dent instad of having it filled and sprayed.

[Wardy78]

mmm-five said:

You'll still have to declare it, so that's a moot point.

But you'll likely see a longer resolution using an AMC.

I'd just do it all through your own insurers, and let them sort it out. In most cases you won't pay any excess until the repair is completed...and that's only if your insurer demands it.

I've checked the wording, we are asked to declare claims. And you are right, you only pay the excess once the repair is completed (usually to the bodyshop) but it can take months to claim back the excess from the other insurer. (I speak from experience)

[Wardy78]

irc said:

Will you not still need to declare the accident for the next 5 years?

I thought AMCs and insurance companies worked closely. Who knows what info they share.

Assuming the car is drivable I have claimed third party insurance. Just put the car in for repair at place where they paid repair.

As for the other driver not wanting g to involve their insurance? Tough. Unless they want yo give you cash in hand for the repair.

Edited by irc on Friday 11th July 16:50

The at fault driver IS going through their insurance - company car, company policy.

[Wardy78]

blue_haddock said:

Why would they go through your insurance if they were at fault?

Personally i would speak to their insurance comapny and ask if they would deal with you direct, that way you pay no excess and in my experience htey will bend over backwards to help you out to save the cost of you using a blood sucking accident management firm.

I had a BT van roll into my old saab a few years ago and they couldnt have been any more helpful. I got a couple of quotes which was slightly harder than it should have been because saab no longer existed so parts only available second hand.

They were happy to go with the slightly more expensive quote because it was easier for me due to the firm being local to work, they provided a hire car for the duration and sent me a cheque for the full cost of the repairs which i then paid a portion of that to the garage and decided to leave a minor dent instad of having it filled and sprayed.

Their insurer (company policy) wants to go through my wife's insurance company.

I've already said I'll use a AMC (and warned of massive increased costs).


I ironically had a BT van knock my wing mirror off about 10 years ago. They were likewise brilliant, but they just got their fleet department to fix it directly, and provided me with a car.

[silentbrown]

blue_haddock said:

Personally i would speak to their insurance comapny and ask if they would deal with you direct, that way you pay no excess and in my experience htey will bend over backwards to help you out to save the cost of you using a blood sucking accident management firm.

This. You should only need to get your insurer involved (and pay an excess) if the other party won't admit liability.

However, you will need to declare the incident to your insurer (at renewal time for the next N years, if not now) which may bump your premium even if it's a no-fault accident.

As it's clearly drivable and a minor job the last thing you need is a credit hire car.

Edited by silentbrown on Friday 11th July 17:08

[CoreyDog]

You ll probably find you will still need to declare, especially as the insurance companies are already aware so will be filed away on their systems now.

I ve had two non-fault collisions in past 10 years and didn t have to pay excess on either, insurance company have always just said You re not at fault so no need to pay the excess , granted both were clear as day and the latter had dashcam footage which made things easy.

I d be inclined to talk to your insurer, give them the facts and you ll find they probably won t need the excess payment. No point in using a blood sucking AMC who will drag everything out maximise their profit.

[Boringvolvodriver]

silentbrown said:

blue_haddock said:

Personally i would speak to their insurance comapny and ask if they would deal with you direct, that way you pay no excess and in my experience htey will bend over backwards to help you out to save the cost of you using a blood sucking accident management firm.

This. You should only need to get your insurer involved (and pay an excess) if the other party won't admit liability.

However, you will need to declare the incident to your insurer (at renewal time for the next N years, if not now) which may bump your premium even if it's a no-fault accident.

I declared my non fault accident write off claim which was sorted without claiming on my insurance. They assured me that it wouldn’t increase my premium and it didnt appear to do so.

[smallpaul]

It's a car park ding. The car is still drivable.

You can live with a dent for a few days until liability is sorted and the various parties have got their st together. Once that's all done they'll take your car in for repair without paying anything out.

Once it's on any insurance company or accident management companies records you have to declare anyway.

Simple

Edited by smallpaul on Friday 11th July 17:15

[silentbrown]

Wardy78 said:

Their insurer (company policy) wants to go through my wife's insurance company.

Sounds like a BS excuse to me... What if your wife was only insured TPF&T?

[Wardy78]

smallpaul said:

It's a car park ding. The car is still drivable.

You can live with a dent for a few days until liability is sorted and the various parties have got their st together. Once that's all done they'll take your car in for repair without paying anything out.

Simple

Liability is sorted. It's night and day. He reversed into a stationary car. And has admitted it. And there is a witness.

But....he wants to go through his insurance, his employer's insurance company (Chubb) won't talk to us, only to our insurance company (Aviva). Aviva advise that repairs they organise will need the excess paying, then reclaiming either privately, or through legal cover if on the policy (which it is).

[smallpaul]

Wardy78 said:

smallpaul said:

It's a car park ding. The car is still drivable.

You can live with a dent for a few days until liability is sorted and the various parties have got their st together. Once that's all done they'll take your car in for repair without paying anything out.

Simple

Liability is sorted. It's night and day. He reversed into a stationary car. And has admitted it. And there is a witness.

But....he wants to go through his insurance, his employer's insurance company (Chubb) won't talk to us, only to our insurance company (Aviva). Aviva advise that repairs they organise will need the excess paying, then reclaiming either privately, or through legal cover if on the policy (which it is).

Sounds like either:

They have changed their mind regarding liability.

Aviva haven't received anything from Chubb to say "it's my fault"

Both instances you would have to pay excess and reclaim. You might want to call and see if they have received anything from the 3rd party

Edited by smallpaul on Friday 11th July 17:28

[Wardy78]

smallpaul said:

Wardy78 said:

smallpaul said:

It's a car park ding. The car is still drivable.

You can live with a dent for a few days until liability is sorted and the various parties have got their st together. Once that's all done they'll take your car in for repair without paying anything out.

Simple

Liability is sorted. It's night and day. He reversed into a stationary car. And has admitted it. And there is a witness.

But....he wants to go through his insurance, his employer's insurance company (Chubb) won't talk to us, only to our insurance company (Aviva). Aviva advise that repairs they organise will need the excess paying, then reclaiming either privately, or through legal cover if on the policy (which it is).

Sounds like either:

They have changed their mind regarding liability.

Aviva haven't received anything from Chubb to say "it's my fault"

Both instances you would have to pay excess and reclaim. You might want to call and see if they have received anything from the 3rd party

Edited by smallpaul on Friday 11th July 17:28

I've not contacted Aviva - the advice is from the policy information (and prior experience).

I've got his acceptance of liability in writing.

[Sheepshanks]

You could always get it fixed yourself, then send the bill to the other driver. He should pass it to his insurer. If he doesn't then make a small court claim against him.

How big is his employer? I'm retired, but for £700 my old firm would just pay it themselves. A bus scuffed my wife's car - their assessor estimated it at £750, I asked for the money and the bus company sent me a cheque.