Car Insurance Claim - Advice Please

Kill_Phil

Kill_Phil

Kill_Phil

Soldato
Joined
11 Feb 2010
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England
Hey guys, just after some advice if you don't mind.

My other half scuffed a parked cars wing mirror when driving down a narrow street. She did the honest thing, got out a left a note saying she will cover the costs to get it fixed.

She wouldn't let me get involved until tonight when the guy called berating her after she declined his offer to DIY for £200 cash. She's really quite upset and has asked me to take over as she doesn't want to speak to him again, which I'm quite happy to so I can let him know what an utter tool he is!

Anyhow, I popped to the street tonight to take a picture of the wing mirror and the the damage is minimal with paint transfer onto the black plastic (see pic). I personally believe it will buffer out with some plastic trim polish but guess that's a different matter.

photo.jpg


My gut feeling is just go through insurance now? However, she is concerned as she has a £400 excess on her policy. Would she have to pay this directly? Or would it be covered by the insurance and her premium just rise next year? Also would the insurance company try and buffer the mark before deciding to replace the whole wing mirror?

Sorry its long, your help is much appreciated :)
 
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£200 sounds absolutely fine tbh.

He probably wants that full assembly and colour coded cover replaced - which will be an easy £200.

The plastic looks like part of the housing, probably isn't sold separately and, tbh he shouldn't have to try to source it like that anyway

Makes no sense to pay an excess for that.
 
rodenal said:
£200 sounds absolutely fine tbh.

He probably wants that full assembly and colour coded cover replaced - which will be an easy £200.

The plastic looks like part of the housing, probably isn't sold separately and, tbh he shouldn't have to try to source it like that anyway

Makes no sense to pay an excess for that.
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Ok, but i am reading mixed responses on the internet. Will she have to pay the excess on her policy if someone is making a claim against it?
 
Go down late on tonight when hes sleeping and buff it out yourself then contact him again and say you have pictures that theres no damage at all so hes getting nothing, £200 is not OK for something that would probably wash off with a cloth, this guys at it and will happily live with that tiny scuff with 200 quid of someone elses money in his tail.

And yes she will have to pay the cost of any damage that is under £400 and her premiums will increase next year if she goes to her insurance.
 
Apologies, no she won't pay if its only a claim against her policy from the third party

It still makes no sense though. It'll be an easy £200 increase over the next few years. If the plastic is indented/properly scraped then it won't simply wash off - if it was my car you'd be buying me a good used housing at the very least
 
Toadem said:
Go down late on tonight when hes sleeping and buff it out yourself then contact him again and say you have pictures that theres no damage at all so hes getting nothing, £200 is not OK for something that would probably wash off with a cloth, this guys at it and will happily live with that tiny scuff with 200 quid of someone elses money in his tail.

And yes she will have to pay the cost of any damage that is under £400 and her premiums will increase next year if she goes to her insurance.
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muon said:
No you don't.

Excesses are for you claiming against your own policy.
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See this is what I am trying to clear up, getting advice either way. My partner will not be claiming on her insurance as there is 0 damage. The other person however will.
 
Well she's quickly ran off insurance quotes with no claims bonus (only has 1 at the moment anyhow and due for renewal next month) and only works out £80 more so doesn't make financial sense to pay upfront, plus I dont want to give him the satisfaction as I know he will just buffer it out himself (no dents/indents to the plastic) and pocket the cash.
 
The poster above is indeed correct.

£80 year one, what if its £60 year two, £50 year 3, £30 year 4 etc? It can also reduce the range of insurers who will actually give you a competitive quote too

As far as I can see, she hit someone else's car ( OK mirror), done the right thing and £200 is not a ludicrous sum for the mirror/housing. OK he might pocket the money but its not a lot of cash to just make it go away.

Of course now that insurance has been mentioned she may actually be as well just to let the claim go through
 
phil_c_ said:
See this is what I am trying to clear up, getting advice either way. My partner will not be claiming on her insurance as there is 0 damage. The other person however will.
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You do not pay your excess if you claim your insurance against someone else in a claim that is their fault, you do pay your excess if you or someone else claims your insurance for an accident that is YOUR fault, your at at fault then you are liable for the first £400 (or whatever your excess is) of any repairs and if the repair is under your £400 excess you pay the full repair costs.
 
Toadem said:
You do not pay your excess if you claim your insurance against someone else in a claim that is their fault, you do pay your excess if you or someone else claims your insurance for an accident that is YOUR fault, your at at fault then you are liable for the first £400 (or whatever your excess is) of any repairs and if the repair is under your £400 excess you pay the full repair costs.
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Incorrect. Stop talking crap.

A third party only policy for example has no concept of an excess.
 
[TW]Fox;26588888 said:
I don't think I'll ever understand why people try to hand out advice on subjects they don't really understand :(
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So it's safe to say she won't pay the excess.... decisions to be made!

If we decide to pay the cash, would a receipt be sufficient enough to stop him making an insurance claim on top?
 
The price seems about right. I had a Golf wing mirror assembly replaced by the dealer and they also had to get it painted. I can't remember the price as it was a few years ago but I do recall being shocked by it. They also ballsed up the painting and had to do it several times. Numpties.

Personally I'd get him to sign something saying full and final settlement etc.
 
I would knock on his door with a cloth and ask if I could tackle it and see it function (if it's electric). Clean the mark off and give him a crate of beers.

Any decent guy would accept that.

If worse comes to worse and it is actually damaged, just pay him the £200 along with a written letter for both of you to sign to prove you dealt with it out of insurance. Put it down to experience and carry on with your life.

No way I would go through insurance (unless it was a Porcshe, Ferrari etc)
 
£200 for that part of the wing mirror sounds far to much to me, what car is it? Certainly doesn't look like a Merc Audi or BMW. I would have said it was a Citroen or similar.
 
I don't know what you're all talking about. I think that's a write off if you ask me.

Maybe the owner can buy it back as a Cat D or something but there will be definite premium rises here for the OP's mrs.
 
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