Paint damage caused by neighbour - settling privately

snapdragon69 · 29 Aug 2015 at 14:59

Insurers are worried that you don't inform them of an incident that later may rear it's ugly head. This is extremely unlikely in this scenario. More likely to be struck by lightning. If it did, you would just deny it right?

Mucky_Pup · 29 Aug 2015 at 15:09

I wouldn't tell the insurers if you're not planning to claim from either them or the third parties insurance company.

muon · 29 Aug 2015 at 15:20

Skyboat said:
If it's anything like my last insurer (Hastings) they'll log it on the CUE database and subsequently bump up your premium come renewal time. Stupid I know, but it's as per their terms and I would assume most other insurance companies T&Cs are the same too.

Incorrect, not all insurers will increase your price for where you don't get any repair done at the insurer's cost. Neverthess most insurers will tell you to at least inform them of this.

RyanF · 29 Aug 2015 at 15:23

If it really is just paint / slight scratches just get a quote from somewhere like Chips Away and get your neighbour to pay for it.

OspreyO · 29 Aug 2015 at 15:48

muon said:
Incorrect, not all insurers will increase your price for where you don't get any repair done at the insurer's cost......

Thats never been my experience of insurance companies.

rodenal · 29 Aug 2015 at 16:28

On what planet does anyone think their insurance company is going to

A) find out about you having a minor scratch repaired because someone you know marked the car

B)care enough to try and do anything about it in the event of another claim and not be laughed at in the process

It's just an irrelevance - this clause is intended for people who are involved in accidents but don't want to claim, not where a neighbour accidentally nudges your car. Common sense required

hurfdurf · 29 Aug 2015 at 16:45

Quartz said:
You absolutely have to. It'll be in the small print of your insurance contract. But because you're not making a claim it won't affect your insurance premium.

Lol at how you must live your life.

spoffle · 29 Aug 2015 at 16:51

Quartz said:
You absolutely have to. It'll be in the small print of your insurance contract. But because you're not making a claim it won't affect your insurance premium.

You don't absolutely have to, they require you do, but that isn't the same thing.

Haggisman · 29 Aug 2015 at 18:26

muon said:
Incorrect, not all insurers will increase your price for where you don't get any repair done at the insurer's cost. Neverthess most insurers will tell you to at least inform them of this.

No, but for the next 5 years, you'll have to answer "yes" to the question of "have you had any accidents in the last 5 years regardless of fault or whether you made a claim", which WILL increase your premiums.

Fr0dders · 29 Aug 2015 at 18:51

they don't always ask you that.

Depends on the insurer. Plenty just ask about claims.

jpod · 29 Aug 2015 at 20:13

Just put it in writing, a brief note, dear neighbour, you have offered to repair my car privately, the estimate is £whatever it is, a copy of the estimate is attached, please could you arrange to refund this sum by return via a cheque payable to Wang or cash and I will provide a receipt. Thank you.

Always in writing.

Skyboat · 29 Aug 2015 at 20:24

muon said:
Incorrect, not all insurers will increase your price for where you don't get any repair done at the insurer's cost. Neverthess most insurers will tell you to at least inform them of this.

I didn't say they all will, just that they might do, hence me switching insurers on renewal to a company that doesn't.

Participant · 30 Aug 2015 at 07:28

Quartz said:
You still have to advise your insurer - just tell them that you won't be making a claim but reserve the right to do so.

What a load of rubbish. That's awful advice. I suppose you'd advise someone to tell their insurer if a passenger dropped a drink on their seat and the upholstery needed a wash.

Gaygle · 30 Aug 2015 at 07:51

Ok just to clear a few things up because this to and fro is getting boring.

Yes many insurers include a clause in their terms and conditions stating that you must inform them if you have an accident even if you are not claiming. I guess they do this because insurers work on risk and by being involved in an accident, even if you are not claiming, to them you become a high risk and therefore many will load your next year's premium as a result.

The reality is that 90% of people will not tell their insurer at all as that is the point of going privately.

What you do is up to you.

muon · 30 Aug 2015 at 10:17

Haggisman said:
No, but for the next 5 years, you'll have to answer "yes" to the question of "have you had any accidents in the last 5 years regardless of fault or whether you made a claim", which WILL increase your premiums.

No it won't. Insurers dont just use that answer.

LV, Direct Line etc. won't increase your price if you have just information only claims. They are 2 of the 4 largest and oldest car insurers in the UK.

The newer insurers which care less about customer experience will use it against you as they just don't care. Hastings, Admiral etc. They are also the insurers in the habit of hiking your renewal up massively in the hope you accept rather than doing a modest increase.

Tachyon · 30 Aug 2015 at 10:42

Neighbour hit my car couple of years back (dented but paint ok). I got a quote he was happy with and got it fixed fairly cheaply. Why anyone would tell their insurance company about something like that is beyond me, just sort it out privately.

Fr0dders · 30 Aug 2015 at 16:04

Gaygle said:
Ok just to clear a few things up because this to and fro is getting boring.

Yes many insurers include a clause in their terms and conditions stating that you must inform them if you have an accident even if you are not claiming. I guess they do this because insurers work on risk and by being involved in an accident, even if you are not claiming, to them you become a high risk and therefore many will load your next year's premium as a result.

The reality is that 90% of people will not tell their insurer at all as that is the point of going privately.

What you do is up to you.

this. end of discussion on the informing the insurer front. Its going round in circles now !

koooowweeee · 30 Aug 2015 at 16:59

Why would you even make a thread about it?

The guy bumped your car and you didn't even know about it... He offers to pay for it when he could not f not told you.

Just take is money.

Participant · 30 Aug 2015 at 20:36

Gaygle said:
Ok just to clear a few things up because this to and fro is getting boring.

Yes many insurers include a clause in their terms and conditions stating that you must inform them if you have an accident even if you are not claiming. I guess they do this because insurers work on risk and by being involved in an accident, even if you are not claiming, to them you become a high risk and therefore many will load your next year's premium as a result.

The reality is that 90% of people will not tell their insurer at all as that is the point of going privately.

What you do is up to you.

That's great, thanks for clearing up what 30 people have already said in this thread.

acemastr · 30 Aug 2015 at 21:51

I told my insurance company that someone reversed into my motorcycle back when I had my 125, nothing came of it because we chose to not do anything about it, but MCE hiked my rates up massively because 'I'd claimed' which was completely false.

Don't inform insurers.