accident, insuranse and offers to pay cash...

dafadau

dafadau

dafadau

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Girlfriend had a bump in her Yaris yesterday, totally not her fault and thankfully not too serious.

The woman who hit her car was really apologetic and admitted that it was completely her fault. They swapped no's at the time.

Last night the womans husband rings up and offers to pay cash for the repairs and not involve insurance. The missus is really unsure what to do.

I reckon she should go down the insurance route to be on the safe side for her, as I don't see why she should risk invalidating her own insurance.

Anyone have any experience of this??

cheers
 
There is no risk of invalidating her own insurance. Provided the guy is ready to sort this out pretty much now and there is no delay to you + he provides cash upfront, I see no problem.
 
Well if the cash covers the repair costs do that.

IKf you can help it do not make a claim.

I had an accident in July 2005 where a women ran into me and they are still sorting it out, I must have filled in 15 10 page forms and has to make 50+ phone calls to find out whats going on.

Plus even though it wasnt her fault will go on the policy as had an accident.
 
as long as shes not in anyway harmed herself, and won't want to make any injury claim its proberbly better to get them to pay.

Go get a quote from a decent body shop and see what they say then they find out the cost :)
 
Just make sure you get several quotes upfront and that they are happy with what it will cost and pay you BEFORE you have the work done. A lot of people don't realise how expensive even a minor bump can be to repair well and you might struggle to get the money afterwards.

Do not feel presured into using a cheap backstreet bodyshop regardless of the saving this may bring.

By all means accept their offer, but take it to a boyshop you are happy with. If there are the slightest of problems proceed through your insurers, or even better (in my experience) give HelpHire a call.

http://www.helphire.co.uk/
 
paradigm said:
Not to mention the fact that a claim, even not her fault, will ultimately affect her premium next renewal.
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Depends on the insurers. I had 2 non-fault claims within a year (hit by another car whilst parked both times). Declared them both to Norwich Union and my premium hasn't budged. Indeed, if I do a quote online and do one with 2 non-fault accidents, and one with no accidents, the premiums are identical.
 
The OP is correct - if she offers cash - technically she has actually invalidated her insurance insofaras this accident is concerned.
 
merlin said:
The OP is correct - if she offers cash - technically she has actually invalidated her insurance insofaras this accident is concerned.
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Why? (genuine question!)
 
merlin said:
The OP is correct - if she offers cash - technically she has actually invalidated her insurance insofaras this accident is concerned.
Click to expand...


Surely she will only invalidate her insurance if she doesn't tell them about the accident (which she probably wont mind you). Not for the fact that she is offering to pay cash for the damage.

Fog
 
Terms of all motor insurance policies state that you shall not make an offer or pay any third party any sum of money.

So, for example - if you bumped into someone and offered to pay them, or worse - actually paid them - then say the third party contacts you and says it's going to cost another £500 because of hidden damage - your insurer will tell you where to get off. Biggest worry though is if they take money from you and subsequently decide they want to claim for injury. Then you are facing a £10,000 bill because, again, your insurers will refuse to pay. Or they'll pay then sue you for the money back.

It's all rather risky but I admit that 9.5 times out of 10 small incidents are resolved perfectly amicably with cash.

I always advise my Fleet clients to let the insurer settle even small claims - then when the settlement is finalised - the client pays the insurer the money back to wipe the claim off their record. This way the terms and conditions of the policy are not broken and if mid way through the claim things start to go pear shaped - eg hidden damage or an injury claims - the client is protected.
 
I'd never go the cash route for the reasons most explained above.

You don't have a dog and bark. I pay a lot for money for insurance. I want them to deal with other insurance companies, sort out repairs, yada yada yada. I've had family members who've had nothing but problems when they've agreed to go the cash route with small incidents.

Insurance is there to protect me, i'm not going to waive it because someone is worried about their NCB. If they want they can come to a private agreement with their own insrance company to pay all costs.
 
i would worry about the cash route from the bits above, but i would much rather get it sorted with cash either way. I have claimed once for a non fault incident and i got stuffed. if its asay a new bumper then go the cash route. if its welded or structural go insurance.
 
PeterNem said:
By all means accept their offer, but take it to a boyshop you are happy with.
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Spose it might help her relax :p

Seriously, as stated, just make sure your frank and forward with the costs involved. If there is any dodgyness, or you feel like its not a good idea, take it to insurance.

Minor bumps are sorted quickly in my experience. Larger ones/write offs take a bit longer. If it does go insurance route. Call the company twice a day asking for an update. That way it gets done very quickly :)
 
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