Has anyone else used a no fault claim company?

AFK_Matrix · 12 Feb 2014 at 14:27

Hi,

Around a week ago I had someone hit the back of my car causing some damage, no dents though. So I got an estimate from a bodyshop that has done some previous work on my car which I was very happy with. I then phoned the other party and said do you want to pay me the money or go through your insurance, he has gone for the insurance route.

Now I have notified my insurance company about the accident but only for information purposes. I really would like to avoid going through my insurance incase it puts my insurance up. Now the bodyshop has put me in contact with another company who will handle getting the car fixed and provide a hire car too and my insurance company won't be contacted. So this company covers the costs and then claims it back from the other person's insurance. But I am legally responsible for the costs in the mean time and this is what is concerning me, as what if they don't get paid back? Is it just better to go through my own insurance?

Sorry for the long post!

Sasso · 12 Feb 2014 at 14:40

does the company offer any covers incase the 3rd party insurance decide to be difficult? as what this repair company is doing sounds exactly what admiral did for me, saying that they'd get it fixed and give a hire car and get the expenses back from the 3rd party, also not affecting my no claims bonus. but they did say I would be held liable for costs should they be unable to reclaim the costs.... but then said it's written into my policy that I'm protected against these costs.... so it wouldn't matter anyway?

bit of an... "ok then why bother telling me I'm liable if you're going to say I'm actually not in the next sentence" haha

I'd see what their policy would be for if they have difficulty reclaiming as I wouldn't want to be out of pocket if they have no protection for you.

Hades · 12 Feb 2014 at 14:44

Your insurance premiums will probably rise anyway because you've had an accident and so are statistically a higher risk. Granted they would rise more if you had a fault claim against you.

I just went through a similar experience although mine was slightly more complex as the other party denied responsibility. I didn't go through an accident management company but claimed directly from the other persons insurance company. It was a bit of hassle to be fair, as it took months and the company decided to stop talking to me at one point. But they have now agreed to pay out.

The advantage of going through your own insurance would be simplicity. But the downside, as you point out, is that there is a risk of a fault claim against you if they don't recover the money. I think what you need to do is decide what action you would like if you are not successful with the claim against the other party (whether through your own insurance, direct to their insurance, or through an accident management company). In this scenario would you prefer to pay for the repairs yourself or have your insurance cover it?

Hxc · 12 Feb 2014 at 14:47

Most of these companies will either charge you a tenner or so for cover in this case (HelpHire) or tell you straight up that they will take liability if it is found to go against you; ThorneyCroft certainly did for me.

AFK_Matrix · 12 Feb 2014 at 14:51

OK thanks for the advice guys. The company is phoning me back at 5 so will ask about what happens if they can't claim the costs back. I am also with a different insurance company now to the last time when the car went to the bodyshop I got the quote from. So if I did go through my insurance I'd have no idea what the bodyshop they use is like.

Dr Who · 12 Feb 2014 at 16:24

Had some fairly good reports on Helphire but haven't used them myself.

Third Opinion · 13 Feb 2014 at 04:09

I have contacted the other persons insurance company direct before and they have been pretty helpful. They tend to want to avoid people using companies such as Helphire as it bumps up the claim massively.

In the past I have got a hire car delivered from Enterprise and a choice of repairer. They try to get you to accept one of their Mickey Mouse repairers but if you stick to your guns you can take it anywhere.