built like a tank?

[robert.farmer]

Had a small accident last November,was reversing out of a chevron parking bay after looking left and right to see that all was clear when i was hit in the rear by a Ford Scorpio who decided to do a "u" turn at the same time,it cracked my n/s rear indicator light and broke his headlight. Today i got a phone call from my insurance co asking me if i was admitting complete liability as the Scorpio driver has claimed for £1400.00 repaires and £200.00 car hire.apart from other language i said i thought it would be knock for knock at the very most. i now have to draw a little map showing them what happened. Boy these Mercs are strong.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Or... Fords a cheap junk

 

[pluggers]

Had a small accident last November,was reversing out of a chevron parking bay after looking left and right to see that all was clear when i was hit in the rear by a Ford Scorpio who decided to do a "u" turn at the same time,it cracked my n/s rear indicator light and broke his headlight. Today i got a phone call from my insurance co asking me if i was admitting complete liability as the Scorpio driver has claimed for £1400.00 repaires and £200.00 car hire.apart from other language i said i thought it would be knock for knock at the very most. i now have to draw a little map showing them what happened. Boy these Mercs are strong.

Feel for you m8, Know exactly what your going through.As for built like tanks I got a small scratch the other guy needs both his doors pulling and painting.

 

[robert.farmer]

This guy has claimed for new bumper,bonnet,drivers door,front wing and of course lights, i just can't believe the cheek, or maybe i can but don't want to.

 

[Kinky]

Unfortunately Rob that's the general of scum today.

Getting as much as possible for little (or preferably no) graft whatsoever.

I'm sure they also think "what the hell - you drive a Merc - you can afford it".

On a side-note - who approved the repairs without first confirming fault, and therefore in turn costs?

 

[robert.farmer]

Hi Kinky, iv'e no idea who gave the go ahead, thats what i'm trying to find out,this all smells to me, iv'e got protected n/c but thats not the point, i just don't like people trying to get away with things, but then thats just me,perhaps i expect too much of folk, thanks for reply. Rob

 

[Kinky]

I would formally and very officially question who authorised the work without first determining fault.

It would suggest to me that they're pulling a past one.

Makes you question why it was done so quickly. Perhaps to cover up the fact it was not that serious. Also - I personally believe that the insurance won't pay out to him if the work has been done without authorisation.

You might lose out - but at least you've shafted him.

Sorry.

K

 

[robert.farmer]

ill keep you informed of progress if any,have had offer of help from a club member so wec will see what we can do. Thanks Rob

 

[aspire]

On the subject of protected no-claims bonus, I was seeking new quotes online for insurance a while back, and found the questions were often similar to the following:

In respect of the declared claim, did you suffer any loss of ncd?

If "no", was your ncd protected?

This made me very suspicious that they would just assume the claim was my fault, anyway! I don't think you can win with insurers, but I think the best defence against scams is to carry a disposable camera in the car.

Hope things work out ok

Derek

 

[Motard]

Today i got a phone call from my insurance co asking me if i was admitting complete liability as the Scorpio driver has claimed for £1400.00 repaires

Just had a thought Rob, are there any Scorpios worth £1400? The insurance company would have written the thing off I think.

Bob

 

[robert.farmer]

Bob, that is a very good question,i don't know what its value is but i know it eas M reg so perhaps it just could be, i will find out from a friend of mine who knows. Regards

 

[jaymanek]

M reg scorpios are worth 50-1000 quid depending on condition. This guys trying his luck!

 

[Aswall]

It sounds to me like the work has not yet gone ahead and that is why your insurance company are now contacting you before they make their decision. It also sounds like he's gone to one of the bump-up-the-claim outfits as it's very unlikely his policy on an old Scorpio would cover him for a hire car. A mate of mine got rear ended in his
Jag by a Citroen which shattered into pieces leaving him with a small scratch on the bumper and a dent in the boot lid. His insurance company handed his details to a legal firm that they have an agreement with and when they sent him the form to sign, after they had taken details by phone, he found they had written in that he had whiplash. When he rang to query this he was told " oh we always put that when it's a rear ender as you never know when it might appear and doctors can't tell anyway so you may as well claim for it". As if that wasn't bad enough, the Citroen driver claimed on his insurance that my mate had reversed into him at speed (he was stationary at traffic lights!) and the insurance companies settled knock for knock

Some people are scum and that's just the way it is!

 

[Kinky]

Some people are scum and that's just the way it is!

Hear hear.

And don't start me on all the uninsured and untaxed and unroad-worthy vehicles ..... and illegal immigrants ......

K

 

[robert.farmer]

April 2005.??? just had a letter from solicitor for insurance co asking if i would go to court regarding the accident of goodness knows when, its so long ago now i had forgotten about it. They are sending someone to see me next week to have a (hands on look) this is just because i will not admit full liability, only 50/50 which the other guy won't accept, his total insurance bill is for £2600 for an M reg Scorpio. i only cracked my rear tail light???. i know its not going to cost me any money (except putting my premium up) but should i really go to court for the company. ( wake up next morning to find a brick through the screen etc). Rob

 

[WLeg]

Send them a print out of this Topic ! - and use it as a reminder.....

He must be trying it on, as no M reg Ford is worth £2k+ I would fight this one... but that's me..........

 

[sparkyspost]

Robert,

If you go the 50-50 route won't your premium go up anyway? You would have basically claimed...

I think you should go to court as this is the last step, and is usually used as a deterent to force you to admit liability to avoid having to go to the bother of going to court.

If the guy is now claiming for up to £2,600, I think it would be reasonable to claim for your time and costs to go to court and to suggest that possibly that this has fraudulently ballooned far beyond the value of the car.

Do you know if you went for legal cover when you took out your insurance policy?
Could come in very useful. If not you may be able to get free legal advice anyway.

I think it may come down to how guilty (or not) you feel for the accident. It sounds like the other party is a chancer and trying to avoid losing his excess, and increasing his premium, and get a new car out of it!

Anyway good luck and let us know what you decide.

Best Wishes

Sparky.

 

[Satch]

Chances are you will only have to make a formal statement that can be used as evidence in court but will more likely will simply provide your insurers with a strong negotiating position to make this go away.

It does sound like somebody has made an wholly unwarranted & inflated claim against your insurers. Most of these types will back down if they get a strong push back but you are the key to providing this.

However, are you absolutely clear who this lawyer is acting for? Some years ago I was asked to provide a statement in connection with a civil dispute involving my ex employer and a supplier. Turned out the lawyer was acting for the supplier but had not make that clear when arranging to see me, tried to confuse the issue when asked and got really stroppy when told him to get lost.

Tricky little b'staad had come from Manchester to London on a sweaty train for the sole purpose so at least I managed to get some satisfaction