Got hit by a truck Monday morning. I'm stationary, he's pulled off the pavement into my driver's door. Exchange details. Phone my insurance co, get repair (new door) booked through their approved repairer. Phone his insurance company to report too. Appoint solicitor to recover my excess.
Tuesday I get a call from his insurer. Am told he's admitted liability, and am told to cancel claim with my insurer, cancel the solicitor, and cancel the repair through my insurance co's approved repairer. Am told it will all be dealt with by his insurance. They give me the details of their approved repairer (closer to home & I have heard of them - great). They will get in touch with me.
No call Weds or Thurs, so I phone them today. They know nothing. I phone his insurers. They say he has not admitted liability. I tell them they are joking. I ask if they record the conversations. Yes they say.
I spend the best part of three hours on the phone to their different offices trying to get some answers, my insurers (reregistering the claim), the original repairers (repair now delayed) and the solicitors (reopening the case). I then try to get them to send me a recording of the conversation.
I am told by his insurers that they have left a message for me, then that they may have got the number wrong, then that the person they need to talk to is unavailable because the building has had to be evacuated etc etc - i.e good runaround treatment!!).
Eventually, I get a call saying they have listened to the recording, and I was correct, they did admit liability, and did say exactly as I have written above (i.e cancel my claim etc). But they have made a mistake, they say....sorry. They will deal with it as a 'priority' because they know they have made a mistake. Wow...
Where next guys...I know some of you are in the business..??!! Do I have any recourse, can I sue them for millions? Any advice welcome.

 

The 'sueing them for millions' bit was a joke guys...I know it's only a dented door and not the end of the world, but 100 views and no advice??

[Edited by robs - 4/4/2003 8:03:48 PM]

 

I think you have done exactly the right thing so far. That is insurance company and solicitor.

They have made a mistake (verbally) - its not in writing and as such they have admitted they made a mistake and are trying to rectify the problem promptly. I don't think there is any more mileage in the case full stop.

Like you say this is a door dent - annoying yes - but not something you want to get consumed in and potentially lose money in by pursuing it further.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Gastro

 

Thanx Gastro...am now well into a bottle of wine and a bit more chilled!!. I just couldn't believe my ears!!

 

I'm not sure why you opted out of letting your insurers deal with the matter on your behalf in the first place.

If you are fully comprehensively insured (I'm making the assumption that you are) then you pay for your insurers to sort things out regardless of who is at fault. That way you don't get messed around.

HTH.

WB

 

But it is then regarded as a claim on my insurance (and will effect my premium?), I have to pay my excess, then go through the hassle of claiming it back through my solicitors. If it is done through his insurers, no claim on my policy, and less hassle? At least, that's what his insurers told me when they said he had admitted liability..
It's a dented door..happens all the time, and I'm not overly pi**ed off about that, nor whether or not he's denying it (though I don't think he's got a leg to stand on...but then you never do, do you!!), am just peeed off at being mucked about, and having to sort it all out again...

 

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing and you won't thank me for this but ~ the golden rule on all these things is "Get it in writing". I do hope you get a happy outcome to this cunundrum. Insurance probelms have to be the most frustrating there are. Good Luck !

 

It only counts as a claim if they don't recover their losses. So if they pay out for repairs then recoup all costs off the other guy's insurance it doesn't count as a claim even though your insurance done the repairs for you.

 

That sounds better then...

 

I'd still sue for millions

 

Yes, I think I'll have a go....I'll get the solicitor's on it.. ;-)

Strangely, the only other time I have dealt with this company , which is about as a big as they come, they were so incompetent (not on an insurance claim, something quite different) that I ended up getting a 4 figure payout from them as compensation for all the grief they put me through. I sometimes wonder how these huge outfits get to where they are..then I think again, look at Equitable Life....

Still fuming...

 

Yep agree with Paul_M it counts only if the claim is not recovered.

[Edited by Fizz - 4/5/2003 9:01:41 AM]

 

This is ancient history & I'm sure noone remembers, but...

As of this morning, claim still not settled. Case due to be heard in the small claims court tomorrow.

The other parties insurers had already offered 75/25, which meant I could get £150 of my £200 excess back. Whoopy dooo.....except.... I had had to renew my insurance in December - renewal quote (with Churchill) was increased by OVER £1000 due to the unsettled claim, NCD reduced etc etc.(Needless to say I got insured elsewhere).

So I hold out - at least there is a chance the judge would give me 100% (and so he should, being driven into the side of whilst stationary!!) even though I have no witnesses...it became a principle thing. Due there (in Birmingham - only having to drive half way across the country, miss a day's work for which only partial reimbursement etc) tomorrow.

Get a call from my solicitor this morning - they have settled & admitted 100% liability. Whoopy Dooo but more fold!! Get all my excess back, NCD back, this year's premium reduced immediately.

Only taken the best part of a year, & a load of stress, but at least it's a result...

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation...hold out!!! (thanks for the advice benjai!!!!)