How to pay for accident damage?

[tubby trotter]

Hi All,
Some advice please for my daydreamer son Tom. He collided with the back of a taxi this morning while cycling to work. OK the cabbie braked hard but my boy should have been riding more carefully and scratched the side of the smart new Skoda taxi. Gave taxi his details who later emailed quote for repairs from pukka garage, around £300.
My lad doesn't have insurance or £30 never mind £300. He has offered to pay the garage bill by credit card but the driver has yet to reply other than muttering about this will cost him a fortune in missed work while the car gets fixed, and will he hurry up and send him the money. My lad is quite upset, he knows it's his fault and wants to do the decent thing, but is worried he might be leaving himself open to further claims from this guy for loss of earnings if he pays for the damage.
I know it is daft to commute without insurance but its easy to be wise now, question is what to do? Is it better to pay up for the damage, or simply tell the driver to get it done on his (the drivers) insurance and give the insurance company the details and they can claim from Tom.
Any advice gratefully received
Tubs

 

[sabian92]

I'd get another quote - he might be just trying to mug you off.

If you get CTC membership (40quid for a full year and includes a 1mil 3rd party insurance) they might let you back claim. Worth a look? I know 40 quid is a lot but it's a lot cheaper than 300.

 

[smokeysmoo]

to CC, I wish it was on better terms though

It's obviously difficult to say without seeing the damage, but from your description of it just being 'scratched' then £300 sounds hefty IMO.

I'd offer to have a smart repair company take a look at it. If it is suitable for a smart repair these guys are mobile. They could do it at the guys house, while he was off shift so his earnings are not affected as well. IMO if he's not prepared to entertain this option then he's trying to pull your pants down. In other words he's hoping for your £300 then he's off down to Halfords for a £7 touch up stick!

I know guys in the smart repair trade, (Manchester area), but I don't know where you are. Just Google terms like smart repair, dent master and such and you'll find these guys.

Good luck

 

[tubby trotter]

I'd get another quote - he might be just trying to mug you off.

If you get CTC membership (40quid for a full year and includes a 1mil 3rd party insurance) they might let you back claim. Worth a look? I know 40 quid is a lot but it's a lot cheaper than 300.

Thanks for that, I'll be insuring him myself!

 

[tubby trotter]

to CC, I wish it was on better terms though

It's obviously difficult to say without seeing the damage, but from your description of it just being 'scratched' then £300 sounds hefty IMO.

I'd offer to have a smart repair company take a look at it. If it is suitable for a smart repair these guys are mobile. They could do it at the guys house, while he was off shift so his earnings are not affected as well. IMO if he's not prepared to entertain this option then he's trying to pull your pants down. In other words he's hoping for your £300 then he's off down to Halfords for a £7 touch up stick!

I know guys in the smart repair trade, (Manchester area), but I don't know where you are. Just Google terms like smart repair, dent master and such and you'll find these guys.

Good luck

Thank you for your kindness, I didn't know about this forum till this happened. Looking at the posts is making me think of dusting my old bike down and getting in the saddle again (insured first of course).

 

[smokeysmoo]

FWIW I'm not actually insured. It's one of those things I keep meaning to sort out and never quite manage it. Maybe tomorrow

 

[sabian92]

Thanks for that, I'll be insuring him myself!

It's for a year so it's worth it. It doesn't cover against theft (unless you specifically buy insurance through them) but it covers you if you're knocked off or if you ride into somebody. I believe it covers legal fees as well (but not having being knocked off, I don't know for sure).

You get discounts through the CTC shop as well (sometimes up to 20%), so bargains are to be had too!

 

[mickle]

A bus kissed the side of my car recently. My mate who has worked in a body shop reckoned £150. The company which repaired it charged the bus companies ins co £450. So there are big disparities.

Make him an offer of £100 cash. Hell jump at it i bet.

 

[tubby trotter]

It's for a year so it's worth it. It doesn't cover against theft (unless you specifically buy insurance through them) but it covers you if you're knocked off or if you ride into somebody. I believe it covers legal fees as well (but not having being knocked off, I don't know for sure).

You get discounts through the CTC shop as well (sometimes up to 20%), so bargains are to be had too!

Just visited the CTC website. What a great organisation! Thank you for directing me there.

 

[tubby trotter]

A bus kissed the side of my car recently. My mate who has worked in a body shop reckoned £150. The company which repaired it charged the bus companies ins co £450. So there are big disparities.

Make him an offer of £100 cash. Hell jump at it i bet.

Yes its true, quotes seen to double at least when insurance companies get involved. Trouble is its an almost new motor so I can understand the guy wants a pukka job doing. Turns out from my son he actually managed to scrape the rear wing, bumper and boot lid, and the decal also.

 

[Red Light]

Have you got household insurance? If so check it as most has cover for third party liability and should cover you, and your family living at the house, for this.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Turns out from my son he actually managed to scrape the rear wing, bumper and boot lid, and the decal also.

To be honest, with that much damage, £300 sounds cheap.

 

[tubby trotter]

Have you got household insurance? If so check it as most has cover for third party liability and should cover you, and your family living at the house, for this.

Would have been OK a year ago when he was living at home, but he is now 100 miles away so our insurance won't cover him.

 

[tubby trotter]

To be honest, with that much damage, £300 sounds cheap.

Yes, I think we'll end up paying the garage direct rather than getting insurance involved, just hope the driver sees it that way; it's in his interest not to involve his insurance after all.

 

[sabian92]

Thanks for that, I'll be insuring him myself!

Riding without insurance is a bit daft now to be honest with the amount of problems it causes. It isn't a legal requirement obviously but if you hit somebody it'll save you a fortune in the long run. Proper cycle insurance (against theft rather than just 3rd party) is about the same sort of price as well depending on the price of the bike. I got a quote for 48 quid per year for a 450 quid bike so it's worth it if you keep leaving it somewhere it might be nicked.

Just visited the CTC website. What a great organisation! Thank you for directing me there.

Not a problem, If you register with them they've got loads of maps and discounts as well.

Glad I could help