Motor Insurance Unrecovered Costs

[fatblokish]

Am I being given the run-around by the insurers?

In Dec 2010 my car, unoccupied and parked outside the house, was hit by another car. All damage was subsequently made good by the repairers and was settled by the insurers, as a non-fault (me) claim.

Last November I trawled around looking for a new quote and was surprised to find that by clicking the "Previous Accidents" button my premium went up by about £40, as a direct result of this non-fault claim. This means that the cheapest quote is now £40 dearer than it would otherwise have been.

I think that I should be entitled to claim for this increase, but, inevitably, my previous insurers want to wash their hands of it, as do the other driver's insurers. Given that I have renewed the insurance 3 times since the accident, there is a risk that I will have forked out some £120 due to an accident that was not my fault.

What to do? Ombudsman or threatening letter, fight or flight?

ta

 

[4F]

As a previous claimant you are now seen as a higher risk than someone who has not claimed. Seems very unfair when as you say it was not you fault but I regret that is how the business works.

 

[alicat]

Do you know who hit your car? If not, you can't claim for the extra cost of your insurance.

Don't be tempted not to mention the claim. Insurance contracts are contracts of utmost good faith and it will get sticky for you if they realise you have not disclosed the previous claim.

 

[GrasB]

People who are involved in any kind of collision are more likely to be involved in further collisions. Things like where your car is parked can increase the likely hood of having a claim. Park your car on the road fine, regularly park your car near a junction & avoiding action of people misjudging things increases the likelihood your car will be hit (real scenario).

 

[vernon]

It's a no claim discount not a no blame discount.

 

[GrasB]

It's a no claim discount not a no blame discount.

The no clams discount reduction/loss is usually only applied to clams with unrecovered losses not total cost recovered clams. When someone decided to use the side of my car as armco I didn't lose my 7 years NCB as all losses were recovered from the other parties insurance policy.

 

[vernon]

OK then. Perhaps the forty pounds hike is a rise in the premium because of a claim being made and not a loss of NCD? Can a hike in premium be claimed back via insurance?

 

[GrasB]

I guess you could try & argue that it's part of the financial loss you suffered but I have a feeling you'll not get anywhere with that.

 

[fatblokish]

Yes, the other driver stopped. On hearing the crash I opened the front door of my house to see that she had slid on ice and we then exchanged details. She was pretty shaken up, though not injured, so I made her a cup of tea whilst she phoned her dad.

As far as I know, all repair costs were recovered from her insurers by my insurers, but as Vernon asks can I recover the hike in premium(s) I now face?

I realise that I may be perceived to be a higher risk, but this is as a result of the other drivers fault.

 

[vernon]

I realise that I may be perceived to be a higher risk, but this is as a result of the other drivers fault.

The risk is still there. Your car being parked outside of your house contributes to the continuing risk.

I don't think that there's much mileage in making a claim for elevated premiums.

 

[Jody]

Nothing can be done about this. I was unlucky enough to get rear ended whilst stationary in traffic and 3 years later (last Christmas eve) had someone pull across the path of my vehicle. Both accidents 100% the other persons fault and they admitted liability. There was nothing I could have done to prevent either. I now have to pay £100 more a year even though I have a clean license and all my NCD.

Its the way the industry works and they wonder why so many people put in big claims.