CanucksTraveller
Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
- Location
- Hertfordshire
The AA in particular (and probably most insurers) are scum. I agree with the posters that said it's a racket, an organised scammery / theft. I was insured with the AA about ten or so years ago and had an awful experience:
I had just bought a brand new Renault. Only 2 weeks into owning it, a tipper lorry takes a wrong turn into my cul-de-sac and attempts to do a 3 point turn, ripping off my front bumper moulding in the process and then just driving off without stopping. I only noticed as the tipper was leaving my road, (I'd heard the impact which made me look out).
I made a call to the AA and I asked them a hypothetical question - (and I was very clear that this was a hypothetical question)...
"If (the above scenario) happened" I said, "and if the damage was an economic repair, less than a policy increase might be, and if I chose to repair such damage at my own expense, would I be required to inform you at the AA anyway, and would it affect my no claims?"
"Oh yes" they said, "you have to inform us. But it's no big deal, if you want to repair it yourself you can, and then we just leave a note on file that there was a no-fault claim. It doesn't affect your no claims or your premium. But it would if you didn't tell us."
"Hang on" I said, "how can it be a claim (no-fault or otherwise) if I make no claim? It sounds like I'd be disadvantaged, even though I'd not even have been in the vehicle!"
"Oh" she said, "it's just industry terminology, it's not really seen as a claim. Has there been an incident with your vehicle that you need to tell us about?"
"Definitely not" I said. And that was that, I thought.
Anyway come the following year at renewal time, everything has gone up. When I look into why, there is now an "at fault claim" on my record.
I spoke with the AA. Their answer was that I had been involved in a claim on that date and they had a record of it, and because no-one else was identified I was deemed at fault. But I hadn't claimed! And nor could I be at fault! It was parked lawfully in a marked parking bay, and I wasn't in the bloody thing!
The AA had joined the dots and just guessed. The galling thing is that they didn't know of an incident, and yet there was no way for me to appeal this. I was firmly stuck with it.
So that was me done with AA Insurance for life, and in fact to this day I've not made a single phone call to another insurer despite that car being hit another 5 times in its life with me. Each time, (even tough I wasn't ever at fault), I just accepted the (thankfully minor) damage, I'd rather not involve insurers again if I can help it. Worse than bloody lawyers they are.
I had just bought a brand new Renault. Only 2 weeks into owning it, a tipper lorry takes a wrong turn into my cul-de-sac and attempts to do a 3 point turn, ripping off my front bumper moulding in the process and then just driving off without stopping. I only noticed as the tipper was leaving my road, (I'd heard the impact which made me look out).
I made a call to the AA and I asked them a hypothetical question - (and I was very clear that this was a hypothetical question)...
"If (the above scenario) happened" I said, "and if the damage was an economic repair, less than a policy increase might be, and if I chose to repair such damage at my own expense, would I be required to inform you at the AA anyway, and would it affect my no claims?"
"Oh yes" they said, "you have to inform us. But it's no big deal, if you want to repair it yourself you can, and then we just leave a note on file that there was a no-fault claim. It doesn't affect your no claims or your premium. But it would if you didn't tell us."
"Hang on" I said, "how can it be a claim (no-fault or otherwise) if I make no claim? It sounds like I'd be disadvantaged, even though I'd not even have been in the vehicle!"
"Oh" she said, "it's just industry terminology, it's not really seen as a claim. Has there been an incident with your vehicle that you need to tell us about?"
"Definitely not" I said. And that was that, I thought.
Anyway come the following year at renewal time, everything has gone up. When I look into why, there is now an "at fault claim" on my record.
I spoke with the AA. Their answer was that I had been involved in a claim on that date and they had a record of it, and because no-one else was identified I was deemed at fault. But I hadn't claimed! And nor could I be at fault! It was parked lawfully in a marked parking bay, and I wasn't in the bloody thing!
The AA had joined the dots and just guessed. The galling thing is that they didn't know of an incident, and yet there was no way for me to appeal this. I was firmly stuck with it.
So that was me done with AA Insurance for life, and in fact to this day I've not made a single phone call to another insurer despite that car being hit another 5 times in its life with me. Each time, (even tough I wasn't ever at fault), I just accepted the (thankfully minor) damage, I'd rather not involve insurers again if I can help it. Worse than bloody lawyers they are.