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Community => General Chat => Topic started by: tamtoot on November 15, 2019, 17:22:29

Title: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: tamtoot on November 15, 2019, 17:22:29
Good day,

While in for new brake pads today, my Hyundai Tucson suffered a collision inside the workshop. Fair bit of damage done and they have accepted liability. It is a reputable company. Their assessor will view the car next week.  Do I have to involve my insurer (Churchill) ?

Thanks for any advice.

Tamtoot
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: KONA on November 15, 2019, 17:24:17
I would say no as you were not at the wheel when they damaged the car and they are fixing the damage they caused.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: tamtoot on November 16, 2019, 11:10:07
Good day Kona,
Thanks for your kind response to my query.
I had a look through my car insurers policy document which states that I must advise them, before any renewal of my insurance, of any accident 'Regardless of blame'
I have done this. They were very understanding and recorded the incident details. They have confirmed that as I am just reporting the accident and am not making a claim, I would not be liable for any loss of no-claims or surcharge. If I was not satisfied with the outcome of the repairs etc, their legal department would then act on my behalf. They provided a reference number for any future communication with them on this incident.
I will obviously advise the Garage's insurance assessor that I have contacted my insurer.
Hopefully it will now proceed OK.
Regards,
Tamtoot
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Shambles on November 16, 2019, 12:53:05
I would hope the liable garage are supplying a courtesy car?
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: KONA on November 16, 2019, 18:32:24
Quote
I must advise them, before any renewal of my insurance, of any accident 'Regardless of blame'

Sorry for being the forum pedant but -

You are insured to drive your car so if you are involved in an accident whether it was your fault or not then you have to inform the insurance company but you were not driving therefore you have no need to inform your insurance as they are not dealing with the claim and it cannot effect your no claims bonus.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Bluetaurus on November 22, 2019, 19:26:35
Hi
I think your renewal premium might rise too regardless of blame. That's my understanding anyway from friends who have been in a similar situation.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: KONA on November 23, 2019, 13:35:59
Sorry but this is  nonsense for the reasons i have given above.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: egg on November 23, 2019, 21:38:02
Sorry but it's not nonsense. You tell an insurance company about an accident regardless of blame and your premium will most likely go up. Your no claims if protected shouldn't be affected. I know this from personnel experience and from friends. 1 even had his merc trashed by a drive through car wash. Garage accepted blame. He got his insurance to sort out the non blame claim and whack. Sky high premium. Another got side swiped by a car and caravan. Other driver got his insurance to sort everything for my mate. 1 company told the other and whack. Sky high premium. My own car was hit whilst parked by a bus. I wasn't even near the car at the time. I had to get my insurance involved as the bus company tried to deny it even though I had witnesses. I won the non blame case. Whack. Sky high premium. Always got the option of changing on renewal but they all ask if you've been involved in an accident fault or non fault. Once you tell a company of an accident you have to tell every company for the next 5 years normally.   
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: paully on November 24, 2019, 11:51:10
Quite agree with Egg..Informing them of something that is non of their business always gives them an opportunity to raise premiums...AKA legalised racketeering. Years ago my car was damaged by a lorry whilst parked unattended. I took it up directly with the lorry`s insurers who sorted everything out and got it repaired, not without hassle I may add.But I saw no need to inform my Insurers who had no interest/liability in the claim whatsoever.

  I would do the same again next time as well
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: KONA on November 24, 2019, 12:21:51
Well if people are stupid enough to let them get away with it they deserve to be screwed, if my insurance tried this on in the same situation i would contact the insurance ombudsman and get advice -
https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/complaints-can-help/insurance

Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Bluetaurus on November 24, 2019, 12:29:00
Heres a brief explanation as to why it may affect premiums


Does declaring a non-fault claim affect my insurance?
Unfortunately, yes. In many cases, your premiums will go up after you’ve declared a non-fault claim to your insurance provider. This is because certain circumstances surrounding the accident, even if it wasn’t your fault, may lead to more accidents in the future.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Bluetaurus on November 24, 2019, 12:36:14
It's wrong of course but is written into most policies

Do I need to declare a non-fault claim?
Yes, you need to declare all accidents that you're involved in, regardless of who, or what, was at fault.

Pretty much all insurance providers will have a clause in their policy requiring you to declare any incidences you're involved in while driving in the past 5 years. If you don't report something and your insurance provider finds out about it later, they could invalidate your policy.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: KONA on November 24, 2019, 14:17:26
Quote
"Unfortunately, yes. In many cases, your premiums will go up after you’ve declared a non-fault claim to your insurance provider"

I read a non fault claim as meaning you were driving but not at fault therefore it is not the same as your car being damaged by someone else when you were not in the car.



Quote
"Pretty much all insurance providers will have a clause in their policy requiring you to declare any incidences you're involved in while driving in the past 5 years"

Again you miss the point its not "incidences you're involved in" as you are not involved!










Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: KONA on November 24, 2019, 14:58:27
I have contacted Hastings customer support (CS) online and the answers to my questions are below,  you do have to inform them but you will not be penalised.


Me - Hi, if my car was in a car wash and was damaged by one of the workers when i was not there and they said they would repair the car do i need to inform my insurance?

CS - Yes, you would need to notify us even if you don't intend to make a claim.

Me - will this alter my no claims bonus or make my insurance more expensive as i was not at fault and i have not claimed?

CS - You would need to call to query further. If it's for notification only then your no claims won't be affected.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Bluetaurus on November 24, 2019, 16:37:34
I notice they have replied as your no claims wont be affected, but no mention of increased renewal premium.  I guess you will find out when renewal is due. Do post back here as a point of interest.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Bluetaurus on November 24, 2019, 17:11:54
The op perhaps can post back when it's time for renewal to see if the premiums have been hiked or not.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: KONA on November 25, 2019, 15:57:50
Quote
I guess you will find out when renewal is due. Do post back here as a point of interest.

That would be quite a feat as i haven't actually had an accident (shame you didn't read the full thread) and FFS how can they put your premium up if you haven't had an accident and the  accident you haven't had  hasn't altered your no claims bonus BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT OR CLAIMED OFF YOUR INSURANCE. (http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/mad/mad0235.gif)
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Bluetaurus on November 25, 2019, 17:09:14
Your quite correct Kona, I didn't read the full thread and assumed it was the op who had asked the question of his insurers.
I have no idea why you feel the need for hostile posting.
I thought the purpose of the forum was to exchange ideas and views.
When the op comes to renew the policy, having already informed them of the incident we can all learn if the premium is hiked or not. I was only offering a view based on the experience of friends who had no fault accidents.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: egg on November 26, 2019, 14:18:35
Your spot on Bluetaurus about the use of forums.

Also having first hand experience of my premium going up on renewal (which I declined) after being the owner of a vehicle of which was hit by a bus whilst parked up and not claiming off my insurance, that said my no claims discount wasn't affected. I then had to tell every insurance company about the non blame accident/incident call it what you may for the next 5 years.

Even if you don't tell your insurance company about an accident these days chances are they'll find out about it through a 3rd party with everything being online and shared between companies to try and stop the fraudulent claims. Now that's a another storey.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Bluetaurus on November 26, 2019, 16:27:15
Exactly egg
It's all kept on a central data base so there is no escaping their grasping greedy fingers.
When I purchased my new car I was going to take out an after market dent and scratch insurance,  only to be advised that technically I should tell my insurance  company each time I claim even though it would not cost my insurance  company a penny.
I declined to take up the option in the end.
Totally rediculous how customers get penalised all the time.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: egg on November 26, 2019, 17:45:57

When I purchased my new car I was going to take out an after market dent and scratch insurance,  only to be advised that technically I should tell my insurance  company each time I claim even though it would not cost my insurance  company a penny.


I've always been told with a dent and scratch policy no need to tell your insurance company. I used 1 for a merc I had. Did 3 claims a year for 3 years. Never told my insurance company about it.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: Bluetaurus on November 26, 2019, 18:12:19
To be fair,
The dent insurance company did say they dont share personal details but it did make me think.
Title: Re: Car damaged when in for repair
Post by: eye30 on November 26, 2019, 20:54:06
Many years ago my parked car was crashed into while i was in a shop.

It so happened that the insured was with the same company as me.

When I rang to inform, as per t&c's, I was told it had already been recorded against my policy as other person had reported accident.

Was told ncd would not change but the premium would be assessed at renewal before deducting ncd.

From memory the premium did go up so I phoned and argued as not actually in the car and nonfault plus they had recoved full cost, which they couldn't deny as same company, premium was recalculated and I actually paid less than the previous year!