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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that a courtesy car should not be a hidden credit hire car

136 replies

whydoieven · 21/11/2024 20:37

I was involved in a road traffic accident just over week ago (Wednesday 13th) where I was at no fault.

The garage (through the insurance) couldn't pick up till Tuesday (19th). I have cover where I get a courtesy car. When I phoned to update the insurance on Thursday (14th) to say I will need a courtesy car on the Tuesday(19th) they practically threw the car at me to take it the next day (15th). I said my car was still drivable (hardly any damage) and I didn't need it, but in the end I relented.

Because it was such an odd conversation, I started investigating. It turns out that I didn't get a courtesy car, I got a credit hire car, which the "courtesy car" company confirmed yesterday.

I had no idea that my contract is with the hire company. This means that if the other party's insurance objects to the money they have to pay out because of my costs, I am liable for the hire costs if they decide to pursue it. The credit hire means that the hire car can cost £££ per day and it all mounts up. Especially, as I didn't get given a compact car like I expected and my own car is expected to take 3 weeks. I feel like my insurance company, the car hire company and the garage are making money from this, but ultimately I am liable.

AIBU - you should know that courtesy cars can be credit hire cars.
YANBU - it's a racket

OP posts:
whydoieven · 21/11/2024 21:12

BobLemon · 21/11/2024 21:10

And the insurers will 100% be getting a kick back. Except they’ll call it a rebate.

Yes, and the garage too, I should think.

OP posts:
BobLemon · 21/11/2024 21:12

I had a claim about 4 years ago, similarly they practically threw the car at me (I didn’t have courtesy car cover - but they offered me an incentive if I accepted it!!). The claim handler guy basically admitted it’s a racket and he was sure the industry would get clamped down on soon.

whydoieven · 21/11/2024 21:11

Wowjustwow99 · 21/11/2024 21:07

Which insurance company are you with and who is the credit hire company?

You will have had to sign a credit hire agreement before they delivered you the vehicle. It is also a credit against your name until all costs are recovered.

It's a scary thing that no one wants to tell you about !

Churchill is the insurance company. Auxillis is the hire company.

I signed the agreement without realising it. I wish that insurance companies were more transparent about this.

OP posts:
BobLemon · 21/11/2024 21:10

And the insurers will 100% be getting a kick back. Except they’ll call it a rebate.

MrsCarson · 21/11/2024 21:09

YANBU
When you have cover for a car while yours is in the garage, your insurance should cover, not send you a rental and hope the other cars insurance covers it.

TheRutshireWI · 21/11/2024 21:08

Are you proceeding through your insurers or did they pass you on to a claims management company?

whydoieven · 21/11/2024 21:08

I have because at the time I thought I was getting a courtesy car. I didn't start investigating until after I received the car. The initial conversation with Churchill kept playing on my mind over the weekend so that is when I started investigating.

OP posts:
Wowjustwow99 · 21/11/2024 21:07

Which insurance company are you with and who is the credit hire company?

You will have had to sign a credit hire agreement before they delivered you the vehicle. It is also a credit against your name until all costs are recovered.

It's a scary thing that no one wants to tell you about !

ichundich · 21/11/2024 21:04

Have you signed anything?

whydoieven · 21/11/2024 20:58

@Nogaxeh as far as I can tell, a credit hire is like a loan while a hire car (direct hire) is a rental.

All I know is that a credit hire company recovers the cost from the third party insurance, but if they refuse to pay it then I am liable. So hire car might cost me say £40 a day to hire, but a credit hire could cost the third party insurance a couple of hundred for the same car. This mounts up if they refuse to pay it and the credit hire company goes after you.

OP posts:
Nogaxeh · 21/11/2024 20:43

What's the difference between a "credit hire car" and a "hire car"?