Car insurance refusing payout - now threatening court

54 replies

ditzzy · 17/12/2024 20:09

Someone reversed into the family car in the summer in a car park. No question of fault, we were nowhere near it and the driver immediately came to find us, apologised and handed over insurance details.

We handed everything over to the insurance company who sent a like for like hire car for three days while ours was fixed. It wasn’t a massive bump, but the bumper had to be taken off and some sensors replaced as well as cosmetic clean up.

All seemed fine until a few months later when our insurance said that their insurance was now refusing to pay up, citing that it was too expensive for the damage caused (£2000 of which £1600 was repair, £400 hire car).

The insurance company is fighting it on our behalf but DH has now been told that it’s going to court and he needs to be prepared for a court appearance!!

Is it just me, or is this ridiculous for a car park bump?

Has anyone else had this happen?

OP posts:

Mindymomo · 17/12/2024 20:24

@Atissues Yes, the car hire scam is ridiculous. A van hit my DS’s car in traffic. Our local garage is one of the recommended ones for repair and as it’s a friend who runs it, told him to be clear about only wanting car hire for a couple of days. When the hire car turned up it stated minimum of 10 days, my DS wouldn’t sign it and told them he only wanted it for a couple of days. After a phone call it was agreed for 4 days and even then we had to ring them to collect it as they weren’t in any hurry.

Op, I shouldn’t think it will make it to Court, but you never know.

Original poster

ditzzy · 17/12/2024 20:23

Thanks @Atissues at least if it’s not completely unheard of then we’re hopefully not walking into a scam!

DH is the kind of guy who needs to read every line of small print on everything so he’s tearing his hair out with the legal documents they keep sending him to sign (usually with a note saying not to worry about them just sign it; which never sounds good).

I guess the lawyers are the ones making a bob or two out of it all at the expense of DHs stress level

OP posts:

Atissues · 17/12/2024 20:21

The regulator should regulate this nonsense. Get three quotes and email to the paying insurer. Paying Insurer chooses from
the three and settles the bill.

Bet it would save money (but create less profit).

Now it’s all ‘preferred’ garages. And expensive courtesy cars. The consumer isn’t winning from this as you end up with unresolved claims at renewal time that push up the premium. And stress and worry about them not paying up and having to take time off for court.

Sorry op I hope you get it sorted.

Atissues · 17/12/2024 20:15

The wonderful world of insurance. Where you can’t get it fixed by a cheap local mechanic instead having to use ‘a recommended mechanic’. Who no doubt gives a cut or has an agreement with the insurer! Pushing up costs.

There was a thread on here recently about the scam that is hire cars.

I know someone who had similar - it never went to court. It got settled prior.

It just seems to be a way of dragging it out and a wise person once told me ‘ if it doesn’t make sense it’s because part of the tale is missing’. And with insurance that part is usually £s and profit that we aren’t aware of.

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