Is this normal for car insurance?

[Dinoswearunderpants]

Hi all

I have no clue regarding car insurance and claims. Someone hit my car whilst it was parked (perfectly in a bay!). She reversed into my car and damaged the door.

She's admitted fault, there's witnesses etc. I put a claim in via my insurers and they said they'd cover full repairs, hire car and up to £250 to replace my car seat (Axkidd so cost £380!).

They said it would be logged as a no fault claim. My no claims wouldn't be affected.

I have everything arranged and booked in for a repair next week yet the other persons insurers have just called me saying I could claim via them. They said they'd do the same as my insurers but they should cover the full replacement cost of the car seat plus they've offered me £400 as a bonus for going through them.

I asked them why they'd want me to go through them and they explained it will be quicker and cheaper for them to deal with me directly rather than deal with my insurers.

It seems a bit too good to be true. Has anyone experienced something like this before please?

I would advise against that. What looked like minor damage to my car took about 10 weeks to repair due to parts availability. Courtesy car cost the other drivers insurance company 8k! Would the other party be able to afford this?

So I just called my insurers to ask if this was standard practise and they said yes it was. Apparently its a way so they can control the costs more.

They've offered two solutions. 1. They pay x amount and I just go off and get the repairs done myself. 2. They can arrange for the repairs and also cover a hire car.

It feels like a non brainer getting the £400 in my pocket. Also I know a repairs shop so I'm getting a quote this weekend. The insurer would simply say we'll pay xx so for example if the insurer offers to pay £1000 but the repairs only cost £800, that's another £200.

And the other way round, if my quote comes out more than what the insurer are offering, I simply get them to arrange the repairs for me.