To want the garage to pay not the insurance?

[sitandnatter]

I've had a bad day so please go easy on me. Driving my car and at 40 the wheel shook and 50 it felt like I was being rattled it shook that much.

Took it to garage one to be told it needs a steel rim and tyre but they can't do it. So I take it to the dealership, very nice but paid through the nose as you do.

Drove off home only to be flashed, the tyre rim had come off hit another car and damaged the bumper of the car behind, front bumper of course, and rim is mushed.

I called the garage but most had gone home told to put it through my insurance but that would mean I would lose my no claims, I showed the other driver the receipt for the repair to the tyre with the missing trim, he says dealership should sort it and he doesn't want me out of pocket.

He is a mechanic!! I say I want the dealership to pay but now have to wait until Thursday for the manager to be in the dealership to decide what should happen.

AIBU to think the garage should pay directly and leave my insurance out of it, it's their fault they didn't put the trim on properly?

You are absolutely NBU. If there is to be a claim against insurance, it should be against the garage's own insurance. Stand firm and don't let them fob you off.

Thanks Zillion, if I involve my insurance and it's "my cars fault" I lose a claim and it's their dodgy repair, they can replace my rim while they are at it.

Do NOT go through the insurance. That is outrageous!

Thanks Kayano, what happens though if the garage refuse to pay and I haven't reported it to the insurance by Thursday when the garage manager is back at work? Is that not reporting an accident although it wasn't really an accident it was a trim flying off and hitting another car.

The garage should pay up without question.They should have liability insurance that will cover, but would probably choose to settle it themselves to avoid a hike in premiums.

If they suggest otherwise, ie going to your insurers, i would say i will, but only after i have discussed it with the local paper. They will see sense.

If you do have to revert to your insurers, they will not have an issue with you not reporting until you have tried to sort it with the garage. Keep the other guy on side if you can.

The other guy was sound, I showed him the receipt from the garage and he said he didn't want it on my insurance as not my fault, now whether he will feel like that tomorrow I don't know, we have exchanged telephone numbers and registration numbers.

I have said to him that any letters he needs, witness statements etc. I will most certainly supply him and I will. If he wants to go through my insurance once he looks into it, then I might be stuffed, but I've shown him the receipt for the repair and he so far agrees with me that I shouldn't be out of pocket and his damage is small.

If I have to lose my no claims which is over 20 years, then I'll seek compensation for that from the dealership if I can.