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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can anyone advise me - car incident

27 replies

BudgieBalls · 10/02/2019 11:55

Hi, probably not the place to post so apologies for that, but would like some advice re an incident I had in my car.

Reversed into a car the other day causing minimal damage - few small scratches on the bumper of their car, small scuff on mine. Found the owner of the car and they said to not go through insurance and just sort it ourselves. We exchanged details and I took photos.

I have got in touch with a few spray shops and have been quoted a reasonable price. I've tried getting in touch with the owner and they've not picked up the phone. I'm getting a bit worried now as I don't want them to go through insurance behind my back and it probably look worse on me, nor do I want to inform insurance myself if they're willing to settle it between us - for the sake of

OP posts:
Boobiliboobiliboo · 10/02/2019 11:57

If you hit a stationary vehicle it’s 100% your fault. Doesn’t matter how they were parked.

There is likely to be a clause in your insurance policy that you must tell them about incidents whether you claim or not.

FredFlinstoneMadeOfBones · 10/02/2019 12:01

I once scratched a park car (obviously 100% my fault). I left a note and someone contacted me the next day just saying "thanks for getting in touch will let you know" and never got back to me. They may have just decided they can't be bothered with the hassle of getting it fixed.

pleasepleasebequiet · 10/02/2019 12:03

OP in the nicest possible way it's not up to you whether the other party contacts the insurance company or not. Having been caught out myself by NOT going through the insurance company I'd recommend always doing this regardless of how small the damage seems.

FunkyBarnYardBroom · 10/02/2019 12:08

We were stationary in a car park. A big van reversed in to us.

We are still at a point where this hasn't been settled a year later.

When renewing we have had to state it was a fault claim as until it's settled everyone is assumed at fault. It's cost us a lot of money in higher renewals for each car.

I'm still furious about this. The other parties insurance company is not replying to ours and ours is not pushing for closure. Pissed me right off.

Original poster
BudgieBalls · 10/02/2019 12:13

I guess I knew it was 100% on me, and I would have informed the insurance company at the time - only they said to sort it between us. So now a week has gone past and it seems worse to let them know now as opposed to at the time 😩 I think if they wanted to sort it between us/aren't bothered by the scratches then they would answer the phone so that makes me think should tell my insurance.

OP posts:
Bigonesmallone3 · 10/02/2019 12:19

I think I would just wait to hear!
Obvs your aware it's your fault and so are they so why wouldn't they get you to pay out..
Unless they don't care about the damaged and can't be bothered?
Was it a particularly old or unloved looking car?

Original poster
BudgieBalls · 10/02/2019 12:33

No it was a nice enough car. Nothing fancy though.

OP posts:
AnotherOriginalUsername · 10/02/2019 12:35

If they aren't answering calls can you send a text? If this were my car (nothing flash but not a shit one either) I really wouldn't be bothered about a bit of cosmetic damage on the grounds that I know I'll never be selling it (ridiculously high mileage) so wouldn't be looking for you to do anything about it. I'd at least tell you that though...

pumpkinpie01 · 10/02/2019 12:41

I work in insurance. Lots of people say they will sort it out between themselves and then go to their insurers , there is nothing you can do about that that’s their prerogative. Some insurers aren’t bothered if you tell them about about a small accident months later (even if it says in your policy to advise them within 7 days) others are quite strict. I would get in touch with the person again by text though.

Bluelady · 10/02/2019 12:44

Same thing happened to me a few years ago. I never heard another thing from the owner of the parked car.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 10/02/2019 12:45

It'll be worse to tell them three weeks later than one week later. Do you have anything at all in writing from them?

minionsrule · 10/02/2019 12:47

I would text them one last time and maybe mention you are going to report it to insurers as you assume they don't want to sort it privately.... see if that prompts a response

Original poster
BudgieBalls · 10/02/2019 12:54

@AnotherOriginalUsername I wish it was you I bumped in to 😂 Same with my car though, with the damage received I'd be fine.

I've avoided texting as I didn't want anything in writing but maybe that's the way to go before I take it through insurance?

@Bluelady That is lucky. I doubt it'd go that way for me lol.

OP posts:
Original poster
BudgieBalls · 10/02/2019 13:00

Nothing in writing bar their details.

Minionsrule I'm thinking something along the lines of that, I need to word it in a way that they can't use it against me though - they suggested to sort between us, for example, although don't want to come across as pushy 😕

OP posts:
hazell42 · 10/02/2019 13:07

It might he something as simple as their phone does not accept unknown numbers. Send them a message. Tell them in the message that, as requested you haven't gone through insurance but are happy to if they change their mind. Say you are awaiting their reply and have had some quotes. Then do nothing

BettyR03 · 10/02/2019 13:10

Hi, I work in insurance. I would try and get in contact with the TP before contacting insurance, as if they haven’t reported anything, and you make your company aware, than the claim will be open for 6months to allow the TP to claim. If they don’t hear anything then this will still stay on your file for 5 years which will affect your premiums as it’s something reportable that’s happened in your driving history. Will go down as a fault claim, but as long as TP doesn’t claim then your NCB will not be affected.
Try texting TP before anything x

Original poster
BudgieBalls · 10/02/2019 15:20

Their phone rings they're just not picking up. I will text them along the lines of what's been advised, hopefully they will reply to a message. Just such a minor amount of damage it'd be a shame to have to go through insurance. Thanks for your help, appreciate it Smile

OP posts:
Lifecraft · 10/02/2019 15:24

I don't want to lose my no claims/pay excess/have increased prices next year.

You will only have to pay your exCess if you claim for your own damage. You don't pay the excess on t.p. damage.

YeOldeTrout · 10/02/2019 15:26

I could easily imagine if I was the other driver not doing anything about "a few small scratches." Not on my banger cars, anyway.

MamaWeasel · 10/02/2019 15:37

Could you try phoning them from a different phone, eg a land-line or someone else's mobile...... They might just answer?

GreenHouseKeeping · 10/02/2019 15:40

Goodness, why on earth are you chasing them ?

Just leave it, if they want money from you, they'll get in touch.

As a PP has said, if they want to go through their insurance, they are well within their rights to do so and YWBVU to try to talk them out of it. It would make you look really shady and untrustworthy and tbh make them even more likely to wish to go through official channels.

Don't worry too much about the insurance company, practically nobody apart from on Mumsnet reports a claim to their insurers as a matter of course.

Jessbow · 10/02/2019 15:45

I'd be keeping quiet myself.
If someone hit my car and said we'd be sorting it out between ourselves rather than insurance, I'd assume they were paying for my damage, as they hit me,( like you did), Or are you wanting their bill?

Original poster
BudgieBalls · 10/02/2019 15:59

I wouldn't claim for my own car, it would just polish out, so that's good if I wouldn't have to claim. I thought it was just standard.

I won't ring from another number though as they don't seem to want to talk to me.

And GreenHouseKeeping, when you put it like that, it does/I do seem a bit ridiculous. Although I'm not wanting to insist they don't go through insurance, only that if they have changed their mind they would tell me so I can inform mine as well - precisely so I don't come across as shady! Lol.

Yes I'm just wanting their bill so I can settle it and then I don't have to give it headspace.

OP posts:
MakeItAmazing · 10/02/2019 16:06

I was taken ill and rolled into a car. I waited two hours for the insurers to ring and when they didn't I rang them. I told them there was very minimal damage and they said I was right to tell them. Nothing ever came of it and it wasn't registered on my details.

GreenHouseKeeping · 10/02/2019 16:08

Just do nothing and hope it goes away!

As I've got older, I've realised that 'it' (whatever that might be) quite often does...