Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm in trouble

324 replies

drintrouble · 13/01/2023 11:15

Changed name as don't want to be found out.
I'm in trouble. Can anyone give me some encouragement/advice how to go about it.
Last winter I have passed my driving test. And 2 weeks later crashed my car into somebody else- totally my fault. Came out, gave the other driver, a woman, my details, all the info. She did not give me anything of hers, except, her husband's telephone number. I took a video and few pictures of her car. The only damage that I could see was broken plastic on the taillight. Rang her husband same evening, we spoke about the damage, but, strangely, he kept repeating that he was driving at the time of the accident! There were no other people in the car, just the woman driver. In the phone conversation the man said that the damage was not bad, he could buy light on ebay and, if I gave him the money, we could do it privately. I wasn't sure about it, but agreed. He rang me next morning and demanded £4,000. I was absolutely certain that that was over the top and asked if he could take his car to my mechanic. He refused. Then I said I prefer to go through my insurance.
When I checked my insurance documents, I found out it ran out literally 2 days before the accident. Totally my fault, but because if lockdowns and instructor shortages and tests not being available for months, I have bought insurance just for a month before my test, and completely forgot about it.
I have panicked, rang the man, told him that I am refusing to pay £4k and asked him to come with realistic price. Never told him that I did not have insurance.
Nothing happened for a year and yesterday my husband, who is registered on this car, have received a letter from an insurance company asking him to answer questions about the accident, mentioning the female driver- me.
I know I am in trouble BIG TIME, but how would you act? Tell the truth, but insist that the other car was driven by the female- letter doesn't say who the other driver was. I know that something dodgy is going on (from my side as well!), but what to do now? I have a female driver after the accident on a video, when she was talking to her husband. She couldn't leave the site of the accident fast enough.
Please, don't kick me for what I did, but I have thought £4k is excessive and have panicked about the insurance.
What would you do?

OP posts:
UsuallySuze · 13/01/2023 12:52

Testina · 13/01/2023 11:22

I would respond honestly to the insurance company, stating:

  • these are the facts of the accident
  • that you met your obligation to provide details
  • the other driver requested to settle directly
  • you decided against that because the other driver started lying about who was driving
  • on checking your policy you realised you’d made a date mistake
  • you immediately rectified that and took out insurance
  • you didn’t hear from the other driver again and assumed that was because they also had an insurance issue to cause them to lie about who was driving

Let their insurance company tell them that the other party disputes who was driving.

Stay honest.

You’re not going to prison for a lapsed policy you didn’t lie to claim on!

This is the correct advice.

LikeaHurricane · 13/01/2023 12:53

Oh, @drintrouble People have done much worse than this. Nobody has been hurt and you haven't set out to intentionally hurt anyone. you've just got yourself in a mess by being a bit naive and inexperienced. It's a legal requirement to inform insurance companies after any accident. It protects everyone involved and prevents this sort of thing happening. You know that now.

So...

Please take the PP brilliant advice and answer the questions honestly.
Do not pay any money to this couple, otherwise when will their demands end?

You need to free yourself of this situation now. This is not going to go away until you do. You must be worried sick and continually wondering what's going to happen next.

Telll the truth and deal with it honestly. It might feel scary for a while, but worse case scenario is a fine and you lose your licence for a while, but you gain peace and that's priceless.

I'm here with a virtual handhold 🤗

Ursuala · 13/01/2023 12:53

And I suspect has been somewhat scanty with the detail re the “confusion” around driving test, lockdown and insurance

liveforsummer · 13/01/2023 12:53

Whether the other driver was uninsured or not doesn't actually absolve the op from any trouble on her part though. It's not a case of 2 wrongs making a right and the video might not even class as evidence. Husband could say he was out of shot, woman could say she was on phone to someone else. The only thing that can be proved beyond all doubt is that op was uninsured if driving on that day

RoseslnTheHospital · 13/01/2023 12:54

Except that it needs to be the OPs husband that speaks to the insurance company about his insurance on which the OP is a named driver. If that's correct, as the OP was a bit unclear on it.

Ursuala · 13/01/2023 12:55

I am afraid that “forgetting” to insure your vehicle is not a valid reason for an insurance company.

the nano second the date is confirmed as such, they will terminate the policy and have nothing further to do with the claim

(7 years liability claims handling experience)

Ursuala · 13/01/2023 12:55

RoseslnTheHospital · 13/01/2023 12:54

Except that it needs to be the OPs husband that speaks to the insurance company about his insurance on which the OP is a named driver. If that's correct, as the OP was a bit unclear on it.

Yes she is completely wrong in referring to “my” insurance

wombat1a · 13/01/2023 12:56

Driving without insurance is 6 points, 6 points in the first two years of having a license gets it revoked, however given the mitigating circumstances I doubt it would go that far. Just let your husband fill in the form saying you were driving and see what happens. The other insurance company will be far more interested in recovering the money they spend (probably) on the repair of their insurance persons car than shopping you to the police. If they can't claim from your insurance company (because it doesn't exist) then they might raise an invoice against you instead. Or they might just write it off as an uninsured item. Then hopefully its an end to it and a lesson learned.

AnotherAppleThief · 13/01/2023 12:57

Kinnorafron · 13/01/2023 12:47

Only one thing for it. Admit and be honest about everything and accept that you will likely lose your license for a period of time and be heavily fined
Utter bullshit - no-one's getting banned for no insurance unless they already have a lot of points. Why do people post ill-informed ignorant bollocks?

Show quote history

Well because I insurance is 6 points, and you only need 6 points in your first 2 years to lose your licence and have to take your test again.

Ursuala · 13/01/2023 12:58

Kinnorafron · 13/01/2023 12:47

Only one thing for it. Admit and be honest about everything and accept that you will likely lose your license for a period of time and be heavily fined
Utter bullshit - no-one's getting banned for no insurance unless they already have a lot of points. Why do people post ill-informed ignorant bollocks?

Show quote history

Driving uninsured is a CRIMINAL OFFENCE

the insurer will not engage with the claim, will terminate the policy and will be recorded on the IFB

Ursuala · 13/01/2023 12:59

Posters should remember the poor Partner has no idea what’s coming his way as the OP has concealed the incident from him.

and he’s the keeper of the vehicle!

DinnerThyme · 13/01/2023 12:59

People seem to be forgetting that it’s not just about the point for no insurance. Neither OP nor her DH have a hope in hell of getting car insurance again because their policy will be revoked and that is a nightmare to try and get any insurance again after.

MadeForThis · 13/01/2023 12:59

As you were uninsured at the time of the accident the only thing your current insurance company will be interested in is if you lied when buying the policy. They may cancel your current insurance.

The other party's insurance company will deal directly with you. Will report you to the police for driving with no insurance and may pursue a civil claim for damages.

Your insurance company won't care about any details of the claim as you were not insured at the time of the accident.

BaconMassive · 13/01/2023 12:59

I thought there was some restriction on how long an insurance company will allow a claim to be made after the date of the incident. I thought that was weeks at most, not a whole year.

Are you sure this insurance letter received is genuine?

Chubbernut · 13/01/2023 13:00

BaconMassive · 13/01/2023 12:59

I thought there was some restriction on how long an insurance company will allow a claim to be made after the date of the incident. I thought that was weeks at most, not a whole year.

Are you sure this insurance letter received is genuine?

This is a really good point. How do you know if it’s genuine, OP?

ShakespearesBlister · 13/01/2023 13:01

The evidence you have that her husband is lying and she was driving makes things look worse for them to be honest. You've got proof she was driving and he wasn't. You'll probably find she wasn't meant to be driving herself. You were a bit silly letting your insurance slip but what they are doing is serious fraud. I wouldn't be surprised if she would lose her license because of previous incidents if they admitted she was driving, so he's trying to cover her back to keep her out of trouble. Don't pay. Show your evidence to the company who contacted you and tell them exactly what really happened and that they lied about who was driving.

Boulshired · 13/01/2023 13:01

I would be handing no details until the clarity of the claim was established including the driver, leaving an elapsed time plays in her favour. Action is meant to be taken as soon as possible

SnowyGiveAway · 13/01/2023 13:02

OP my husband was caught driving without insurance. We had changed cars twice in a short period and forgot to update the insurance the second time. These things happen.

He was stopped, fined (I believe) and given 6 points. For a few years after his insurance was a lot more expensive, but it's back to normal rates now.

These mistakes happen. They cost money to rectify but are not catastrophic. Lying would be far worse as it's unlikely you'd get away with it. Just tell the truth and take the (limited) financial hit. That's all that will happen

liveforsummer · 13/01/2023 13:04

ShakespearesBlister · 13/01/2023 13:01

The evidence you have that her husband is lying and she was driving makes things look worse for them to be honest. You've got proof she was driving and he wasn't. You'll probably find she wasn't meant to be driving herself. You were a bit silly letting your insurance slip but what they are doing is serious fraud. I wouldn't be surprised if she would lose her license because of previous incidents if they admitted she was driving, so he's trying to cover her back to keep her out of trouble. Don't pay. Show your evidence to the company who contacted you and tell them exactly what really happened and that they lied about who was driving.

That won't make any difference to any consequences to OP though...

FloydPepper · 13/01/2023 13:05

Dillydollydingdong · 13/01/2023 11:21

If you took photo evidence of the damage (or lack of it) to their car, I'd ignore the demand for £4000. Tell them to go through their insurance and make it clear that you know the woman was driving. You probably won't hear any more about it. They're trying it on.

I think this. I’d guess she’s not insured so won’t go through insurance. You’re not (they don’t know that) so you wont

it might well all go away.

and yes, ensure you stay on top of your insurance in future (you know this)

FloydPepper · 13/01/2023 13:06

Ignore me, you had a letter from presumably their insurance

BaconMassive · 13/01/2023 13:06

Another reason some verification over the validity of this insurance letter is needed is what sort of insurance company allows a claim from a year ago?

Thinking about this, at some time over that period the insurance will have needed to be renewed? No insurer is going to renew and then deal with a claim based on the previous policy that wasn't already reported?

Surely as part of the renewal quote you have to declare accidents, and therefore get a different price based on that information.

Taking this into account and the previous information around the driver identity and the seemingly high demand for money makes me suspicious. VERY suspicious.

liveforsummer · 13/01/2023 13:06

Ursuala · 13/01/2023 12:59

Posters should remember the poor Partner has no idea what’s coming his way as the OP has concealed the incident from him.

and he’s the keeper of the vehicle!

Has she? Where did she say that? I've skim ready over again and don't see that

NeonEyes · 13/01/2023 13:07

So many scummy people.

OP had no insurance, the other driver was clearly dodgy as fuck. People on here trying to encourage insurance fraud.

Makes me sick. My son is a newish young driver. He’s spent thousands on learning to drive and insurance, it really pisses me off that others don’t bother and have the potential to cause others so much stress, money and inconvenience.

stayathomegardener · 13/01/2023 13:12

I'd ring the guy again asking if he really wants to go through with this claim and remind him you have the video of the woman driver phoning him. He'll send him the video.