Car crash - they're asking for more money as she's saying her car a write off

[tangerinedays]

Had a bump yesterday. She's saying it's my fault, I think she was going far too fast, but not really about that. She's saying it will cost £1,000 to fix her car but the insurers will just write it off for around £500 (we were both in crappy runarounds). She's already cross that I told insurers (I think you legally have to) because she just wanted me to pay the £1000. I feel like this is surely what I have insurance for? We live in a small town. I don't know her, but do vaguely know some of her family and friends. AIBU to just shut her down and tell her to deal with insurers?

Absolutely. Go through insurance

Do not engage with her at all. Leave it come pretty up to the insurers to deal with.

Forward and correspondence from her to the insurers and let them reply.

Never go outside insurance as the other party can still turn around and claim through their insurance even after you pay them (their costs always seem to escalate too).

This is exactly what insurance is for. Even going through your insurer, there's a ton of admin, why take on all the risk and responsibility yourself when you pay insurance to do this life admin for you? A pain in the arse for her if indeed the car is decent and gets written off, but not a lot you can do.

Ok, great. She turned up at my house asking for the money (having apparently got a quote within three hours of the incident). Then two members of her family pitched up. Urgh, just don't need this stress in my life right now!

Definitely go through insurers and don’t personally engage with her further. Don’t give her any money directly.

You have insurance. If her car is worth it, her insurance company will pay her £1000. If her car is only insured for £500, that is what they will pay her. They will then claim it from your insurance company.

She seems to think she will get more from you directly which suggests she either doesn’t have insurance or is a chance.

Go through insurance!

She thinks she can make some money out of you. My advice is to leave it to your insurance company to sort out. Legally you did the right thing.

Do not communicate with her anymore. If she continues to hassle her report her to the police for harassment.

If her or her family try to intimidate you into giving money/not going through insurance then contact the police.

Don't engage with her on any level. Keep a record of any harrassment and report to 101 if it escalates. Don't answer the door if they turn up.

The insurance companies will decide who is at fault and how much to pay out etc, she cannot ask you for money. They will also pay her excess if its not her fault.

You did the right thing, go via the insurance.
If she or her family hassle you call the police.

Go through insurance
but chances are they will write her car off so take excess of tax u lose and cost to change policy
she’ll of gone from a serviceable car to ending up e a few hundred pounds
and no car

My advice is to take your phone and record every time someone turns up at your door and demands money. Then you can go to the police with it.

Do not engage with any of them. If she or anyone else contacts you again tell the Police. They are trying to con you.

Thanks for the advice everyone... I hate cars!!

Yes, definitely inform insurance. You don't know if there will be a Personal Claims injury that will come through at some time in the future.... especially with the demanding behaviour being demonstrated.

Did you get the other person's insurance details?

I was in your position years ago and paid the person off which was a huge mistake because they pestered me for ages saying that it wasn't enough and wah wah wah - i'd never do it again and would always advise people to use insurance.

The insurance will also look at the facts to work out liability. If they really can't it will be done fairly. She can't just say it was your fault and demand you pay up direct!

Did you get her insurance details - wondering if she even has insurance. But not your worry right now - let your insurance company sort it all out. You did the right thing getting in touch with them straight away.

I was crashed into recently and the lady wrote my car off. I wouldn't DREAM of going round her house and demanding money. It was easy to go through insurance (as the no fault party). You both really need to do that. If she calls round again I'd call the police.

The way she's pestering sounds very much like a scam.

Let your insurers sort it out.

As for them calling round expecting you to hand over a grand? Fuck that.

They are CF’s trying to intimidate you. Let them know that if any of them show up at your place again, police will be called. Fuck them.

She sounds like a scammer.

What were the circumstances of the bump?