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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the person that hit my car should pay for it?

85 replies

BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 11:25

I don't understand car insurance - I'll start with that.

So my car was parked - and hit by a van - who just drove off!
Luckily it was outside my house so I have clear CCTV of it.

I only had third party party insurance (I now know that was silly)

Anyway - I contacted my insurance to notify them. I couldn't claim with them, but they were very helpful and passed me onto Enterprise (the rental company) who said they would pursue a claim against the van divers insurance.

I've just chased them up, (Its been a month), and they've said that they contacted his insurance company - but they haven't responded, so its now "out of their timeframe"

So .. he just gets way with it? :-(

OP posts:
Original poster
BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 11:49

AlltheFs · 12/05/2023 11:45

I understood the post to mean that the van that hit her car was on hire, hence the hire company involvement.
Can you clarify that @BunnyMum2000?

Show quote history

No it was my personal car (not a rental).

but my insurance referred not to Enterprise (who didn’t give me a rental) .. nos said they would pursue the claim against his insurance.

OP posts:
Banditdog · 12/05/2023 11:50

Banditdog · 12/05/2023 11:49

You are still not getting it.

Yes because OP only has third party insurance, her own insurance company will never cover her losses should she have any.

What people are saying is that the van drivers insurance should cover the OP’s damage.

Show quote history

Although I would add, that in this case, there is no reason why the OP’s insurance company should help her with her claim, it is nothing to do with them because she only has third party cover and she is seeking for her own losses. OP is going to have to chase this up all by herself.

Original poster
BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 11:51

loudbatperson · 12/05/2023 11:46

Enterprise wouldn't be handling your claim against the third parties insurers for you. It's very strange they have offered that, unless they passed you over to a claim management company.

If so, there are a lot of shady operators in this field and you could end up with a large bill.

You can look up the vans insurer yourself and contact them to directly make a claim.

How do I look up his insurance? I have his number plate but that’s it.

OP posts:
Noodledoodledoo · 12/05/2023 11:52

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 12/05/2023 11:42

I just copied the advice on the RAC website to everyone saying i was wrong

This is if you cause an accident, your cars damage isn't covered.

If someone hits you - your insurance should be unaffected as the other parties insurance will cover the costs.

In this case, if the driver/vehicle has been identified then it is their insurance that should cover costs. .

Original poster
BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 11:54

PawPrintsInMyPansies · 12/05/2023 11:49

your car is covered TPF&T, so accidental damage to your car is not covered by your policy.

if you are involved in a non-fault accident, which this appears to be, then damages can be claimed from the insurer of the fault car.

I don’t know where enterprise
comes into it (likely credit hire or credit repair as mentioned by a PP), but if you haven’t had a hire car OR had your car repaired by an accident management company, then what you need to do is report the incident to the police and ask them to proved the other persons insurance details. This is free. You then contact their insurers and report the incident to them. They will contact their insured and if he admits liability, deal with your repairs.

As the other party failed to stop, they may deny involvement, so keep hold of any evidence you have which shows they hit your car. It will take longer to deal with, but with evidence your claim should succeed.

Thank you, that’s helpful.

I have reported it to the police, so I will ask them for his insurance details.

I’ve not had a rental, and my car has not been fixed yet - it’s still sat there looking very sad, as I was hoping his insurance company would take care of the repairs.

OP posts:
loudbatperson · 12/05/2023 11:55

@BunnyMum2000

www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx

parietal · 12/05/2023 11:55

i'm also confused by the rental.

I think the situation is
OP's private car with third party insurance is parked in the street
Rented van from Enterprise hits the car

OP first contacts Enterprise because they own the van (rented out to a bad driver).

OP needs to find a way to claim from VanDriver's insurance policy because her own doesn't cover anything.

@BunnyMum2000 - is that right?

Dishwashersaurous · 12/05/2023 11:55

Who told you to contact enterprise?

You need to contact his insurers. The police might be able to help get the details.

His insurers need to pay to fix the damage.

Neilsfavouritechilli · 12/05/2023 11:56

I think pp's are enquiring whether the van was a rental via enterprise, hence they'll have it insured.

Mardiarse · 12/05/2023 11:57

@Youcancallmeirrelevant
It’s the bit where it says ‘if YOU cause and accident’ that the third party insurance guideline you have copied apply to.
The op didn’t cause the accident, the van driver did and van drivers insurance should cover any damages on their insurance.

Original poster
BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 11:57

parietal · 12/05/2023 11:55

i'm also confused by the rental.

I think the situation is
OP's private car with third party insurance is parked in the street
Rented van from Enterprise hits the car

OP first contacts Enterprise because they own the van (rented out to a bad driver).

OP needs to find a way to claim from VanDriver's insurance policy because her own doesn't cover anything.

@BunnyMum2000 - is that right?

No the van that hit me was not a rental ( I don’t know who owns it)

my insurance company passed me over to Enterprise saying they would pursue a claim for me.

OP posts:
Reugny · 12/05/2023 11:59

I’ve not had a rental, and my car has not been fixed yet - it’s still sat there looking very sad, as I was hoping his insurance company would take care of the repairs.

You don't want his insurance company to take care of your repairs.

Only because if they screw up you have no legal come back against them. You want to sort out your own repairs out with their written agreement that they will pay the bill. You will probably need to get 3 written quotes for the damage now so if you take it to Court you can state you want the middle amount.

I was hit by a large van while parked years ago. A witness saw it and so the driver admitted it. Anyway I looked up the difference between them sorting out the repairs and my insurance doing it, as I have comprehensive insurance, and that's the info I found out.

Dishwashersaurous · 12/05/2023 12:00

You need to go back to your insurance company and explain that the van was not rented and that you want them to contact the van drivers insurance to organise a payout.

Someone has simply got confused somewhere along the line.

Make sure you take notes of the date, time and outcome of all phone calls

GCWorkNightmare · 12/05/2023 12:01

BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 11:49

No it was my personal car (not a rental).

but my insurance referred not to Enterprise (who didn’t give me a rental) .. nos said they would pursue the claim against his insurance.

Show quote history

Hard to see why Enterprise would. They wouldn’t get anything out of this arrangement?

Dixiechickonhols · 12/05/2023 12:02

Ignore enterprise.
Just get in touch with van’s insurer and sort yourself.
Their insured has damaged your car. You have cctv proof/police ref. They can either inspect car and repair or will ask you to supply a quote for repair.
Be alert to anyone offering you a ‘free’ hire car whilst yours is repaired (credit hire)

Oldnproud · 12/05/2023 12:05

BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 11:32

I did report it to the police and they are pursing it - so hopefully he gets charged / fined.

I didn't really understand why I was referred to the rental company - but they said they would pursue a claim against his insurance on my behalf - because they could see on a database that he had insurance.

Believe me, the driver will almost certainly not get off with this. As you've reported it to police and have proof, they will more than likely get a summons, and potentially have many stressful and expensive months ahead of them leading up to at least a fine and points on their licence.

Original poster
BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 12:06

Thank you for all your replies x

my heart hurts!

so .. I think my course of action now is:

  • contact the police and ask them to provide me with the van drivers details.
  • contact his insurance to ask them to cover the costs of the repairs
  • get three quotes for the repairs, and get the car fixed myself

?

OP posts:
FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 12/05/2023 12:07

I can explain a bit.
You can't claim from your insurers as you know as you are not comp.
In those circumstances the insurer may refer you to an accident management company, in this case Enterprise. They will usually put you in a credit hire car and negotiate repairs with the at fault insurance company. They will only take on cases where they are 99% sure to get their money, for the repairs and the hire. One of their criteria will be that they have to have a response within x time from the insurer.
They are no longer interested.
In your shoes, ask either your insurer or enterprise for the contact details for the insurer. Call them directly and submit your claim directly to them. If you have cctv with the clear reg number they should deal with your claim directly.

Dixiechickonhols · 12/05/2023 12:07

GCWorkNightmare · 12/05/2023 12:01

Hard to see why Enterprise would. They wouldn’t get anything out of this arrangement?

Show quote history

Enterprise may well be set up to hire op a car whilst hers is repaired then claim back cost of hire along with the repairs from van insurance - credit hire - rates are very inflated.

Original poster
BunnyMum2000 · 12/05/2023 12:08

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 12/05/2023 12:07

I can explain a bit.
You can't claim from your insurers as you know as you are not comp.
In those circumstances the insurer may refer you to an accident management company, in this case Enterprise. They will usually put you in a credit hire car and negotiate repairs with the at fault insurance company. They will only take on cases where they are 99% sure to get their money, for the repairs and the hire. One of their criteria will be that they have to have a response within x time from the insurer.
They are no longer interested.
In your shoes, ask either your insurer or enterprise for the contact details for the insurer. Call them directly and submit your claim directly to them. If you have cctv with the clear reg number they should deal with your claim directly.

Yes, thank you. That makes sense x

OP posts:
Margarita45 · 12/05/2023 12:13

loudbatperson · 12/05/2023 11:46

Enterprise wouldn't be handling your claim against the third parties insurers for you. It's very strange they have offered that, unless they passed you over to a claim management company.

If so, there are a lot of shady operators in this field and you could end up with a large bill.

You can look up the vans insurer yourself and contact them to directly make a claim.

Enterprise are also a credit hire/claims management company!

I have fully comp insurance with a reputable insurer and they use enterprise for non fault claims rather than have an in house team. I believe it’s a relatively new arm to enterprise though.

Margarita45 · 12/05/2023 12:15

Also, I’d you do use enterprise, prepare yourself for a very painful process. They are truly awful.

PinkCast · 12/05/2023 12:23

Thank you Sue Perb for explaining why Enterprise came into it, the fact they are also a car rental co confused me.
Best of luck @BunnyMum2000, sounds like you have a solid case & TG for CCTV.

UpTheAnte · 12/05/2023 12:28

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 12/05/2023 11:42

I just copied the advice on the RAC website to everyone saying i was wrong

No, PP's are correct. This says '...if you cause the accident..' only the third party's costs will be covered.

OP didn't cause this so would recover her costs from the person that hit her. This is where she is struggling now.