Car insurance company demanding money

[Ub12]

Sorry for long post. Some time ago DH received call from car insurance company that someone reported that DH hit his car (so hard that apparently bumper fallen off). Nothing like this happened - DH was parked in the area but was long gone when supposed accident happened. They had witness. Insurance send someone to check our car for corresponding damage. They found nothing n the guy said it’s most likely scam as there’s no way our car was in that accident. Then we received letter from the police saying that they were investing. We filled all the forms. After some time police send us letter that as there’s no prove they dropped investigation. Today we received a letter from insurance saying that they paid the claim and demanding money from us. Any advice? Would you pay?

The first we’ve heard it was from our insurance company. (As the accident never happened- I assume we’d have realised if we hit someone hard enough for bumper to fall off so there was no exchange of details or anything like that). They said someone made 3rd party claim. Now our insurance company said they paid the claim (although there’s no prove but one witness and check up of our car showed not even a scratch corresponding with the damage on the other car) and that we need to pay some of it back.

Raise a formal complaint with them! If no joy go to the ombudsman .

This sounds like a scam letter?! Give your insurance company a call. Even if they had paid someone else's claim against you, they don't just immediately demand money from you.

Phone your insurance company and ask. Do you have protected no claims?

Have they told you where the figure has come from e.g is it the full claim amount? Or a percentage?

Is it definitely your insurer and not the Motor Insurers Bureau?

Is your policy still in force now or has it been cancelled? Have there been any issues with the policy?

If they have paid the claim the you are liable for any excess on your policy. However, in the circumstances I do not understand why they would pay. Contact them and check that this is genuinely from them. If it is, I would complain.

If you have been given the exact time and date, and location etc, try to to see if you have any proof you were elsewhere, such as shop receipts, garage (fuel) receipts, and appointments, or at work.

Write a witness statement (send me a message, I can help with this if you want, am OK for you to phone me), explain where your car was that day, where all insured drivers were and send it to insurance with a covering letter and firmly refuse to pay, stating they have failed to investigate thoroughly therefore they are responsible with for their own loss (payment to other driver). The claim should have been investigated and repudiated.

OP shouldn’t have to pay the policy excess as she hasn’t made a claim for her own damage

OP shouldn’t have to pay the policy excess as she hasn’t made a claim for her own damage

Sorry - not thinking straight. You are quite right. I do not see any reason why the OP's insurers are asking her for money. It does not make sense that they have paid out, nor does it make sense that they are asking her for money. I wonder if this is a scam.

Thanks everyone. I wonder too if this is a scam of some kind. It doesn’t make sense why they’d pay. Requested more info from insurance company.

Did you use the contact details on the letter? If so, I would also try using the contact details on the policy if they are different.

Scam.

IME it takes months and months to settle even the most straightforward claim. Even when liability is admitted.
This involves thousands of emails and form filling.
I am certain this is a scam.