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Original poster

Car Insurance Confusion - Help Please!!

11 replies

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 05/12/2006 07:36

DH bumped into the back of someone at a roundabout last December - very very very slow (they were starting to pull away, stopped, DH didn't stop quite so quick). They had slight bumper damage - claim of £500.

Call at the beginning of the week from our insurers saying that they were now claiming injuries and that we would get a letter through.

Letter has come through, but not asking for more details like we were expecting, but saying "Your no claims bonus entitlement has been reinstated following the settlement of your claim. Your NCB now stands at 3 years, and X amount is being refunded"

Wha'????

Not complaining about being given money back, but we are completely confused - we were at fault. They claimed damages. They are meant to be claiming injury. Why are we being given our NCB back???

Anyone who understands and can explain for me??

OP posts:

sockmonkey · 05/12/2006 07:50

The only thing I can think of is that if you are both with the same or affiliated companies, sometimes they have a deal that they don't claim from each other. It happened to my SIL, but that was a 50/50 accident.

saadia · 05/12/2006 07:52

Are you sure you didn't misunderstand the 'phone conversation? Although it is tempting to just leave things and take the refund I would call them just to verify. There may have been a mix-up at the insurance company.

MerryBiglipsmas · 05/12/2006 07:54

Flame - ring them up as defo a confusion as i used to work in the claims dept (this is the service dept situation) even i dont understand about the NCD too

Original poster

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 05/12/2006 07:58

Thanks. The phone call was very clear - both myself and DH spoke to the guy (he called me, explained what he wanted and then called DH at work)... unless there was something dodgy about that phone call Suddenly dawned on me that he told me all about it when it was DH's accident, his insurance, and I am just a named driver

I'll get DH to ring later. As tempting as it is to take the money and run, it all seems odd...

OP posts:

MerryBiglipsmas · 05/12/2006 08:05

as youre a named driver - the insurance shouldnt of told u anything as its your Dh's insurance (as you have said) - unless there was a password on the policy and you told them that? as we werent allowed to tell anyone apart from the pollicyholder about anything - i mean ANYTHING! unless there was a password and the named driver knew what is was...due to Data Protection Act

MerryBiglipsmas · 05/12/2006 08:06

the guy - u mean the insurance company? or the third party?

Original poster

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 05/12/2006 08:10

The insurance company... and no, there was no password. Its one of those conversations that completely throw you at the time so you d on't process whether it is geniune until later.

I am going to get DH to ask about this letter and the phonecall.

OP posts:

OnXmasdayinthemorgan · 05/12/2006 09:18

Hi Flame. I used to do car insurance claims before kids. You would not get your ncb back unless the ins co can get back the money they paid to the other driver which seems unlikely as your dh was deemed to be at fault for the accident. The letter seems like an error to me. There is no prob if the other driver does claim injuries as your ins co will deal with it on your behalf. I would be tempted to not say anything until you here more about the injury claim.

Original poster

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 05/12/2006 21:01

Well, we decided to phone (didn't want em to turn round and want ti all back suddenly)... Indian bloody call centre! They just kept repeating the letter wording back to DH and couldn't tell him why it was happening. We're going to put the money saved into savings so we do have it if they decide its a cock up.

OP posts:

saadia · 05/12/2006 22:05

that's terrible, really bad service, good idea to invest it though. At least you've tried to get an explanation.

Beelliesebub · 06/12/2006 00:18

Good for you... I have to admit I used to work for an insurance company (Oh yes, yes, yes!) and I was just wondering, did you have guaranteed/protected no claims bonus and is your policy up for renewal? If this is the case it might explain why they've reinstated your ncb.
Also, I would like to add that when there were cockups in the customer's favour (more often than you think) like a misquote at a vastly discounted rate, they are obliged to let the customer have the policy at that amount because that's what the customer had been told. You've got proof in black and white and on a recorded telephone conversation so if they try and challenge you (which I very much doubt they will) stand your ground and demand the amount you've been quoted and have accepted.

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