Got Hit - Repair Advice Please

[Exdee]

Hi guys,

I am looking for your opinions regarding an accident I just had. A lorry reversed into me at my local high street. The driver was very apologetic and accepted his fault. He gave me his details and wrote down a little declaration accepting that it was his fault and signed it.

I rang up my insurance company to report the incident. They transferred me to a company called Accident Happens. They offered me a replacement vehicle whilst they repair mine at their 'approved' service center I politely declined as I was thinking more along the lines of a dealership repair.

Any advice on how to tackle this situation as I have not been in an accident before? My insurance company have given me the number for the other insurance company to deal with directly if need be.

[graham8370]

Hi Jamie, same thing happened to me last week. Go to your local Lexus dealer and they will deal with it. You have got Indinaturalstones insurance details, the approved Lexus repairer will estimate to them directly. There will be no need to involve your insurance company. Don't be fobbed off with their insistence that you use their repairer, let Lexus deal with it. Lexus will probably give you a loan car as well.

Graham.

[Exdee]

Hi Graham,

Thank you so much for your post. I feel so relieved now. I shall visit the dealer tomorrow.

Thanks again.

[tonyricha]

Hi Jamie, same story here, my Lexus agent dealt with a company called Accident Exchange who I must say dealt with my case well arranging a loan car (delivered to my home) and repaired my GS well. By using these 3rd party companies they persue the other party to recover their loss so your insurance is un affected,if it works correctly you need never disclose the incident BUT there is a risk to you in the small print if they can not recover the full loss and they seem to over do the loan car saying a similar car to yours is not available so you get a upgrade. My GS450 was replaced by a LS460 for a week, helps them build the claim against the other driver up.

Tread carefully but you insurance company are already aware of the incident which may affect your re newal premium even though you were not at fault. Nasty business this.

Regards Tony

[normski2]

Darn that's so vexing.

I agree totally with Tonyricha's last paragraph. I was bumped in my other Lexus on a visit to Wales. Not my fault ( I was parked), the other party paid for full repair at Lexus Poole...no claim made. Next renewal my premium jumped by 40%! Why I asked...advice of incident given but no claim made. " Because you are more likely to make a claim in the future sir" they said. Utter bo***cks! What it tells me is Wales is a dangerous place to drive having made no claim in the previous 20+ years. Needless to say I took my business elsewhere. Phone around and tell them exactly what happened....I found one that was happy to ignore the incident and also removed it from my records.

Best of good fortune getting it sorted....and as advised go to Lexus for repair work.

Edit: holy moly just realised we go to Wales in May! Here's hoping Hereford is safer than Swansea!

[agent_dess]

Ouch Exdee hope ur car is sorted out soon.. This post got me thinking and hopefully someone can answer my question.

Scenario 1:

Take Exdee example in this case where the other driver hits u and admits it was their fault.

I then phone my insurance company to tell them the other driver hit me and admitted it was their fault, they then pass me to "Accident happen" who want me to take the car to one of their approved centre.

1) in this scenario the other drivers insurance is paying for the repairs so why would my insurance company tell me to take it to one of their approved repair companies since its the other drivers insurance that will pay for my damage?

2) Can I decline this and say I want to take it lexus for repair?

Scenario 2:

I hit the other driver and it was my fault.

My insurance company will pay for my repair and the repair of the other driver car.

1) Again can I take my car to lexus for repair quotes or do I have to use my insurance companies approved repair centre as it was my fault and they are paying for my repair as well as the other drivers repair?

2) I was always under the impression u had to take it to the insurance company approved repair centres otherwise insurance company would decline to pay for the repairs?

Everyone response on this would be appreciated :)

[darkoracle]

Edit: holy moly just realised we go to Wales in May! Here's hoping Hereford is safer than Swansea!

Sorry Normski that can't be guaranteed - watch out for the rough parking area near the football pitch in Hereford.

Actually we're not all dangerous drivers - well not the Lexus owners anyway.

Hope you enjoy your time in Heredfordshire, I'll keep a look out for you on our regular visits there in May.

Which of your fleet will you be driving? :)

Oh, and before you get accosted by angry Welshman -

I should point out that Hereford belongs to the English.

[normski2]

OK confession moment.

Mum was welsh...born in the Rhondda. My best man lives in Llandrindod Wells in Powys. Lots of ruthless micky taking since last Saturday I can tell you.

I'm also one of the few that can pronounce Llanfair....pg correctly. Learnt it when I was 8 and have never forgotten it! Dear old Uncle Harold in Machen was very impressed!!

[Exdee]

Thank you for the input guys. Took the car to Lexus Croydon and they put me through to Accident Exchange just like Tony said. I have had about three phone calls from them and the last one was to confirm that they have spoken to the driver and have a verbal confession. Looks like it will be sorted now.

My insurance is already quite high as it is so I hope this no fault accident doesn't affect me too adversely.

PS: I have very pleasant memories of driving in Wales!!

[Silver Arrow]

Even if it was someone else's fault, and even if you have protected full no claims/legal cover the premium might go up for you. The point is that if you have an accident (regardless of who's fault it is), there is a very strong chance that the insurance company will now regard you as a higher risk....

It happened to me, in similar circumstances. So you might keep 60-70% NCB, but the overall risk/premium goes up....it's a real con. The only way round it is to use comparison websites and go with Privilege (direct line), Elephant (Churchill) or Diamond (Admiral).

Good luck....by the way, this might be a good opportunity to get them to respray the whole bonnet using a tougher lacquer - this will stop the issues you get with Lexus's really soft paint....and chipping!!

[Desmond]

I can see the logic in going to the Lexus dealer but I got caught with this insurance premium scam with a Toyota some years ago. Since then I have had three lots of damage done to my cars and repaired under the culprits' insurance without involving Lexus or my insurance company at all. It all depends on the quality of the repair and I've been lucky to find a local VW/Seat/Skoda paintshop that does a fantastic paint match job. Saves hassle of going 30 miles to Lexus and all the insurance problems. None of the other companies have been able to object to a main dealer paint shop estimate & invoice, even if not a Lexus one, and there's always a loan car too.

[Lexmanic]

Hi Jamie, same story here, my Lexus agent dealt with a company called Accident Exchange who I must say dealt with my case well arranging a loan car (delivered to my home) and repaired my GS well. By using these 3rd party companies they persue the other party to recover their loss so your insurance is un affected,if it works correctly you need never disclose the incident BUT there is a risk to you in the small print if they can not recover the full loss and they seem to over do the loan car saying a similar car to yours is not available so you get a upgrade. My GS450 was replaced by a LS460 for a week, helps them build the claim against the other driver up.

Tread carefully but you insurance company are already aware of the incident which may affect your re newal premium even though you were not at fault. Nasty business this.

Regards Tony

Sorry but could I just say that if asked on your proposal form you MUST tell them about any claim, fault or otherwise, If you don't you risk them denying liability for any future damage to your vehicle

[Lexmanic]

As the TP has already admitted liability DO NOT let your insurer con you into accepting any increased premium. Its a non-fault protected NBC claim. If they insist kick up an almighty stink & threaten to go to the Ombudsman as its unlawful particularly when you've paid for additional protection. AND reporting them will cost them £600 straight away

[Lexmanic]

Ouch Exdee hope ur car is sorted out soon.. This post got me thinking and hopefully someone can answer my question.

Scenario 1:

Take Exdee example in this case where the other driver hits u and admits it was their fault.

I then phone my insurance company to tell them the other driver hit me and admitted it was their fault, they then pass me to "Accident happen" who want me to take the car to one of their approved centre.

1) in this scenario the other drivers insurance is paying for the repairs so why would my insurance company tell me to take it to one of their approved repair companies since its the other drivers insurance that will pay for my damage?

2) Can I decline this and say I want to take it lexus for repair?

Scenario 2:

I hit the other driver and it was my fault.

My insurance company will pay for my repair and the repair of the other driver car.

1) Again can I take my car to lexus for repair quotes or do I have to use my insurance companies approved repair centre as it was my fault and they are paying for my repair as well as the other drivers repair?

2) I was always under the impression u had to take it to the insurance company approved repair centres otherwise insurance company would decline to pay for the repairs?

Everyone response on this would be appreciated :)

What they mean by 'approved repair centre' is a repairer from whom they (the insurance company) get a commission (kick-back) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/insurance/motorinsurance/9572806/Car-insurers-referred-to-Competition-Commission.html

They cant insist (but do) to who you take your car AND they cannot refuse to pay unless YOU refuse to the satisfaction note

[tonyricha]

HI Jamie, please google Accident Exchange and read about how they do business before you decide which way to play it,we are all paying for this as they turn a small bump into a huge claim by way of increased premiums but then every insurance company seems backhand and dodgy ie passing details to these Claims 4U type outfits.

[Exdee]

Thanks again for your comments guys. I always shop around when it's time for renewal so hopefully I should be able to find a company that won't be fussy over a non-fault accident. However I will ring my insurer just out of curiosity to get their stance sometime next week.

My car is going for assessment/repair on Monday and Accident Exchange will provide me a courtesy car for the time being.

@ Tonyricha; I agree with what you said re rising premiums. I would have probably not involved Accident Exchange if I could speak to the third party insurer directly. I called them before visiting the Lexus dealership and they refused to talk to me.

[Lexmanic]

OK when its complete take it to your Lexus dealer to ensure the works been done properly AND endorse the Satisfaction Notice to that effect. Something like "Subject to inspection by Lexus" Your not an expert & are perfectly entitled to qualify the Satisfaction Notice

[Exdee]

I'm sorry if this wasn't clear but the car will be repaired by a Lexus Dealer. Accident Exchange merely act as a courtesy car provider and a claim handler.

Also the dealer said that none of the parts can be repaired so it will all be replaced. There is not much to do here as far as the body work is concerned apart from a proper paint job.

[Lexmanic]

I'm sorry if this wasn't clear but the car will be repaired by a Lexus Dealer. Accident Exchange merely act as a courtesy car provider and a claim handler.

Also the dealer said that none of the parts can be repaired so it will all be replaced. There is not much to do here as far as the body work is concerned apart from a proper paint job.

Then be careful Lexus would normally provide a FREE courtesy car whilst Accident Exchange will try to charge the TP for their hire car AND as your supposed to mitigate your loss Accident Exchange may not get paid if the TP's insurers realize that in which case they might chase you for the unpaid hire charges

Get it in writing that their hire car will be free no matter what the circumstances.

[Exdee]

I got a BMW 320D and my car is with the dealer now. I have been through the paperwork and have been given something that they are referring to as an accident protection plan. The terms and conditions clearly state that I would not be liable for the hire costs in the event that the third party insurer refuses to pay. This is only applicable if it is a non-fault accident and the other party admits to it which they have.

[normski2]

Hope it all gets sorted out for you. Do check with your insurers about the 'incident' and the effect on your premium. For me it was time to tell Nelly to pack her trunk and bugger off back to the circus......all puns intended!

[Exdee]

Thanks normski. I will call my insurer tomorrow.

[Exdee]

Just spoke to my insurer and they confirmed that this won't affect either my premium or no claims bonus.

:hocus-pokus:

[tonyricha]

Brilliant! have Accident Exchange played their hand yet to upgrade the loan car? oh and what was the truck driver doing to hit your near side with his off side?

[normski2]

Yes, but what happens at next renewal???

That's the sticky bit. This is where they tell you that you are now more likely to make a claim in the future...because you had an 'incident'. Its utter cobblers but that's the spin they will try on.