Bloody Insurance Companies

I am speechless.

Got my renewal through today (GBP770 inc business use). Thought 'That's a
bit bloody steep' Sure enough, no no claims bonus listed. Should be two
years.

So I called Messrs A Flux and asked what had happened. 'Ahhh' they said
'You made a claim in March, didn't you'
'Erm' says I, 'No'

The inusrance company (Highway) have a listing of an outstanding *possible*
claim against me when I was hit by a ped and knocked off in March.

It transpires that until Highway decide (any time up to three years) that
there will be no claim made, I can whistle for my no claims bonus, and pay
full whack, depsite them not having to pay out a penny (and in this case,
since even the ambulance chasers declined to take the case, *very*
unlikley* to)

To me this seems *grossly* unfair. Especially since it was *me* that
reported it.

I are well pissed off.

Any ideas.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Run over their director.

 

I'd prefer to take of and nuke etc etc

However, that won't actually resolve the issue
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Write to them, stating that in the event of any claim arising, within the 3
year period, you will deal with the matter personally, and absolve them of
any responsibility.

This *may* result in your NCD being reinstated, but would also mean that if
the 'ped rider starts developing medical problems within the the 3 year
period, which can be linked to the accident, and any blame can be attached
to you, you would be in the frame to settle up out of your pocket.

Hope this helps.

 

oldbloke at work wrote:

Actually it does, and is rather tmepting. Cheers

Shame it won't alter the (IMO) genuine injustice of the situation.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Also tempting, ta.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Almost exactly the same thing happened to me over in Northern Ireland a few
years ago - teenage girl ran across the road in front of me, and had a ride
up my bonnet for her troubles. Blatantly her fault, but her parents thought
they'd try it on, and submitted a claim. And just to _really_ take the piss,
a witness to the accident tried to claim off me for 'nervous shock' after
seeing it.

Obviously my insurers denied liability, and nothing was ever paid out, but
because the claimants never wrote a letter stating that they would not
pursue matters any further (why would they), it remained on my record as an
unresolved claim. As far as the insurers are concerned, that's as good as a
fault claim, and will result in loss of NCB until it gets resolved - i.e.
until the third parties can no longer legally make a claim. As the girl I
hit was a minor, she was entitled to make a claim up until her 18th
birthday - five years after the accident.

So yeah, it sucks, but it's what they all do, and there's **** all you can
do about it unfortunately, as far as I know.

 

Taking the piss indeed. Thing is, the guy I hit hasn't even tried to make
a claim. Nada, zip, zero. The only reason that the insurance company know
about it is cos I told them.

I should have stuck with my original plan of action of picking up the bike,
lamping the **** one and going on my way.

I would love to hear how they justify this. Fucking sucks IMO.
How long do you have to wait, or is it over and done with? If so, how hard
was it getting your overpaid premiums back?

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I got my overpaid premiums back on my car insurance when I had my Rover
V8. It wasn't a little amount either, as I was about 20 at the time.

 

Whilst it does suck, the amount the insco would potentially be liable for in
the event of a claim arising makes your loss of NCD pale into
insignificance. The problem with injury claims is that the long term result
of the accident may not be apparent until some time after it occurred.

Where a pedestrian is involved, AIUI courts will generally always find some
degree of liability with the motorist. I had to deal with a claim (years
ago, mind) where a child was running along the pavement and then ran out
into the road infront of my client, nothing he could do. The legal attitude
was that having seen the child running along the pavement, he should have
realised it was likely to run into the road, and therefore stopped, turned
around and gone another way.

IME, the only way you'll get your overpaiod premiums back once your NCD is
reinstated, is to stay with the same insco throughout the period. Trying to
claim back lost NCD from various inscos going back over a 3 year period
would be an exercise in futility.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X
BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

Oops - misunderstood. That's even worse.

They didn't knock off all of my NCB - just reduced it by two years. As the
'claim' was going to stay on my record for longer than it took to get back
to full NCB, I didn't bother pursuing it. As for claiming back premiums,
reckon I probably lost a few hundred quid, but couldn't be arsed trying to
claw that back for the potential hassle involved.

 

Beav wrote:

That's not what they told me.....

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

But that is the entire point of paying insurance in the first place.
They've not paid out a penny yet. Logically extending your argument would
mean that the whole NCB thing is discontinued since every time you ride,
there *might* be a claim.

Indeed. And if the ped in question was acutally persuing the claim, then
I'd be a little more understanding. Doing this on the basis that he
*might* is still taking the piss IMO

Yes, this I can see being troublesome

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Not really. As long as there hasn't been an incident that could lead to a
claim there's no justification to disallow the NCD. And, as I posted
earlier, health problems may not become apparent until some time after the
incident.

As I said before, I do take your point, it does seem unfair, but is "the way
it works". Perhaps if the ped rider wrote unequivocally stating that he
would not ever be making any claim against you (or your insco), they might
reconsider (although I doubt it).

Best of luck.


--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X
BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

Catman wrote

Even worse is the injustice over you not getting the interest on the ncd
you shouldn't have paid.

 

Ding a fucking ling
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I thought so

Aye, thing is I've only got 2 years......
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I fail to see why it's relevant. If he decides to claim at some point in
the futrue, then I'd happily flip it around and lose my NCD from the date
of the accident. But *until* the insco have to start doing some bloody
work, I fail to see why I should be penalised.

Only because they can, it seems.

He was a ped', not a 'ped rider. I doubt it as well. Why should they pass
up the chance to eran interest on extra money?

Cheers

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Let's say for instance, that they allow your NCD on this basis, and you
exercise your right of choice and insure elsewhere, taking your proof of NCD
with you. And 12 months later you do the same again, having moved house.
Then, following this second move of insco, the 'ped starts getting recurring
headaches so sees his doc, who attributes this condition to a blow to the
head received as a result of the accident. Add an ambulance chasing lawyer
to the scenario, and your original insco are suddenly fighting a claim.
You, however, having moved house are not contactable by them, so they can't
recover the lost NCD (for what it would be worth), and even if they could,
getting you to pay it would be another matter. Also, you can't remember who
your next insurer after them was so they also can't charge you for the lost
NCD either. The above may be a bit far fetched, but it does (try) to
illustrate why this situation happens. I am not saying I agree with it, but
having been in the industry I do appreciate the logic behind it.

It's certainly a pisser.
You could do what I suggested earlier and inform the insurer that you will
deal with any claim personally and absolve them of any liability, but I
would not recommend it, and your situation would prolly tough it out with
the same insco for the next 3 years, and then get the overpaid premiums
back.

Sorry, I thought you were hit by a twat on a moped.
Have you tried claiming off the pedestrian involved for damage / injury /
mental trauma?

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X
BOTAFOT #140, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

Dan L wrote:

Well, that would be thier problem then innit

Now I think about it, he doesn't even have my insco details, unless the
police gave them to him at a later date?

I fear you may well be right

Tempting, but no. If I did want to, how would I? I don't even have his
name and address.

Appreciated.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk