Insurance companies you've actually claimed from

We always seem to get the questions of who's cheapest etc, but the
answers always seem to have the caveat of "but I've never claimed so
don't know what that's like".

It seems to me that service when you claim is possibly more important
than the cost in the first place.

So my question is... who've you actually made a claim from, and were
they any good?

In my case, I've never made a claim from an insurance company[1], only
brought a private claim in the Small Claims Court.



[1] Least not for a vehicle. More Than house insurance were great at
sorting out my lightning strike though.

 

Theft claim from Highway (via H&R) when my ZXR4 was nicked in 2001. I
had a cheque about 6 weeks after the bike was taken, no quibbles.

Third party claim against Landmark (via Motorcycle Direct), not
processed yet but they've been fine so far. TPFT, so no claim by me. Not
sure what the third party experience has been like.

 

Slightly OT as this is for the car, but I was recently rear-ended and
obviously used my InsCo, First Alternative[1] to claim of her insurance.

My car has been repaired, (with Merc C-class hire car while it was
done) and I have it back. This bit all went pretty smoothly.

However, my InsCo have recently sent me my insurance renewal and have
knocked my NCD down such that the renewal premium is now 30% more than
last year. Speaking to them, this is done as a matter of course until
things are completed with the 3rd party's InsCo.
Is this true? The bit on the renewal form has the date of the
accident, the cause down as 'insured hit in rear' and the 'at fault'
bit marked as 'yes'. The gits.

Anyway, I've already found a new InsCo that are cheaper at both my real
NCD and my newly adjusted one, so I doubt that I will renew with FA
unless they can match the new quote(s). I would like my full NCD back
eventually as a matter of principal, though.

[1] The cheapest I could find, last time I renewed.

 

Carole Nash paid up for my Gixxer and it was a track day accident.
Actually it was a race bike set up session but they didn't get detailed
on me. Prompt assesment. The 1st offer was spot on and the cheque
arrived in a week.

 

Theft claim from Highway (via H&R) when my ZXR4 was nicked in 2001. I

What happens to all those stolen vehicles?

 

Most of them end up as doner kebabs.

 

Well, unless it's sorted by middle of next week, I'm taking my business
elsewhere. I realise that the new InsCo will do the same in a similar
situation but it's a matter of principle, let alone the fact that I can
save around ukp140 by doing so.

Thank you, www.confused.com

 

Also, it is a "no claims" discount. This means a lot of insurance companies
will hit your premium wether you were at fault or not because you have made
a claim.

 

Yamaha Insurance services (White star) non fault accident (hit from behind
FBOTY2003) Had to argue the toss over value original offer £2300, final
cheque £3200 bike actual value about £3750. Took 3 months to get paid
out in total. Ended up getting quotes from dealers, keeping every ad for a
Thundercat from MCN and bike trader for 2 months to put together a
valuation chart. I ended up having to chase them every time.

NOT recommended, in fact quote for Varadero was cheapest with them but I
refused to go back to them and paid £30 more for tbh anyone else

 

Similarly with Norwich Union about 16 years ago. My XS850 nicked
in London. Received a derisory offer from insurers and couldn't find any ads
for the same bike in 3 months worth of MCNs etc. Had to settle when
financial circumstances became acute (was using the bike for despatching so
had no job). The offer amounted to exactly what I'd paid them in premiums
over the previous 6 years (half the bike value). Will never use Norwich
Union again (with knobs on).

 

Just going through a claim at the moment with Carole Nash / Norwich Union.

Had some silly tart turn across me last month and wrote my 3 day old Harley
off!
The service from CN has been fantastic, and although, for speed, I have
claimed off my own insurance and am waiting for the claim to go through to
her insurers, there has been little hold up. I got a cheque yesterday for
the full cost of the bike, and all the extras fitted. I have so far only
lost the 300 quid excess.

The long part now is waiting for the police report on her and her
prosecution. The solicitors I've been appointed by CN seem to be dragging
things out. I don't know much about law or accident protocols, having never
been involved one before, but they _really_ don't like to be hurried. The
solicitors seem quite happy with the fact that "oh we'll have to wait 3
months for a response to that!" before they even want to get moving on to
the next thing. So I've got a long wait for the personal injury and
un-insured losses to be progressed. Then I'll get my excess and no claims
back!

--
Greybeard

FLHTCUI UK-07 96 cu-in (Written off after 3 days & 182 miles!) Courtesy of a
myopic female driver.
Trumpet Trophy 1200 -96, (The Barge) for rainy days.

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

Direct Line for a car. Couldn't fault them.

 

Ben wrote

When the bindit got nicked I phoned Auntie and they sorted it all with
not a single solitary problem and I didn't have to fill in a single
form. First Class Service imho.

 

Actually, I should have know that as my brother's written off car was
very promptly paid for by them.