If you have an accident you must get the name and address of the people involved (including witnesses). Tell your insurer as soon as possible. You’ll be sent a claim form which asks for details and diagrams of the incident. Fill this in as accurately and honestly as you can and send it back by registered post.
What should happen
Your insurer contacts the other parties, assesses the claims and counter-claims and decides who was at fault. If it was you, they pay the other party quickly. If it was the other guy, they pursue his insurer until the claim is settled.
What usually happens
Nothing. When you call, after an hour lost in their telephone system (‘press three for “Pan Pipes play Kylie” before speaking to the cleaners’) they will claim to have lost the form. Or the new computer system has gone down and can you ring back on Friday? The person you need to speak to doesn’t work Fridays and isn’t there. After a couple of weeks you resort to calling every day, fi nally losing your cool in front of all your colleagues. Three months later an offer is made that’s less than your car was worth.
How to avoid the above
Buy Parker’s Car Price Guide and attach a copy of the relevant page showing your car’s value, to your claim form. Call every day and insist on speaking to the same person. Don’t give them a break until it’s sorted.
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