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My daughter and her friend were stationary in her car when a car came speeding up behind her and hit the front of her vehicle.
My daughter gave the other young driver her details and when she ask for hers she refused stating “you don’t need them” though she did state that it was a courtesy car and she was driving on the mothers insurance and left the scene of an accident without giving details my daughter in shock didn’t even get her reg.
We promptly informed our insurance and waited. Two weeks later arrived a claim from the other party saying that whilst my daughter was carrying out a 3 point turn she pulled out into the path of this other vehicle (totally untrue). Her mother’s car is a mobility car and we only have her name. I have now asked the insurance co for the other driver’s full details so I can pass this onto the police as I suspect fraud being committed here.
Anyway my daughter’s car has since been written off. Her insurance has put nothing in writing only to ask for her to send off her log book and insurance cert. No discussion of settlement or the £650 excess that my daughter should not have to stand.
As my daughter is only 19 the insurance has cost her over £2k and she doesn’t appear to be getting what she has paid for.
Where was the damage on the other vehicle as you have said a car came speeding behind her but hit the front of her vehicle. She cut in too soon and damage was done to the side of her passengers door
What position in the road was your daughters car ? she was stationary and on the correct side
Was there any witness' other than passengers ? no, only my daughters passenger, someone did come along but that was after
She is insurered by Gateway and quite frankly they dont want to know. They arranged to pick the car up and was told that she would hear the following day of what was happening. Well that call never came she has had to chase them and chase them. When it first happen she went into the broker and informed them but todate still has to receive an accident form to complete.
As said previously they want her log book and insurance cert but they haven't even mentioned any figures of settlement. She was also entitled to a replacement car but that hasn't been forthcoming.
They seem to charge you the earth and you get nothing in return!
After searching on Google I found out that Gateway is part of the MMA insurance group (I'd heard of MMA but not Gateway). It should be the insurer who handles the claim on behalf of your daughter, unless the broker has "delegated authority" to deal with claims.
The problem would appear to be Her word against the TP's. With no independant witnesses then sadly this may drag out for a while until either liability can be established or ultimatly this may go 50-50, which sadly is usually the case.
In regards to the insurer, i've not heard of gateway either but same as lemontwist i've heard of MMA. Bottom line is, you shouldn't have to keep chasing this, they should be acting on your behalf and dealing with all this for you.
Sounds like you may have a bit of an uphill battle but dont lose hope and just stand your ground, i'm sure you'll get there in the end.
Keep us posted.
DA
If you find the advice I give is useful, then please feel free to click the scales
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"
Still not heard anything from Gateway re settlement.
However my daughter heard from the broker yesterday stating that she still owed them over £1k in premiums (she paid by dd) as they had paid Gateway the £2k up front and wanted payment. The man on the end of the phone did not want to know that my daughter had still not heard anything or been paid up just want the outstanding amount quoting "it's in the term and conditions" I am afraid I did loose it with him as he was so rude and did not want/care about my daughters situation. Anyway we looked through the terms and conditions sent and there is no mention that we would still have to pay them the full amount. I also pointed out why should she be paying as she has no car and no certificate as we had to return it to Gateway.
the policy is an annual policy, its just the method of payment that is monthly- and as a claim has been made for which the may not recover their losses, the full premium would be payable. If they were to recover their outlay (their costs) then they would give a refund.
the policy is an annual policy, its just the method of payment that is monthly- and as a claim has been made for which the may not recover their losses, the full premium would be payable. If they were to recover their outlay (their costs) then they would give a refund.
Hi Reclaimant
Thanks for your reply
I understand what you are saying but they are the broker not the insurance company. And it does not mention this in the t&c that was sent out.
And what have this company done for this large premium sweet fa, my daughter is minus a car now for nearly 7 weeks for a accident that was not her fault and trying to get them to do somthing for what they were paid for is an up hill battle.
The insurance company have requested that she returns the certificate so now has no insurance, no car a outstanding debt of £1k and no settlement in site.
It just seem totally unfair and she does not know which way to turn
Brokers aren't really my area as i work for a direct insurer so hopefully one of the other gurus on here will be able to give better advice.
The principle is the same though, you have taken out a 12 month contract to insure the car against loss. The loss has occurred and therefore you are liable for the full premium for the contract as the insurer has held up their end by paying out on the claim. The fact you don't have a car is irrelevant I'm afraid. The policy will still remain in force as the idea is your daughter will use whatever settlement she gets to purchase a new car then transfer this onto the policy for the remainder of the contract.
The issue would appear to be (and this is where I'm a bit out of my depth) that the broker has paid the insurer in full for the cover and you are simply paying the broker back by monthly instalments. If that's the case, then the broker is within their rights to request the payment in full due to what i explained above.
Hope this makes sense
DA
If you find the advice I give is useful, then please feel free to click the scales
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"
Separate from the problem of insurance, I would have a real issue with the other person involved in the accident with your daughter.
If there is an accident, and at least one party wishes to go through the insurance route, then it is obligatory for all parties involved to give their details. Her refusal to, I belive, constitutes an offence in its own right. Otherwise, it could be classed as "leaving the scene of an accident", which is a crime.
And then there is the disgraceful lie that she has made to try and unfairly shift the blame onto your daughter. But I believe her mendacious assertion has a flaw:
The third party claims your daughter was doing a three-point-turn in the road and hit her as she was driving past? Well, if someone is doing a three-point-turn, they are most likely taking up the whole road and you should wait and not drive past when someone is doing a manoeuvre like that!
Unfortunately, with young drivers, even when it's not their fault, the insurance companies take advantage of them: they take advantage of your inexperience to try to twist the facts and make you come round to believing it was your fault, so that they can pay the companies even more obscene and unjustified amounts of cash. It's happened to me and several people I know. They tried to do it to me when someone hit the back of me at a red light - yep, tried to imply that my sitting at the red light caused the accident just because I was born later than the guy who hit me! Needless to say I switched insurers.
I'm really sorry to hear of your situation. I agree that you should not have to be dragged through the mud yourself and your insurance company should sort it all for you, but at the same time, don't give up until justice is served! All the best of luck.
They tried to do it to me when someone hit the back of me at a red light - yep, tried to imply that my sitting at the red light caused the accident just because I was born later than the guy who hit me! Needless to say I switched insurers.
Just out of interest, how was this resolved? Did you go to the Ombudsman service and did they find in your favour, ie that the accident wasn't really your fault?
Just out of interest, how was this resolved? Did you go to the Ombudsman service and did they find in your favour, ie that the accident wasn't really your fault?
Yes I am aware that the third party has committed a criminal offence but my daughter cannot go to the police at this stage as she has no information to give.
I did ring third party insurance but due to data protection would not give it to me. They did say that they would give it to my daughters insurers but I have asked numeroud times for this, they keep saying we only have what you have given us. I cant seem to get through that all it takes is a simple call from them to the third party insurers.
I have just written a letter to our insurers trying to get them to give us a settlement and I have also informed that I will be seeking help/advice from fos.
That's very depressing about Data Protection not allowing your daughter to find out more about the other driver. Incidences like these should be exactly the times when we should be allowed to take advantage of the Data Protection rules and track down offenders. Good luck with fos, I hope they have more sense than the insurers!
This still goes my daughter still has received no settlement, the broker is shouting for the remaining premium not interested in anything else all my correspondence is being ignorned not even granted the courtesy of a reply.
I have now gone down the route of being mis sold this policy with fos.
In the meantime my daughter received a letter today from the broker yes want what is outstanding and that they are now going to put this in the hands of a debt collector.
Please can some one advise me if correct as I see it this is in dispute and therfore at this stage should not be put in the hands of collectors. If so what do I need to send of to halt this?
Please help this is really starting to get us down especially my daughter who is struggling without transport.
Bump. Hope you get this sorted, you're getting an appalling service from your insurance. Try Watchdog!
Thanks for your support dispirited.
I have submitted my complaint through fos I am now going down the route of being mis sold this policy. So we will see how far I get with this if not then I may try watchdog.
These companies are quick to take your money but not prepared to do diddly squat when called upon
There are two separate issues here that need to be addressed:
As i said before, if you've had a "fault" claim then the company is correct to request the rest of the premium for the year so I don't think you'll get very far in arguing this and i would consider paying them what you owe or perhaps seeing if they can deduct it from whatever settlement they give your daughter for her car.
I would definitely pursue the complaint with the claims department though cos you have received some shocking service!
Before going to the fos, you need to have logged a formal complaint with the insurer and given them time to resolve it. If you haven't done this then the FOS will simply decline to act until you have.
Keep us updated
DA
If you find the advice I give is useful, then please feel free to click the scales
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"
Advice Please – Car Insurance Claim
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,trying not to let them drag me down.
Originally Posted by nufsaid
