Hi All,

Looking for a little advice. some one pulled out of a parking space into the

side of my car recently, they've left a thick rubber line down the door,

pushed in the back wing and across the back bumper. (which is showing

stress marks of being pushed in also) However, the back wing was

already damaged, not nearly to the same extent, it was a small dent

towards the back. And being the honest type I said this to the person who

hit me but explained that the damage was worse (It's a lot of damage for

such a little accident, and he was shocked at the extent) He's told his

insurance company that there was no damage to my car bar the black

rubber line, which luckily can be seen continuing into the centre of the big

dent. They're disputing liability but haven't come to see the car yet (and

I'm not cleaning it till it has been inspected by someone competent) Any

thoughts on where I stand and what steps I should take now. I've no

problems with being offered a partial payment as there was damage

before, but it was damage I could live with, not a great huge panning in

of the wing. I'd prefer not to claim through my insurance unless I have to

and keep me no claims intact (or rather the premium hike for having a

claim no matter what no claims I still have)

Cheers,

Dunk

Ok, first off let your insurance company know about the accident!

Have you had anything in writing from the 3rd partys insurers admitting his liability? If yes, what are you waiting for? You will not lose your ncb for putting a claim into your insurers if they have admitted liability. You have said that you are willing to accept a little less as there was some damage already but why accept a lot less? Your insurers claims department will take this on for you. Tell them exactly what you have put on here. Your insurer will have the vehicle looked at by their approved repairer and you can fight it out from there. If you agree to pay the difference (the repair on the bit that was damaged already) you will not lose ncb as there is no financial loss to your insurer.

I know exactly your situation as I had similar. A bloke reversed into me., I was parked and he was parked about a cars distance in front of me and for some reason he reversed straight in to me??? I was sitting there reading my paper when bang! I looked up to see the back of his car bouncing off the front of mine. The lacquer on my colour coded bumber was a little 'lifted' on the side but he had made it worse on the front and broken my number plate and grille to boot. He admitted to his insurers that he had hit me but denied doing any damage. Anyway, my insurers repaired my car, liaised with his insurers etc etc and it was on the verge of court action against the other driver when all of a sudden his insurers paid up. End of story. My insurers (Tesco - Brill) didn't even charge me an excess up front that I would have had to claim back (saved a lot of hassle) and of course my ncb was intact. To boot - my car was repaired 5 days after the accident and I had it back the same day!

Claim now and stick to your guns!

Good luck!