Car bumped by taxi - how should I proceed?

Electro_Ham

My car was parked. Taxi slid into it on ice. Sustained broken rear lamp and paint scraped to bumper. Nothing else. Details were swapped. Photos taken etc. Taxi company said to take to local garage and get quote. Did that. Garage said 'who do I give quote to? You (me) or taxi man? I say 'I dunno, taxi man said get quote'. Garage man says, 'ok I'll phone taxi man with quote'.
Now I know exactly how much a rear lamp costs and have a very good idea of how much a bumper respray will cost. Probably not much change out of £300, unless the paint is blended to the affected area (not metallic) and therefore probably cheaper.
So I spoke to taxi man (boss) and said garage man would be in touch. I also asked how he wished to proceed, like, through insurance? Taxi boss man says no, he'll foot the bill. I think fine, coz insurance will screw me in the long run even though I'd sweet F.A. to do with it.
Now my Mother tells all her pals this story and they all say I need to tell my insurer, coz taxi man might back out at any minute....possibly leaving me with a bill to settle with garage.
I can see their point.
Can anyone advise? If I tell insurance company will they eventually screw me and mark the car as having an insurance job?

speshul91

When i had an accident and offered to pay for repairs my insurance told me to get it in writing it had been agreed to. 

Electro_Ham

Cool. I reckon that would work....and if not, I contact insurers. Thanks man.

thumpingrug

Check your policy, some insurers insist you inform them of incidents within 24/48 hours else they won't pay out in the event of a future claim.

Gassage

Mate,

Here's what you do.

You tell them fine, but they will deal with your insurers. You are wide open here.

Why would you do them a favour? Why are they asking this? Have you seen their policies?

Motorhate

Always, go through the insurance company. That's what you pay them for. Its a non-fault claim so you won't be penalised and it'll safeguard you against matey backing out and leaving you high and dry.

BenSirAmos

I got hit from behind - but there was not enough damage on my vehicle to worry about so I didn't tell my insurers - all the damage was on the car that hit me.

Six months later, a claim against me arrives - saying that I'd swerved in front of them, so I had to go to my insurer to explain why I hadn't notified them - and I still don't know what the final outcome will be. 

I think it is safer to tell your insurer

Motorhate

^^ Yep seen this a few times, especially with bikers - and I hate to say it mate, but I think you're going to get arse-raped by your insurance company for not reporting it.

Nikko

Motorhate said:

^^ Yep seen this a few times, especially with bikers - and I hate to say it mate, but I think you're going to get arse-raped by your insurance company for not reporting it.

Bit harsh.They just used to penalise people financially. Well it is 2017 I suppose.

Electro_Ham

Thanks for the advice guys. I've notified insurers. I'll update as things progress.

Fretwired

You have to report it to your insurers - this will protect you. I guess the taxi firm has an excess greater than £300.

hotpot

My daughter rang this morning saying she had reversed into one of the neighbours cars, I've just been round to see him & told him to get it repaired & I'll pay him instead of going through the insurance, her premium would go stratospheric if it went through the insurance, she's already paying £4800 for a Megane....the bank of mam & dad again.

menamestom

Personally for that amount of damage I would have taken the chance with the Taxi company.  Even non fault accidents can put your premiums up as they may deem you more likely to be in an accident in the future.

I think they key thing in this scenario is how much damage is there and are you sure the other party won't tell their own insurer because if they make that one call and it gets back to your insurance company, you may have your policy cancelled.

Insurance companies do not like to think they are not getting a slice of the pie where there is chance to make money.

stimpsonslostson

hotpot said:

My daughter rang this morning saying she had reversed into one of the neighbours cars, I've just been round to see him & told him to get it repaired & I'll pay him instead of going through the insurance, her premium would go stratospheric if it went through the insurance, she's already paying £4800 for a Megane....the bank of mam & dad again.

HOW MUCH!?! My kids better like public transport! 

AvalonAndy

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hotpot

@ menamestom Even non fault accidents can put your premiums up as they may deem you more likely to be in an accident in the future.


This has happened twice to my daughter, she was run into twice whilst stationary & both times her premium was upped by hundreds of pounds, It absolutely stinks what they get away with.

57Deluxe

"...in an orderly fashion when you are ready and is safe to do so."

Motorhate

hotpot said:

@ menamestom Even non fault accidents can put your premiums up as they may deem you more likely to be in an accident in the future.


This has happened twice to my daughter, she was run into twice whilst stationary & both times her premium was upped by hundreds of pounds, It absolutely stinks what they get away with.

The trouble is, (not having a dig) people never question things like this or haggle with insurance companies and just accept what they say as gospel.

I had this with an insurance company for my bikes. I ride a 2000cc Kawasaki, an 883 Harley and a 650 Kawasaki which are all on the one policy. I have them garaged and have 6 years no claims. Come renewal time, they tried to up it by £150. When I questioned it they said it's just the way it is - (absolute crap) so I took them to task on it. I told them I had 6 years no claims with them, how do they justify that hike. They said in so many words, because you haven't had an accident in six years, you're due one.  More bullshit I thought so I told them to shove it. Immediately, they knocked £100 off. Convinced now, that this was a game, I haggled and really brow beat them into offering me a better discount. They wouldn't so I said shove it.
An hour later, the phone rings and they've knocked another £85 off. I told them I'd got a better offer which was £210 cheaper than what they'd originally quoted me. They matched it and I got a significant discount without the aggro of changing companies. I have nothing but contempt for them now, but speaking to other people, this is an accepted practice with brokers (I don't think this applies if you apply directly to insurance companies) so its always worth trying. Remember, there are always other companies out there willing to take your custom. 

gubble

I had a no fault accident in July-16. My renewal was last week.

Current insurance company double my premium as a result - they sent me a lovely email stating the increase was because of the accident even though it wasn't my fault, didn't affect my NCB etc.

I went with another insurer who were less than 50% of their quote.

AvalonAndy

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strtdv

Minor damage I'd get a quote from a garage, show it to the taxi company and get cash in hand to pay for it (assuming the car isn't on PCP in which you're obliged to use an approved repair service).

Half bumper spray and filing any gouges is about £200-250 unless they can blend in a spot repair as they have to drop the bumper to spray it, so it might work out at more than £300 by the time you get a new light unit.

Going through the insurance company may also mean the damage is recorded on the cars history when it comes time to sell it