What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Toyota Corolla - Accident Management Company - jono987

Hello everyone, im after some urgent help if possible! I was in an accident on the motorway on tuesday. I was the front car in a 3 car accident. The middle car went into the back of me and the third car into the back of the middle car.

I contacted my insurance as soon as i got home and was going to claim through them, however i then got a call from a garage saying they were representing one of the other cars in the accident (the end car) and that they would take care of my car and give me a hire car. All great i thought so i arranged for them to pick my car up yesterday and they dropped me off a hire car. First point; they gave me a 1 year old mercedes whereas my car was 9 years old!

Yesterday i used the askMID to find the insurance details of the third car ( i believe she is getting the blame as middle car is saying third car pushed them into me). I contacted the insurer who said that a claim hadnt even been registered yet by the driver of the third car and they didnt know who this garage were who had took my car.

Phoned the garage who said they were actually working on behalf of an insurance broker who the driver of the third card was insured with. They had yet to lodge the claim so thats why the drivers insurance didnt have any idea. This set off alarm bells as i assumed the insurer had already accepted liability. I then found out they were actually an accident management company, although looking at their website there is no mention of this.

This was my first accident so when i got a call from the garage saying they were working for the drivers insurance and they would pay i just assumed this was the best option.


Today i told them i wanted my car returned and for them to pick up the hire car. They did this. The agreement i signed when they dropped the car off said i would be liable for any costs they could not recover from the third party. I was stupid to sign this but it is not a mistake i will make again.

They said i will not be charged for the service but they will seek to claim the costs from the third party. My question is, how will they do this when i have cancelled my claim with them? I am now claimining through my own insurance, so the third party will be receiving two claims about my car. One for the pickup, storage, then delivery back to me of my vehicle and for the hire car from the accident management company and another from my insurance for the repairs.

Sorry for the massive wall of text for my first post and hope it all makes sense!

Thankyou!

Edited by jono987 on 11/06/2015 at 18:35

Toyota Corolla - Accident Management Company - FP

Somebody more expert than me will be along in a moment, but I would offer just this: you say, "... the third party will be receiving two claims about my car. One for the pickup, storage, then delivery back to me of my vehicle and for the hire car from the accident management company and another from my insurance for the repairs."

You are assuming the third party will be paying directly or indirectly for your repairs, but your claim is with your company alone. It is up to the individual insurance companies to strike whatever deal they wish with each other.

However, should you wish to claim your excess from the third party, that is another matter. You should seek advice on this from your insurance company.

P.S. It was probably a good idea to give the accident management company the boot.

Edited by FP on 11/06/2015 at 19:44

Toyota Corolla - Accident Management Company - jono987

Thank you for the reply. I will be claiming back my excess as i was not at fault. I left enough room infront of me when i breaked but the cars behind didnt and so went into the back of me :(

I got this email from the company, im hoping this is enough to counteract the agreement i signed:

Following our conversation earlier, we are sorry to learn you no longer wish to use our services following your accident.

Please be advised any services we provide as explained prior to any vehicle being delivered to you are made out in your name, however the charges are not payable by you but redirected to the responsible insurer who caused the accident.

Hence in this case any hire charges and recovery would be only be liable to be paid by the responsible insurer.

We trust this email clarifies our stance in this case.

However if you have any questions please feel free to contact myself.

Kind Regards

Toyota Corolla - Accident Management Company - slkfanboy

The claim management company have basic lied to you, so that they can make money out of the claim. They have told you a story to get you business and therefore can you trust them? i.e. no

These kinda of companies come in handy if you your not at fault and your car is a right off, or the car your insurance company gives car is too small etc. They will give you a like for like car reguardless of age, while you need a car.

Ive used one once as my car was a right off. My insurance companies car would have been only for two weeks and therefore a management company was a better option.

Toyota Corolla - Accident Management Company - jono987

Thankyou for the reply. Do you think they can come after me for their costs at a later date after lieing to me / sending me that email? The hire agreement i signed said i maybe liable for any unrecovered costs and im guessing they will all be unrecoverable as i am no longer claiming through them.

Toyota Corolla - Accident Management Company - FP

"... im guessing they will all be unrecoverable as i am no longer claiming through them."

Not necessarily unrecoverable, but you will have to make the claim yourself - against the third party.

Toyota Corolla - Accident Management Company - jono987

I am claiming through my own insurance now. So the third party will be chased for my excess.

What i mean is, im sure the third party will not pay this claims management company AND my insurer? The claims management company will be claimng for the costs to pick my car up, drop it off and for two days car hire.