They said the excess I paid, £250, is an uninsured loss and they wrote to Admiral out of courtesy mentioning this. I have not been refunded.

That is why you should have "uninsurred loss" or "legal cover" insurance. The versions offered by the likes of Aviva etc are a rip of especially if you have more than one car in the household. We have a policy with MEM that covers me and the mrs in all 3 cars plus it also provides legal cover for the house. The policy costs £30. To buy legal cover for all 3 cars and the house individually used to cost us about 4 times that.

Years ago I had a no fault accident and to get my excess back I paid the RAC £5 (I was a member) to recover the £70 excess which I had paid when I collected the car.

Since then I have ensured I have had some form of cover. It was very useful when an out of control motorcyclist hit me (and another car) putting me in hospital. Quite amazingly the motorcyclist was able to ride away. All I had to do was pass details and bills to Swinton who appointed solicitors, obtained medical information and processed the claim with no hassle for me.

When I had a no fault accident several years ago, and was insured with LV, during my various discussions with my insurer I asked them whether they would be claiming the cost of my repairs from the TP insurer. When they replied that they would be doing so I asked them if they'd mind asking the TP insurer to pay them my excess as well. This they did, indeed, do so and I received payment shortly afterwards.

Prior to this conversation I was going to take the matter of my excess payment up with Uninsured Loss Legal Insurance Company but I though, if the TP insurer is asked, they might just pay it anyway without my having to resort to further measures and they did.