UK Car Insurance - Making A Claim
UK car insurance - for most people its a necessity, however sometimes things don't go to plan and we end up with a repair bill that's much higher than the original quote. This is where it can become difficult to know how best to handle the situation, especially when you have no idea what should be paid and who should pay what. To help navigate through this confusion, we've put together some tips on how you can tackle your claim.
Making a car insurance claim sounds straightforward at first but when things go wrong, it can become confusing and stressful quickly. However, as with most things in life, being prepared is the best way to overcome a problem and ensure you receive the payout you deserve.
How to make a claim
The first thing you want to do is assess the damage of your car. You can be in contact with your insurer by phone, email or post. Your insurance company will then send out an authorised repairer who will assess the damage to your vehicle. They'll recommend their preferred repairer for you too - this is the person they would like you to use for repairs or if they're unable to repair it themselves, what it would cost them if they had too (known as MIRV).
Your insurer should also arrange to have your car looked at by a specialist, and will check it over before you pick it up.
If you're happy with the work carried out, there's a good chance it'll be accepted by your insurer. If not, they'll instruct their preferred repairer to repair it themselves. This can help minimise any problems in the future. However, if the repairs are too expensive for them or they're unable to do them - known as MIRV - then they may put in an insurance claim. But with a little preparation and perseverance, most claims can be successfully settled.
How much is the claim?
This can sometimes be a difficult question to answer. Varying factors can affect the cost of repairing a vehicle, such as the price of parts. If you have any concerns about the cost of repairs to your vehicle, contact your insurance policy operator for advice before you get in touch with your car insurance company. They should be able to give you an idea on what they'll need if they're involved with the claim. It may also help to be prepared with some figures if you are asked for them by your insurer, so keep receipts and other documentation that may help.
How should the claim be paid?
If your insurer manages to settle with the body shop, all claims can be settled between insurers in-house meaning you don't have to go through a separate third party and pay a fee. Some insurers give their customers the option to pay at point of delivery, this means a fixed amount is paid upfront by card or direct debit. However, if you're not happy with any of these options then there are other ways to settle your claim out-of-court: Car Accident Funding (also known as CAS) is one such way which can help you access additional funds once an insurance claim has been settled. This can be arranged with your insurer or third party when you claim.
If you have a claim that has been settled by your insurer, then there is always the option to take legal action. Relying on legal action is not recommended but can be an option if the alternative is to receive no payment at all. It's important that when you make a claim, you receive value for money and it's also vital that the firm involved actually fixes your vehicle. This way, you'll know how much it will cost to repair and they should be able to settle in your favour without any condition or delay.
The value of making a claim
There are two reasons why you should make a claim. The first is to receive compensation to help repair your vehicle and the second, as stated above, to ensure that your car is fixed properly. By having an accident with no claim, you could be left without any compensation and without a properly fixed vehicle leaving you down the road financially. Taking time to check through your policy will be time well spent because, if you don't want to use the services of an insurance company directly then there's a good chance there'll be an alternative available for you from another party who can offer similar services.
You should also make sure that there's no delay in making a claim. If you don't make a claim within 14 days of the accident, then you may be unable to do so at all. Without this, there's a good chance your insurer won't have the right to attempt to settle direct with the other party involved, which is why it's so important to get in touch with your insurer as soon as possible and provide them with all relevant information.
By being prepared, and knowing what your car insurance policy entitles you to, being involved in an accident can be much less scary than you might expect. The important thing is to contact your insurer straight away, so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.
For more information about making a car insurance claim or anything else including insurance and Car Insurance, please contact us today.
The Girl With The Greying Ponytail In The Bleak Autumnal Ocean By Elly MacKay Artwork Copyright © 2017 Elly MacKay All Rights Reserved.
A vast void spreads before you, a lonely silence and an emptiness in the world. You can feel it all around you - the things that once gave life to this place are gone. It all reminds you of a distant past when there was a thriving civilisation, but now it's only parts of buildings and signs as the world is brought to ruin by the hands of time. The feeling is overwhelming, you can't help but stand still and witness this change to your surroundings. You almost feel as if you are there yourself witnessing this untimely occurrence and watching the lost souls of your long lost city as they fade into obscurity.
It all seems impossibly still, like even the elements have stopped moving altogether. It's as if the passage of time has completely stopped and all that remains is an empty shell of a once living place. How can this world be so desolate? Where are the people, the buildings, the lights and sounds? There's nothing left but a vast sea of grey... that is until you begin to hear noises coming from deep within. It's like something is being dragged through the ground, almost like some giant creature has emerged from below. The noise isn't coming from one area; it seems to be everywhere around you at once! You can feel your body tense, your eyes widen and you begin to run towards these noises.
Conclusion: I'm not one to analyse my art in detail, so I'll leave you with this.
As we reach the end of the year, it's time to reflect on the successes of 2017 and also take some time to plan for 2018.
Let's look back on what I achieved over this last year:
I've had a lot of success with competitions and becoming a finalist is always great! I was shortlisted for the Cosplay Collective Awards 2017 stage 1, which is a huge honour in my eyes because it recognises all of my work instead of just one specific piece that could be seen as a fluke.