Messing you aabout.

Get other quotes and move.

I had a similar rear end shunt ages ago - new insurer accepted my story and quoted a better price.

2 years down the line I got my excess and other expenses having taken the 3rd party to court - they settled 4pm on the day before the court appointment

I think this is fairly standard - while the claim has not been finally resolved it is treated as an at fault claim. Either the additional charges will then be repaid once it is settled (in your favour) or if not, as indicated, you have to claim from the other party.

This to me was what we once called years ago "knock for knock"

Somebody who was one here aeons ago had an insurance background.

Knock for knock was an arrangement where companies would cover some types of loss themselves rather than get in a prolonged scuffle with another company. It sort of all came out in the wash.

What this sounds like is that, even though rear ending is usually a slam dunk for the car behind to be liable people try and wriggle off the hook. Or the insurers are sluggardly in dealing with stuff.

We had an outstanding claim on my OH's insurance at renewal for damage I'd done to a third party's property - part of a building not a car. Her premium was bumped up considerably for that reason but once I settled the cost directly and the third party confirmed that it was down to something more than last year but not silly any more.