Some good car insurance sense
Having read your horror stories about insurance scams here's one on the other side. A few weeks ago in my Golf I was run into from behind stationary at a roundabout. (Pouring with rain, I was watching him in the mirror thinking "You're not going to stop are you... BANG!)
Initially the other driver tried to persuade me I just had a little scratch that didn't need attention so I rather expected problems. However the next morning I was phoned by his insurer Hastings Direct offering to arrange removal to their retained repairer some 30 miles away who would bring me a loan car on a transporter and take mine away. Alternatively, I could get a quote from my preferred repairer and they would accept it if competitive. The following morning (Friday) I took it to a small local repairer who faxed a quote for 5 hours work at a modest rate plus paint and a new bumper at list price.
Hastings Direct accepted it the same day, I took the car in the following Tuesday and got it back on Thursday, 8 days after the accident. I didn't have to pay and claim, he invoiced Hastings Direct. The repairer lent me a Matiz that did the job for two days, at no extra cost as far as I know.
The new pearlescent paint is indistinguishable from the rest of the car. Full marks to Hastings Direct Insurance and Lewes Car Body Repairs!
Initially the other driver tried to persuade me I just had a little scratch that didn't need attention so I rather expected problems. However the next morning I was phoned by his insurer Hastings Direct offering to arrange removal to their retained repairer some 30 miles away who would bring me a loan car on a transporter and take mine away. Alternatively, I could get a quote from my preferred repairer and they would accept it if competitive. The following morning (Friday) I took it to a small local repairer who faxed a quote for 5 hours work at a modest rate plus paint and a new bumper at list price.
Hastings Direct accepted it the same day, I took the car in the following Tuesday and got it back on Thursday, 8 days after the accident. I didn't have to pay and claim, he invoiced Hastings Direct. The repairer lent me a Matiz that did the job for two days, at no extra cost as far as I know.
The new pearlescent paint is indistinguishable from the rest of the car. Full marks to Hastings Direct Insurance and Lewes Car Body Repairs!
Asked on 19 September 2010 by MW, Lewes
Answered by
Honest John
Thankfully, common sense has returned to some insurers. Full marks to Hastings Direct.
Tags:
insurance
accident repairs
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