Insurance Claim for Old Damage

techpoida on 02/05/2022 - 17:52

Asking for a friend….
Quoting:
"Several years ago my car was parked (legally) in a two way street. Which due to an event was filled with cars and this made it fairly tight but not that bad, if you can drive. It had been parked there earlier, when the street was reasonably empty otherwise I would've parked it elsewhere.
I came back after the event and there was a scrape down the drivers side. No note and no witnesses.
Due to the size of the excess and finances at the time no claim was made and didn't bother going to the police. What are my options, now I have the money for the excess I'd like to get that damage repaired?"

Having seen the damage it's not a simple job for a dent puller or driveway dent removal company.
They haven't been to a repairer yet, since they're not sure if they should call the insurance first.
Has been with the same insurance company since before incident, with full comprehensive.

Poll Options expired

  • 20
    Pay full amount out of pocket
  • 7
    Make a claim saying it's just happened
  • 2
    Other
Automotive Car Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • kerfuffle on 02/05/2022 - 17:54
    +1

    There's no point calling insurance if they can't provide the details of the at-fault driver.

    • SmiTTy on 02/05/2022 - 18:04
      +5

      Can still lodge a claim without any at fault. Just need to pay the excess. For eg hit and run

      • kerfuffle on 02/05/2022 - 18:07
        -1

        Yes, I know. Had to pay it myself because guy who T-Boned me last month said it wasn't his fault (I maintain it was).

        Might as well just get it fixed at a smash repairer? OP said the size of the excess and their 'friend's financial circumstances were the reasons why they didn't initially pursue it.

  • SmiTTy on 02/05/2022 - 18:12

    Just go with whichever is cheaper OP

    Option a = insurance excess (plus potential future premium increase)

    Option b = get quote from 2-3 smash repairer.

    • techpoida on 02/05/2022 - 18:19

      Will the insurer have an issue with not telling them sooner, or would they not care?
      e.g. on the renewal each year it does ask a bunch of questions, with one being "Is there any existing damage" and the answer technically should've been yes, since that incident.
      They don't want to call them and find out they won't cover it (assuming excess is cheaper), since they weren't told immediately and then have issues with them going forward.

      • Hybroid on 02/05/2022 - 18:22
        +3

        Will the insurer have an issue with not telling them sooner, or would they not care?

        Yes, they would. Every insurer has a claim period requirement following an incident. Check your PDS.

        Your options are either repair it at your own cost or insurance fraud by lying about the date.

      • AustriaBargain on 02/05/2022 - 18:56
        +6

        Don't commit insurance fraud over a simple scrape. You could call them anyway and ask them, it won't cost you anything to ask except your time.

        • techpoida on 02/05/2022 - 20:58

          That's what they're thinking. Get some quotes, then call insurance and lay it out.
          Pretty sure they're not interested in saying it's just happened and hoping it works.

  • oscargamer on 02/05/2022 - 19:05
    +1

    How long ago are we talking OP? 'Several' isn't a number.

    • techpoida on 02/05/2022 - 20:56

      Not sure, they didn't say.

      • oscargamer on 02/05/2022 - 21:04
        +1

        It's fairly important
        ie. totally important and in what state did it happen and which insurer were they with at the time? everything else is not important

  • Ocker on 02/05/2022 - 19:21

    You are screwed - end of story

  • [Deactivated] on 02/05/2022 - 19:35
    +1

    First get a quote and compare that to the excess. Then if you decide it's worth going through insurance, simply be honest. If you were insured at the time of the incident, then it's fine to make a claim. Trying to be fraudulent is a bad idea. If you're found out, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to get insurance again.

  • apple2016 on 02/05/2022 - 21:29
    +1

    Several years ago

    Usually you will need to claim within a month.

  • bobbified on 02/05/2022 - 22:03
    +1

    There's no time limit for property damage claims, but your insurer may ask you to explain why it's taken so long and may decline if the explanation is not to their liking, then it's up to you to fight their decision. If you do make a claim, you have to make it to the insurer you had a policy with at that time of the incident. If in the past few years you have left to go to another insurer and then come back, you better have ticked the "existing damage" box during the application.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join