Suncorp comprehensive. I was not at fault door ripped off given false info. Why must I pay excess?

Easyteas85 on 04/01/2023 - 12:34

Hi everyone.
I need help with excess question.
Sorry if long.

My driver's door was badly damaged when a parked car with a trailer left the space next to me. We were at the tip dropping off rubbish, both backed in.

As he left, his trailer ripped my driver's door nearly off. He said it was my fault as my driver's door was left open and he refused to give many details.

Just phone number, first name and rego.

I went to police and they were not helpful.
I rang my insurance to make a claim.

Suncorp said I must provide :
Full name
Address
Licence number
Rego

If I can't provide all those details, even if I'm not at fault I must pay excess….

Doesn't seem fair, my excess is 1k and a second hand door is about 300.

So I asked .. " what about if other driver provided false details… If I provided those details even if they were incorrect would I have to pay excess? Her answer was no…

So long story short TLDR
Should I provide what details I have, filling in the gaps with random info to not pay excess?

Financial

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Comments

  • spackbace on 04/01/2023 - 12:40
    +7

    Should I provide what details I have, filling in the gaps with random info to not pay excess?

    Depends, do you want to get done for insurance fraud?

  • djsweet on 04/01/2023 - 12:40

    I don't know for sure, but I think if you make a police report and get the case file number this could be enough.

  • GrueHunter on 04/01/2023 - 12:42

    "Should I commit fraud? I already told them I don't have the information and they've recorded me asking about supplying false information, but I think it's really unlikely they'll catch on."

  • tomleonhart on 04/01/2023 - 12:46
    +9

    Sound fair enough by Suncorp. You pay the excess upfront. If your insurance company can establish the fact that you're not at fault then you'll get your excess back. If they can't establish whose fault it is, your excess is gone.

  • Nugs on 04/01/2023 - 12:55
    +3

    no one has asked yet so I will.
    Why was your door 'left' open at the tip? I'd have doors shut and windows up with vents closed to keep out the smell
    .

    • dcep on 04/01/2023 - 12:58
      +1

      probably he got no hands left after carrying a box out of the car, didn't want to put the box down on floor to shut the door and didn't want to kick the door close with his knee

  • Hybroid on 04/01/2023 - 13:01
    +1

    You pay the excess until they can establish the at-fault parties insurance and get them to agree to pay it instead. In which case you would get refunded.

    If not, you eat the excess charge. That’s what you signed up for in your policy after all. You chose to have a $1,000 excess.

    If it’s $300 for a door then just get it done yourself and not via insurance.

    • dcep on 04/01/2023 - 13:04
      +2

      And switch to AAMI or NRMA or other insurer that doesn't require excess upfront for not at fault claims.

      • Ughhh on 04/01/2023 - 13:12
        +1

        Yup. Just note that those comments (one of which was mine :) ) were from 2 years ago. It is possible that policies / process have changed since then, so best to double check pds before confirming purchase.

  • GG57 on 04/01/2023 - 13:07
    +6

    my excess is 1k and a second hand door is about 300.

    That seems to be a remedy right there.

  • Leanne59 on 04/01/2023 - 13:13

    Not sure why the police didn't give you all his details as they did when my daughter was in the same situation of a "not at fault" incident.

    • dcep on 04/01/2023 - 14:08

      Yeah i had a kind police that given me the fullname/address/phone no. of the crook, just from giving them the rego and told me don't bother lodging police report as they don't deal with off-road motor accidents that deemed as civil matters.

      I can understand why they shouldn't be giving out personal details just like that to anyone.

      And the police wasn't being helpful to OP probably because the accidents took place at a tip open space thus considered as civil matter ?

  • vorsprung on 04/01/2023 - 13:15
    +7

    Police weren't helpful? That seems crazy.
    Have you tried phoning the number he gave you? If he refuses to answer his phone and refused to give you his address, then isn't it effectively a hit and run? If he just left without giving you any details and you managed to snipe his licence plate, how is this any difference from him stopping and giving you false details? Seems like a hit and run either way, which the police should care about. I would want a police report, then I assume your insurer could use that to obtain the details of the other party via the police.
    I could be totally wrong, just my thoughts / assumptions.

    At least in QLD, the police should care:
    The Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Road Rules) Regulation 2009 makes it an offence for a driver involved in a traffic accident to refuse to provide their personal information to any other person involved. This offence is punishable by a fine exceeding $2,000.

    • djsweet on 04/01/2023 - 13:57

      As you say, if the other party refuses to provide details it is a hit and run. Isn't the runaway driver considered at-fault by default in a hit and run case?

    • dcep on 04/01/2023 - 14:13

      This took place at a tip open space though. Police might have deemed it as civil matter rather than road traffic accidents.

  • altitudinous on 04/01/2023 - 13:59

    Only hearing one side of this story….

  • MS Paint on 04/01/2023 - 14:31

    Does the door still shut and lock or is the car not driveable?

  • Aust on 05/01/2023 - 19:02

    Presume you are in Qld op? https://forms.police.qld.gov.au/launch/TrafficCrash
    Presume you reported online?
    Note: If you are still at the scene, and any of the above have occurred, please contact Triple Zero (000). Otherwise, attend a local police station to report the crash. If the other driver has failed to provide details and you are no longer at the scene, you can report online (for more information see the Traffic Crash Frequently Asked Questions.)

    Part of the selection process when picking an insurer should also be the claim requirements such as your insurer needs op.
    Those 4 things they require should be the minimum to obtain,
    Did you take photos of your vehicle damage, other vehicle damage, make , model and rego? That might be a start.

  • Baysew on 19/08/2023 - 12:43

    What was the outcome?

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