Thanks both.

I like to keep up-to-date and well informed.

Cat

Peter has answered it well, the extra considerations to take into account of any decision are:

1) That one claim may not make much impact on NCD/premium, but you always need to factor into any decision that you may end up in a major smash involving personal injury next month, where you have no choice but to claim. In this case if you have claimed on the first smaller bump, you may end up in the situation where you have had 2 claims in a 12 month period, and end up with a very heaviliy loaded premium

2) Most insurance companies ask for claims or losses in the last 3 years - so even if you havent claimed, you are probably on dodgy legal grounds should you not declare the 'bump' that you paid for out of your own pocket.

Dave

Guys, this can really depend on the claim and the individual involved. In some cases, especially smaller claims it can be more costly to get back up to a full no claims bonus than actually paying out yourselves for any repairs as you need to declare this for up to 5 years following a claim, and likewise, there are others where the its the opposite, or people don't simply have the money to fund this themselves.

My advice to anyone in this situation would be to look very carefuly at the implications of both not making the claim and taking the hit on the pocket themselves and making the claim and the cost of insurance for then next 3-5 years whilst getting their no claims bonus back.

But, DSM, doesn't the loss of bonus impact on you way down the line, long term, in increased premiums?

Cat

I`m always curious about this sort of thing - you would rather pay a £780 repair bill than lose a bit of no claims bonus ?

Loads of people want to pay their repairs themselves to protect their bonus, yet they often don`t check the costs first.

If you lose your bonus and it would mean a premium increase of £400 for example, would you still want to pay the £780 repair cost yourself ? False economy ?

My advice, always find out what the loss of bonus would cost before doing this, you may find it cheaper to let the insurer pay the bill and take the hit on your bonus. It`s even more important to check this if you hit someone else, as, if your insurer pays out to a third party due to your fault, you lose the bonus anwyay, so may as well claim for your own repairs as well.....

hehe

It's not often I find myself lost for words but you have bested me on that one, Dave!!

I lack a suitably witty riposte!

Cat

Cat,

But that was the whole idea

Fiamold aka Dave

Don't tempt me.......... ;-))

Of course it is a good idea - I am full of them (or full of something anyway) :-D

Fiamold aka Dave

Hi

Keep that letter safe you never know when you may need to produce it, hopefully you wont. Also thats a good suggestion to keep the money to one side for a time, give it a few months then if nothing else emerges use the money for a good holiday to unwind from the stress of this!!!

Peter

Well, many thanks for the replies, I have spoken to both DL and the repair shop many times this last year, it is only now that DL sent me a letter to say that they consider the claim to have never taken place and they consider the matter closed that I thought I would ask this question.
I will follow the advice from Fiamold and put the money aside just in case, I think I have done more than my bit already to pay them, but I felt I needed a second opinion, thankyou.

Hi There

This sounds like a massive admin mistake in your favour from what sounds like the repair shop, however I'm like you and would be expecting this to come back and catch me out when I'm not expecting it!

Have you been in touch with the repair shop?

I would try the insurer one more time to see if this has ever been settled, if not then try the body shop who repaired it and see if they can advise who/when this was settled.

Good answer!

Be sure to stick around, Dave....

Cat

With a company the size of DL, it is always possible that they have paid it (most garages are not if this size, so the assumption is that the garage would insist on payment) and lost record of doig so.

Along with this is that there will always be the chance of them finding their error and coming back to you, but the longer time goes on for the less likely it will be that they will come back at some future date.

As for affecting your NCD in the future - insurance companies often ask about 'claims or losses' so even though you theoretically havent made a claim, it could still be counted against you. The good news is that most companies also allow 1 loss before starting to penalise you for it.

My advice would be to put the money into a high interest savings account where you can get it if you need it, but where it will be safe in case they identify their mistake. If in a few years time they havent come back for it then treat youself.

This may sound dishonest, but you dont have much alternative as you dont know who hasnt paid who - it could be that it is DL who are out of pocket, it could be the garage, or it could be another third party (like one the two banks they deal with) so you dont know who to force your money onto.

Fiamold aka Dave