My first accident

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joker08

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In the last 5 years have been driving, I never had an accident. today I was coming out of checkers, at the exit there is a stop street, and a polo was stationary, I pulled behind him like normal ( safe distance and all) and I was waiting for him to go into the road.
I don't know what got into him, he decided to reverse :mad: and bumped into my car.
Nothing major but the plastic screws that hold the bumper is all out in 4 places and in one place the metal guide is bent.
Did the normal stuff like taking pictures, and his details, and logged an accident report.
I have insurance with old mutual, but not sure if it's worth claiming, I have informed my insurance agent anyway. The other person doesn't have insurance.
My excess is 4000 and according to the documentation, I am liable for an additional 2500 because I am within the first 6 months of taking insurance with them.
What's the best way forward? I was thinking of taking it to a panel beater and getting it fixed and politely asking for the money from that guy, if he refuses, chuck it. Doesn't make sense paying insurance R6500 and waiting for a few years to get it back.
 
joker08 said:
What's the best way forward? I was thinking of taking it to a panel beater and getting it fixed and politely asking for the money from that guy, if he refuses, chuck it. Doesn't make sense paying insurance R6500 and waiting for a few years to get it back.
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You don't necessarily pay 6500. You pay what it costs to do the repair regardless of what your insurer thinks. It may be less than 6500 or more depending on what you get quoted. And your insurance might have a better chance of recovering your excess from the reverser.
 
R13... said:
You don't necessarily pay 6500. You pay what it costs to do the repair regardless of what your insurer thinks. It may be less than 6500 or more depending on what you get quoted. And your insurance might have a better chance of recovering your excess from the reverser.
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This will be my first claim, so I might sound silly.
Claiming through insurance means, I pay the excess ( which is 6500 in this case) and then the insurance will pay the panel beater whatever is the amount ?
Scenario 1 - repair cost is just R1000, I still pay insurance 6500, they pay the panel beater and if they are able to recover then I get it back ?
Scenario 2 - repair cost is lets say R20,000 , I will still pay the same 6500 excess if they are able to recover from that idiot then I get it back ?
 
joker08 said:
In the last 5 years have been driving, I never had an accident.
Click to expand...

I saw the thread title and thought this was a thread about a pregnancy scare.

But what you are referring to is a collision or a fender-bender, which sounds like a double entendre, but most likely isn't.
 
1. Steal the Polo.
2. Sell it on Jules Street
3. ???
4. Profit
 
joker08 said:
Scenario 1 - repair cost is just R1000, I still pay insurance 6500, they pay the panel beater and if they are able to recover then I get it back ?
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If the repair cost is only R1000, that is all you pay.

You pay the cost of repair up to R6500. Any amount above that, the insurance company pays. You only pay the actual cost if it is less than R6500, you don't pay the full R6500.
 
joker08 said:
Scenario 1 - repair cost is just R1000
Click to expand...
Unless you take it to "Bodyworks in the shade of a thorn three with the hadidas" you will not find a repair for R1k. An acredited repair shop will likely not even look at you for R1k
 
Big Rat said:
Work through your insurance, pay your excess and they will fight to get it back fr
om the other user.
Do not try and do your own thing, it almost always fall apart.
Click to expand...

This, why people pay for insurance to try and never use it I'll never understand.
 
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I just got an email from my insurance broke, what is this recovery claim ?

Please note merits have been reviewed and claim was identified as a recovery claim.
In order to proceed with the recovery- could you kindly forward us the third party's details?

1. Third Party name and surname
2. Vehicle registration number
3. Make and model of vehicle
4. Third Party contact details
5. Third Party ID number
6. Third Party Insurance details and claim number
7. Clear sketch and description of the accident
Please can you provide the above information at your earliest convenience
 
RedViking said:
I would take it to the local guy I trust, see if what he will charge is less than the premium and go with that. The companies the insurance uses rip them off big time.
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Not all insurers.

My son works for one of the big insurers and he was down here in Slaapstad last week to audit the panelbeaters accredited to work for them.
Amongst other things his job is to audit and make sure they do not quote silly repair prices, do not pay or charge too much for spares and provide a competitive but fair repair deal.
Another part is to ensure clients get good service and the repairs ar acceptable in quality.
If they screw up or take the piss with pricing (or like some buy their spares from a family member with the same business address as the panel shop), or repair quality is sub-par they might not get paid and will probably be removed from the insurer's list of accredited panel beaters.

They take this rather seriously.

So, yes some certainly do this, but not all.
 
joker08 said:
I just got an email from my insurance broke, what is this recovery claim ?

Please note merits have been reviewed and claim was identified as a recovery claim.
In order to proceed with the recovery- could you kindly forward us the third party's details?

1. Third Party name and surname
2. Vehicle registration number
3. Make and model of vehicle
4. Third Party contact details
5. Third Party ID number
6. Third Party Insurance details and claim number
7. Clear sketch and description of the accident
Please can you provide the above information at your earliest convenience
Click to expand...

They fix your vehicle and then proceed to recover the costs from the 3rd party if possible.
Let them do this, it is what you pay for.
 
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