Just a bit of car insurance info, maybe of value.

[911hillclimber]

Rarely do you read something +'ve about car insurance companies, but I felt my recent experience may be of interest.

My run-about/wifes car is a simple Toyota iQ. Had it since new, 6 years old now.
A few weeks ago we were rammed from behind while still in a short traffic queue by a VW Golf who in turn had been rammed by another car, a Taxi.

Thus, the fault was behind me, I was the innocent front of the 'concertina' as such a 'pile-up' is termed.
Nobody broken or bleeding but the VW guy and the taxi driver were all shook-up. We sustained minor damage to the rear bumper/lower valance, the car was drivable and our necks felt ok.
Being the least affected I did the clerical work of names/addresses etc and left for home.

I contacted Direct Line, my insurers an hour later, game line after line of details to a very calm, slow talking and patient operator. It took 60 seconds to speak to a human.
A hire car was pre-arranged (it was a Sunday) and a pick-up of the Toyota arranged with a large repair network contracted to Direct Line.
They in turn were brilliant, a log-in # given to check progress, and the car was finished in 6 working days.

There was a small fault with the repair which they fixed while I waited and all is well.

No Third Party has called chasing me to progress injury compensation, so their data base must be tight!

I just thought that you only know if your insurance company is any good when this kind of thing happens, and I cannot fault Direct Line.

There was nothing to pay as I was the innocent party, not my fault etc.

The itemised repair bill was an eye opener. The cost of parts and labour for such a small amount of damage was surprising, (£1600)

[Dean.s]

Are you sure it was direct line who dealt with. Was it a credit hire car organised by a non fault claims company? Insurer's often farm out non fault claims as it's more cost efficient.

Glad you got things sorted though. It's good to hear a nice ending for once.

[911hillclimber]

It all emminated from DL organisation, but all has worked out well, no fuss, no bother.

[Darren C]

Glad to hear you got a good service, and think my thread may have nudged you a little to speak up.

Yep, you only know if your insurance company is any good when you have to make a claim. We certainly wont be recommending FJ to anyone.

[shoestring7]

One point worth mentioning; a few years ago one lunchtime I was hit from behind while I was in a slow moving queue behind a road sweeper. I can remember hearing a car approaching too fast and glanced at the RVM just in time to see some bloke in a Nissan on his F****** phone before he hit me, ramming my car into a truck.

I jumped out, more worried about the young daughter (presumably) of the twattish bloke who was screaming her head off, but she was shocked (airbags) but otherwise unhurt. I stood around while police took statements, sorted out the recovery of my car, and waited while a colleague came and took me back to the office. Other than feeling mighty miffed off I felt just fine.

Next day I woke up feeling as good (bad) as normal, and drove to work in the pool car I'd borrowed. However, by mid-morning my neck started to feel sore and oddly weak, and by going home time I couldn't keep my head up, it was lolling from shoulder to shoulder. I had to get a taxi home and it was nearly a week before I was able to go in to work normally. I was lucky as I could work from home, but I discovered that whiplash is a thing...

C>

[911hillclimber]

Take your point.
The crunch was 3 weeks ago now, nearly four, and we are both ok. The bags went off in the taxi, not the VW , no sound of screeching tyres etc but the taxi hit the VW high up in the boot lid and rear screen, doubt the brakes were applied.

[Berny]

I hope you dont lose your NCD! I did when one of my cars was hit while parked and locked! logged as no blame! but still lost no claim, I did eventuarly get my excess back.

[911hillclimber]

Been assured as 'no-fault' NCB ok and excess not called for.
Car repair cost me nothing.

When I renew all my insurances I will need to declare it but with the No-Fault caveat.

[KS]

Yes, had nothing but good to say about Direct Line car insurance. Very helpful, quick to act and a UK-based human to speak to.