[philbean]

Brand new neighbour.. hasn't even fully moved in yet.. reversed into my 2 year old Giulietta yesterday (up to then.. spotless)

It's drivable OK. Looks like the bumper will need a full respray. New tyre. New or full refurb of an alloy.

He was very apologetic. Gave me his insurance details.


I contacted Alfa Accident Aftercare today who say they'll sort everything. All the insurance stuff.. book it in an authorised repairshop.. provide a car etc etc. I gave them his insurance details and they said it will all come off his insurance, won't cost me a penny. I'm just waiting for the bodyshop to call and give me a time to come in for an inspection.


This evening, neighbour comes round again saying he's had a think and now doesn't want to go through the insurance as it will cripple his already high premiums. He'll just pay the damage and pay for me a hire car etc. "We're neighbours now"


What to do?

On one hand.. I don't really know him from Adam (apart from where he now lives). What if he refuses to pay once the work is done? Would I ask him for the money upfront after the estimate? Will he want a cheaper non-Alfa authorised bodyshop?
If I now tell Aftercare I'm not doing it through them... and then he changes his mind... am I stuffed?

On the other.. if I say no, I'm certain my car will get sorted with a minimum fuss but I've probably instantly fallen out with my new neighbour.

 

[Shadowamd]

Brand new neighbour.. hasn't even fully moved in yet.. reversed into my 2 year old Giulietta yesterday (up to then.. spotless)

It's drivable OK. Looks like the bumper will need a full respray. New tyre. New or full refurb of an alloy.

He was very apologetic. Gave me his insurance details.


I contacted Alfa Accident Aftercare today who say they'll sort everything. All the insurance stuff.. book it in an authorised repairshop.. provide a car etc etc. I gave them his insurance details and they said it will all come off his insurance, won't cost me a penny. I'm just waiting for the bodyshop to call and give me a time to come in for an inspection.


This evening, neighbour comes round again saying he's had a think and now doesn't want to go through the insurance as it will cripple his already high premiums. He'll just pay the damage and pay for me a hire car etc. "We're neighbours now"


What to do?

On one hand.. I don't really know him from Adam (apart from where he now lives). What if he refuses to pay once the work is done? Would I ask him for the money upfront after the estimate? Will he want a cheaper non-Alfa authorised bodyshop?
If I now tell Aftercare I'm not doing it through them... and then he changes his mind... am I stuffed?

On the other.. if I say no, I'm certain my car will get sorted with a minimum fuss but I've probably instantly fallen out with my new neighbour.

Just get the quote and give it to him, if he doesn't want to pay it up front in full. Then insurance it is..

Work can't commence without payment first.!!

 

[a1ehouse]

Speaking from experience, insurance all the way. If this happened away from your house, would you be as willing? They are not your family and they are the ones at fault so why put yourself out.

Plus he's the one who should be worried about falling out with the new neighbours not you.

Save yourself the stress.

 

[Ralf S.]

If you want to go "direct" and not claim on his insurance, then it doesn't mean you can't go through the insurance later, if he changes his mind. Insurance is actually liability insurance, so basically you sue someone for damaging your car and their insurance pays the cost, as if it was Judge Judy who awarded it.

But get a quote first and then get him to give you a cheque, so that it's paid for up front.

I don't see why you shouldn't give the fella a chance. I nudged someone once (bumper re-spray) and the fella saved my NCB by going direct. They sent us a quote and I sent them a cheque. Job done..

Ralf S.

 

[PR]

As above, get the quote from the place YOU want it repaired. Get a quote for a hire car equivalent to the one you would have got. Give him the cost, and see what he says.

If there is any quibbling or suggestions you take it somewhere cheaper then go insurance..

 

[super164]

Also worth remembering that now the insurance company has been informed, regardless of fault and what NCB you have, your premium will likely be higher come renewal! Happened to me!

 

[MSCDave09]

Insurance. Similar happened to me last November. Come January still no work started so ended up insurance job anyway. Could've saved myself a lot of agro and time if had done insurance in the first place!

 

[philbean]

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Biggles146]

Tell him the quote came out to an horrific cost and let him decide to go with insurance after all?

 

[TonyGr]

Also worth remembering that now the insurance company has been informed, regardless of fault and what NCB you have, your premium will likely be higher come renewal! Happened to me!

Probably because they have reassessed your neighbourhood. The neighbours are getting more careless so the risk has gone up.

 

[Spacecadet]

If you've started the claim, its declarable so will affect NCB on the persons fault side, and increase yours as you have had an accident that you have to declare for 5 years.

I'd say that the process has been started through the insurance company and is now out of your hands. Sorry.


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[PaulR]

I don't get it.

It would be easy to do it on the cheap - new tyre and wheel and bumper cosmetic BUT there could be hidden damage. It needs a new tyre and wheel so it must have taken quite a hit - what has it done to the steering? Do you really want that hassle?

Even the "cheap" option sounds like a grand. An insurance job would at least double that but you would know all had been checked. Alfacare seems the obvious way to go.

Even if he did pay it would cost him at least a grand - is he really saying his policy would increase by that amount? Sounds fishy to me and if I were you I'd play it by the book and go through the insurance.

 

[meatbag]

Deffo go with the insurance. I had a similar (minor) reversing smack by my neighbour a couple of years ago. Got a quote, he said he would pay at the end of the month / year and he's now moved house.

 

[gibot123]

If it was an older car that you could fix your self with cheap s/hand bits thats one thing but 2years old deffo a proper job.
If he is that careless it's no wonder his insurance is through the roof.
Might make him be a bit more careful.
Sad but true

 

[fiisch]

I would go through the insurance because I'd want the car fixed up properly....

But don't forget, even a non fault claim can boost your premiums. Additionally, if you wait for him to pay up and he doesn't, you could run into trouble later on... (I work in motor insurance claims).

 

[phil-gtv6]

if you've started the claim, its declarable so will affect ncb on the persons fault side, and increase yours as you have had an accident that you have to declare for 5 years.

I'd say that the process has been started through the insurance company and is now out of your hands. Sorry.


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+1

 

[Zender2Zender]

Be careful because you still have to declare the claim even though a nfc - no fault claim against the 3rd party and it will increase your premium for 3 yrs

 

[goram]

Insurance mate, all the way. Tell him it's too late. Just not worth the risk and further awkwardness when his cheque bounces.

 

[Massirati]

Go through the insurance!
The alternative always sounds good at first until they are presented with the bill.
Then the tune always changes!

 

[steveisfrowning]

update?