Monkeydile

I was rear ended the other day by some numpty in a Fiesta Reported it to my insurance etc.

My insurance company have an approved repairer but I decided I'd like a quote from a Scooby specialist so I went down to Scooby Clinic. They actually use a company called Accident Exchange who would provide a hire car and then claim the money for it back from the other guys insurance. The clinic would do the repair and there would be no need to get my insurance involved.

Now I'm 100% certain the work done by Scooby Clinic would be top quality but I'm not sure about this Accident Exchange company. I'd read a couple of bad reports from claims a couple of years ago and the customer was just this month hit with a bill for the hire car that they had as the other insurance company wouldn't pay it. So I was just wondering if anyone had had dealings with them and if they were any good?

I would be grateful for any opinions as I'm totally confused about which way to do this

Tony@Greenlight

Hi Monkeydile,

If you're unsure as to who accident exchange are, there are other options which are as follows:

1) Most Insurers will allow you to opt for your own repairer.

You will probably forefit your courtesy car by doing so (but if you contact the responsible party's Insurer they will probably have a provision to provide you a car).

It's likely your Insurer will require an estimate and they will appoint an engineer to assess the vehicle & manage the claim.

2) If your own Insurer doesnt offer the above, contact the responsible drivers Insurer.

Providing matey has reported the claim they will act in a similar way to your Insurer, but will usually be able to organise a hire car as well.

The other party's Insurer will require an estimate and they will then appoint an engineer to assess the vehicle & manage the claim on their behalf.

3) If you're a Greenlight customer call our office as we can handle this for you.


Having an accident is almost always a hassle, but providing matey is upfront enough to report the incident it should be ok.

Kind regards & best wishes.

Tony

Monkeydile

Thanks for the advice, it's much appreciated

My insurance comapny have allowed me to get quotes from other places so I'll be able to get it done at my choice of repairer. Have decided to knock the Accident Exchange idea on it's head. Will still get the clinic to quote me on a repair though.

I have a feeling my custom may be coming your way at renewal time Although this isn't till the end of the year

Thanks one again

specialx

Hi you don't have to use accident exchange if you don't want to we just offerd it to you as the cars they provide are better than our loan cars and as you are in a non fault situation and upset it's just nice sometimes to get you a really nice to car drive around in to make you feel better about your car being off the road.

We can still do thew work through your insurance without accident exchange and get one of our loan cars but it will not be a BMW or a Jag.


I hope this clears thing s up a bit.



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Monkeydile

Thanks for letting me know about Accident Exchange. I'm ok for the loan car as the insurance company are sorting out something.

I'll be down tomorrow so you can do a quote for me, it's much appreciated Would have been today but the weather is rubbish

Michael

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

just so you know, not all ins company's will provide you with the courtesy car, they can opt out as your not going to there approved repairer.

so you may end up having to take scoobyclinics loan car, you will most likely have to cover the loan car on your ins too while yours is in for repair,

the advantage of using a third party claim company is you get a nice loan car, which will cost the other partys ins an arm and a leg to pay for, the garage will get a higer labour rate sometimes £10 more, which is why garages push the third party people.

i wouldn't be claiming off your own ins anyway as you will have to pay your excess then claim it back, so you can either get a claim reference number off the guy who hit you and give that to the body shop of your choice or go the third party route.

btw just because a body shop has a big ins approval, doesn't mean there good lol the ins company get good credit, good discount. the larger bodyshops tend to use bonus payment scheme so jobs fly through the shop, meaning not all the best intentions to your car better to use an independant like scoobyclinic or our selves

jake c/o panelcare

Monkeydile

Cheers for the extra advice mate I'll consider all that I've been told over the next day or so and take it from there

Michael