Plod has admitted liability but his insurance company are still not accepting it. Looks like its gonna go right to the wire. May yet need the help of a certain forum member (you know who you are.).
As far as I'm aware 'Plod' are Self Insured' so their 'Ins Co' is likely to be an Accountant somewhere at Head Office?
This is correct. And the reason you are getting nowhere is that insurance companies don't really chase anybody, they only talk internally as money comes from the same big underwriter, UK Insurance Ltd. Since the insurance company cannot talk to another insurer and will not be able to do anything at all and have no force against a company or individual, it is simply easier to fob you off and make you claim against your own policy, ie from their own pot. However, I would stick tpo your guns if you have proof. But the chances are the only ultimate solution is that your own insurance company will take the hit and not affect your no claims bonus. But it is highly unlikely taht the police will pay your insurance if it is not an open shut case.
UK Insurance Ltd are a trading name of RBS, direct line group including Churchill fall under this umbrella but not the Co that the plod is insured with
Despite an admission that he is responsible they are saying that I am 70% at fault. My insurers have not even forwarded this to me after more than a month I have got this from the other partys insurance. good at taking premiums - piss poor at dealing with customers afterwards. Without giving too much away my insurance co are based on the south coast -scene of a famous battle in 1066 AVOID !!!!!!!
In addition to what has already been said, have you considered contacting TC on the forum or Andrew Dalton (I think he gives legal guidance in Fast Bikes)
Was really pissed off yesterday with this. Today I think exactly as JM1 states. Fuck em its gonna go all the way.
I'm not qualified to give advice, but you have to call their bluff. I was knocked off a while back, took over a year to get it settled and I had to say I was happy to go to court, at which point, the insurance suddenly decided that it was all the other party's fault after all. A total sham and waste of time and money. This is just one of the reasons why we should treat the insurance industry with the contempt it deserves
Just had a talk to a guy at Bike Lawyers. They don't want to take my case on as I don't suppose theres enough money in it for them but a nice bloke there gave me some very good points to make and a run down of how things are likely to progress.
Sorry for not responding sooner, but been away visiting family in Austria for the past 2+ weeks and had no internet connection Anyway, the reason they probably are not prepared to deal with it is because in damage only cases, law firms are unable to recover any costs in cases where the value of the claim is less than £5,000. On that basis, whilst you could instruct solicitors on a private basis, it would cost you, and probably cost you more than the value of actual claim which would put you further out of pocket. Was the Policeman in his own vehicle or a marked Police vehicle? Some coppers are authorised to use their own vehicles for work (as I used to when I was on call) and senior officers in particular tend to use their own vehicles as it avoids the need to take an operational vehicle out of commission, but........ Even thought it may be considered as a Police vehicle for the period of time it is being used on duty, it is the individuals responsibility to ensure it is insured for business use, so the claim would be against the Policeman just as in any other crash. If it was a marked vehicle, then as mentioned, Police forces are what are called "Bonded" which means that they are self insured (Scottish and Southern Energy are another) and they have put a large sum of money usually a minimum of £500K) into a pot for dealing with claims, but they are also insured with one of the major insurance companies. An admittance of liability at the side of the road often accounts for nothing these days, and even coppers will try and wriggle out af being held liable. Your insurance company should be doing the work on this, not you, and once the letter of claim had been sent, the other side does have 3 months to deny or admit liability, but in damage only cases, this is usually resolved in much less time. I would advise that you contact your insurers, tell them that you are not satisfied in the way that they are dealing with your case, and that unless you start to see something being done within say 14 days, then you require them to issue proceedings in the county court. This tends to make defendant law firms sit up and take notice as it shows you are serious, and it also puts them on notice that they could be hit with substantial further costs. Also mention that you are going to report both your insurers and the defendant insurers to the Ombudsman at Financial Ombudsman Service: Banking, Insurance & Pensions Ombudsman UK They are impartial and independent and often this gets bums twitching within insurance companies. Hope this helps
Thank you for the reply, it is very useful. The guy from Bike Lawyers told me much the same. Claim form, photographs and everything else has been sent today along with any other bits of information I have gathered. Thanks again Wurz To everyone else - I will now leave this to run its course and stop boring you with it. Thanks to anyone who has given me anything useful.
Hopefully come back and tell us about your successful conclusion in the not too distant future. All the best fella.
Its finally over. Mr plods insurance has admitted 100% liability and the cheque has been put through my door. Thanks to all who gave good advice
