To claim or not?

Alqua

Sorry if this is the wrong forum -

Just wondering if anyone has experience of making a small (well less than €1000) claim on comp. insurance, with NCB protection? Did your basic premium rise drastically? Specifically a case of car damage with no other drivers involved? Or do insurance companies raise premiums by a certain amount regardless of the type of claim?

I know every case is different, but it was just having paid for the NCB protection last time around that got me thinking, would it be worth it to risk it and claim? Or cough up the 800/900 euro and get on with it.. Has anyone made a similar claim and do you regret it?

Viper_JB

Get it repaired yourself I would say, you'll end up paying more then 1000k extra over a few years on your insurance if you make a claim.

Check out some car dismantlers, it may work out much cheaper to buy a second hand bumper and have that fitted rather then the current one repaired.

Alqua

Viper_JB wrote: »

Get it repaired yourself I would say, you'll end up paying more then 1000k extra over a few years on your insurance if you make a claim.

Check out some car dismantlers, it may work out much cheaper to buy a second hand bumper and have that fitted rather then the current one repaired.

Good point, it's easy to focus on the next year's premium without considering the long term.

They would be my first choice, but because of time and my location at the minute am more restricted.
Thanks - needed another opinion to confirm that it would be daft!

Viper_JB

No problem that should have read 1k not 1000k but you get the idea , I haven't actually used them but there's a place up north called traynors car dismantlers, and they're supposed to have a very good stock and like next day delivery on most items so it might be worth a phone call to them at least to see if they might have something that would suit.

slimjimmc

Don't forget your claim could be reduced by any excess in your policy which would make claiming even less attractive.

CiniO

Alqua wrote: »

Sorry if this is the wrong forum -

Just wondering if anyone has experience of making a small (well less than €1000) claim on comp. insurance, with NCB protection? Did your basic premium rise drastically? Specifically a case of car damage with no other drivers involved? Or do insurance companies raise premiums by a certain amount regardless of the type of claim?

I know every case is different, but it was just having paid for the NCB protection last time around that got me thinking, would it be worth it to risk it and claim? Or cough up the 800/900 euro and get on with it.. Has anyone made a similar claim and do you regret it?

3 years ago my wife crashed my car. Insurer said it was a write off and they paid about 3000 euro.
It was with Allianz, and I had NCB protection so my NCB was not affected.
Premium also didn't rise at all.
So claim cost me nothing.

However, since then I pretty much had to stay with Allianz, as no other insurer was interested in providing me with cover at reasonable price, because of that claim. So that was only disadvantage.

bazz26

As said, you will also have to pay the excess on your policy if making a claim. This can vary on average from €250 to €600 depending on your specific policy. So not worth making a claim for such a low amount imo.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Even with the ncb protected the premium can still go up.

E.g. Without claim noted

basic premium: €1000
No Claim bonus: 50%
Making total premium:€500

With claim

Basic premium: €2000
No claims bonus 50%
Total premium: €1000

Figures are rough and just to show how it actually works.... too many people think protecting the bonus protects the overall price which is not the case... the premium can still go up regardless of bonus protection

CiniO

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Even with the ncb protected the premium can still go up.

E.g. Without claim noted

basic premium: €1000
No Claim bonus: 50%
Making total premium:€500

With claim

Basic premium: €2000
No claims bonus 50%
Total premium: €1000

Figures are rough and just to show how it actually works.... too many people think protecting the bonus protects the overall price which is not the case... the premium can still go up regardless of bonus protection

It can.
But will it?
In my experience it doesn't.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

CiniO wrote: »

It can.
But will it?
In my experience it doesn't.

It will.

From my experience working in an insurance company 9 times out of 10 it most definitely does.

acon2119

I made a claim 2 or 3 years ago, damaged my car at my house, no one else involved.

Had full bonus protection. but when renewal date came my premium did go up a maybe a hundred or more.

Pretty much like someone else said, I was kinda stuck with that company because it is kinda held against you that you made a claim even if you have bonus protection.

Shop around and weigh up all the options fully before you decide.

CiniO

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

It will.

From my experience working in an insurance company 9 times out of 10 it most definitely does.

So you are saying I was lucky one which won 1/10 contest?

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

CiniO wrote: »

So you are saying I was lucky one which won 1/10 contest?

You were incredibly lucky that time or then again maybe your insurance was due to go.down a lot but didnt ..... like i said... i worked in the insurance company and delt with this same argument nearly everyday "oh but i have bonus protection. The price shouldnt go up at all, should be cheaper blah blah blah, bunch of theiving bastards etc etc.

Alqua

Viper_JB wrote: »

No problem that should have read 1k not 1000k but you get the idea , I haven't actually used them but there's a place up north called traynors car dismantlers, and they're supposed to have a very good stock and like next day delivery on most items so it might be worth a phone call to them at least to see if they might have something that would suit.

Thanks! Am too familiar with dismantlers - had to replace the engine in my old car a few years back (likely petrol stretching) - pretty sure that crowd were one of many that were dealt with!

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Figures are rough and just to show how it actually works.... too many people think protecting the bonus protects the overall price which is not the case... the premium can still go up regardless of bonus protection

I was aware of this, but had been searching around for any idea of how much the basic premium might go up, and am none of the wiser, so better safe than sorry.

acon2119 wrote: »

Had full bonus protection. but when renewal date came my premium did go up a maybe a hundred or more.

Pretty much like someone else said, I was kinda stuck with that company because it is kinda held against you that you made a claim even if you have bonus protection.

That's it, as other posters have said you would be stuck with them (that said, company I'm with have been by far the best price quoted to me over the past couple of years) Have factored in the excess as well, but even the risk of the premium going up at all is putting me off. It is a small claim amount too. I'd never have entertained the thought before, was just curious whether the protection would be enough of a protection! I guess it's worth investigating. The 40 or so euro that the NCB protection was is probably hardly worth it - considering if you make a large enough claim the premium will probably sky-rocket regardless!