Settled non fault RTA claim

...Ghost...

I recently settled a minor damage claim where I was rear ended. Other driver and their insurance company accepted liability. Other person was messing around, so I went directly through their insurer rather than deal with them outside of insurance.

Renewal is due soon. I was starting to look at quotes yesterday and the usual accidents and claims question pops up. I was on AXA and their questionnaire only asks for claim date and settlement figure (if settled). It doesn't allow you to say who was at fault etc. I rang AXA and they told me I only need to enter the claim if it was against my own policy. Great, I thought. Then onto Zurich, where their claim section has a big paragraph telling you that any claim made, regardless of blame, or claim type needs to be declared.

Is it different with every insurer? Is there a list of insurers who you only have to declare claims against your own policy? If AXA do it, then many others must be the same. I usually shop around online every year and this accident which was not my fault is going to be a pain in the hole.

Eggs For Dinner

The advice AXA gave you is correct. A 'claim' only refers to monies paid out under a policy you own. The 'regardless of blame' refers to a scenario where someone else causes you a loss but cannot be traced etc, and you end up claiming for repairs under your policy

You must declare an 'accident' under all circumstances, if asked. An accident where you have received full compensation from a 3rd party should have no effect on your renewal and alternative quotes.

The problem is that you cannot present this argument to an online portal, or unknowledgable call centre staff. The industry is riddled with the latter

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123616417#Comment_123616417

Thanks and that's what makes logical sense. It shouldn't matter if a person was involved in an accident where 100% of the liability is on the third party and this is not under dispute. I would go further and suggest they shouldn't need to be told about accidents where the policy holder is not at fault and has not claimed on their policy.

The online systems don't account for this in many cases and this means you can't avail of their online discounts.

What has really thrown me off is the Zurich statement. Check this out. It's only short of asking for a stool sample analysis.