PROPERTY CLAIMS

In the unfortunate event of loss or damage you should report the incident to the Insurers. Most insurers do not require forms and will take instructions over the telephone even out of normal office hours - the Helpline numbers are listed below. If at any stage you have concerns regarding this service or if you would like to discuss your claim with someone independent of the Insurance Company then please contact us, we are here to help. Some insurers require a claim form and if this is the case click on the link to download the form, which should be completed and returned to us.

If your Insurance Company is not listed or you are unsure which company covers your property please do not hesitate to contact us.

Useful Tips:-

Accidental Loss, Malicious Damage or Theft claims must be reported to the Police who will issue you with a report number.

Take photographs of any damage to support your claim.

Your insurers will normally allow you to carry out emergency repairs to make the property sound or to prevent further damage prior to estimates being obtained for permanent repairs. Many insurers use their own approved tradesmen or firms to repair or replace damaged or lost property but you can use your own tradesman or firm. If you do use your own tradesman or firm the insurers will wish to check that the charges made by them are reasonable (you will have to obtain an alternative estimate) and may also wish to inspect any damage - which is likely to delay settlement.

Remember that most policies have an excess, which will be deducted from any claim payment. As most policies include a no claims discount as part of the rating it may not be worthwhile claiming if the loss/damage close to the level of policy excess - please contact us for advice for your own particular circumstances.

MOTOR CLAIMS

If you are unfortunate enough to have an accident you should take the following steps:-

1. Take the name and address of any other driver and the registration number of any other vehicle involved in the incident.   If you can also obtain the other drivers policy number from their Certificate of Motor Insurance and the name and address of their insurers this will speed up your claim.
2. Take the names and addresses of any witnesses together with those of any other third parties involved in the incident.
3. Give your own name address and insurance details to the other parties involved in the accident and do not admit liability.
4. Make a note of the position of your vehicle in the road and the positions of other vehicles both prior to and after the incident and take photographs of the damage at the site of the accident if possible.
5. Report the claim to us or the Insurers as soon as possible - see below

Do not make any admission of liability nor give money to any person involved in the incident.

Fortunately most accidents are relatively minor and your car can generally be used safely until it is repaired at a time convenient to you.  

Getting Your Car Repaired

Clients with Comprehensive cover

If your car requires immediate repair or you are at fault for the accident or the third party details are not known we would recommend claiming the cost of repairs under your own motor policy. You will initially have to pay the policy excess together with any other uninsured losses e.g. damage to other goods in the vehicle. These uninsured losses can then be recovered from the third party if they are to blame for the accident, using the Broker Direct Legal Expenses policy (or your motor policy if Uninsured Loss Recovery is automatically included).

Most companies detailed in the table below operate 24 hour Helpline numbers for you to report claims directly to them.  There are also links to some insurers’ websites where they provide relevant information. Utilising the Helpline services should speed up your claim but if you have any difficulties please contact us. 

Clients with Third Party Fire & Theft or Third Party only cover

We recommend that all of our customers take advantage of our Broker Direct Legal Expenses Scheme under which your vehicle can be repaired at one of their approved repairers. This is available for accidents where you are not to blame, the third party details together with their Insurers are known, and liability for the damage is not disputed by them.  You can be supplied with a hire car equivalent to your own vehicle for the duration of your repairs. Acceptance of claims under this arrangement is at the discretion of Broker Direct.

If you are at fault for the accident you will be responsible for your own repairs, as damage to your vehicle is not covered by your policy, you will still need to report the incident in order that your insurers can deal with any third party claim.

HELPLINE NUMBERS, LINKS & FORMS