INsurance

Post by **Jefftav** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:02 am

Hi all,
I received the renewal for my MM insurance and they have included a fee of £10 for legal costs. When I enquired what this was (as my insurance is fully comp). I get a really vague answer about leagl costs incurred should I be taken to court/sued in releation to any claims on my policy.

I argue that as I am fully comp all of this would be sorted out by the insurance company. They can/will deduct the £10 but I don't want to be silly as £10 if I am taken to court and incur leagl cost is nothing in comparison to what a solicitor charges.

Does anyone have more insight into this than me and indeed the insurance company.
When would I incur legal costs not included by my policy?

Any advice is appreciated, Jeff

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:05 am

hi jeff,

ask the insurance company, in writing, what is covered in the way of legal costs:

a) by their usual fully comp policy, without the extra tenner
b) by the policy including the extra tenner

see what they say.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:00 pm

Does anyone have more insight into this

Hi Jeff it appears that itemising bits of insurance policys has become the norm in recent years and the legal aid bit has been part of modern car insurance for a while and unfortunately they wont fight for your corner as a solicitor chasing on your behalf gets things sorted quicker, to quote an example a few years ago one of mt daughters was hit in the side by another car just driving into her and it took over 6 months to sort out as she didnt have this extra cover and the hassle with the lost no claims in the meantime didnt help either so for the sake of a tenner I know what I would do.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:26 pm

Kevin wrote:
Does anyone have more insight into this
Hi Jeff it appears that itemising bits of insurance policys has become the norm in recent years and the legal aid bit has been part of modern car insurance for a while and unfortunately they wont fight for your corner

I'll agree with that.
Someone reversed out of a parking space on a car park when my wife was driving by.
They appologised and said they couldn't see due to the bright sun.
No damage to our car but a slight scuff (only paintwork and no dents etc) where our tyre hit their bumper .
Next thing we know is they have made a claim by noting our car insurance number and informing their insurers who then traced us.
Obviously we gave the facts and insisted that our insurers refused to pay out.
Needless to say they did anyway as not worth the costs in fighting.
I complained and pointed out that this is the very sorty of thing that I expected my additional costs for "legal assistance" to cover - but never got a reply !

Paul Humphries.

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:08 pm

Very long story and I won't go into it again or it'll put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day, but something similar happened to me. Somebody drove into the side of my car. I had paid for the extra legal cover and the legal firm initially said it was clearly the other guy's fault and they'd get it sorted out quickly. Then my insurance company admitted liability and the lawyers washed their hands of me. I was only on 3PFT and my car was a wreck so I lost everything.

Post by **Orkney** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:16 pm

Snap with Paul & Alex bad experience wise - accident not my fault - proven. The persom who caused the accident then tried to claim from my insurance company for 'whiplash' i cant walk properly, work, loss of income etc.
My insurance company told them to get stuffed - then their insurance and can you believe this came after me on a civil claim basis.
Fortunately I've a good family solicitor and over the years have used to good effect and even higher levels of legal consort - end of the day though still cost me very good money to tell them to get stuffed.

Jeff my WAG ( wild articulated guess ) is that half of these extra protection schemes are not worth the paper they are written on - in the case of car insurance you'd probably get more and better legal assistance in times of strife by being a member of the RAC e.g.

If as Wibble suggested ask for written confirmation you cant get a satisfactory answer then take your business elsewhere.
Do you mind telling us who this is with ?

Post by **Judge** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:21 pm

All I can say is that my experience has been the opposite, even paid for a barrister.

Post by **Orkney** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:26 pm

All I can say is that my experience has been the opposite, even paid for a barister.

yes and @ £650 per hour for a specialist one its well worth considering being covered

edit:- that might have been a QC actually - whatever it was the price was shocking but saved a lot of money :-edit

Post by **Jefftav** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:11 am

Hi All,

Thanks for the advice. The policy is with Equity Red Star through RH Specialist Insurance.

I will probably pay the extra £10 even though I still feel it's a bit cute to add this on rather than include it. I asked for more inof and the answer from the insurance company is ;
1. solicitor costs if I need represented at a coroners inquest, fatal accident enquiry or court of summary jurisdiction.
2. reasonalbe costs for legal services to defend me if I kill anyone and all other legal costs and expenses we agree to.

Thanks again everyone, Jeff