Tradesmen - A Case Study

My name is Tony Day and I’m a Master Locksmith. I run my own business and I’m renowned for my reliability, integrity, and the specialist skills that I’ve enjoyed developing during the last 15 years. My business is called Advanced Locksmiths and is based in Enfield Town - covering North London and the Home Counties.

I’m writing this testimonial today as I believe it will help others to avoid the disappointing and costly experience I encountered with my insurance company.

Recently I was driving on Avenue road St. Johns Wood, London, when a motorbike rider – illegally using the cycle lane to undertake stationary traffic on the opposite side of the road - collided with my van as I made a right turn. After exchanging details with the motor cyclist (who admitted he was in the wrong) I immediately telephoned my insurance company from the scene of the accident. The agent I spoke with advised me to make a note of all the details and forward them on so they could begin processing my claim. So far, so good!

Two days later, whilst working on a frozen gate lock in an Enfield car park, my customer noticed the damage to my van and asked what had happened?  After I explained the circumstances surrounding the collision, my customer informed me that even though this was a clear cut case of a non-fault accident, it would not be to my advantage to claim for my vehicle repairs through my own insurance company; it would, he said, inevitably cost me money, adversely affect my insurance status, and increase the cost of my fully comprehensive business vehicle insurance premium in the long term.

I must admit that I was somewhat surprised by this information from my customer; but it did seem credible. He told me that he too had been involved in a non-fault accident and had used an accident management company in very similar circumstances. He advised me to check-out a website www.accidentmanagers.co.uk through which I could obtain some further information.

The next day I received a call from Enterprise Car Rental who informed me that my insurers had asked them to contact me about a replacement vehicle. They offered to deliver the vehicle to me as my van was scheduled for repairs. When I asked what make of vehicle they would be delivering, I was shocked to learn that I was only entitled to a Ford KA? My initial reaction was to burst out laughing – I thought it was some sort of wind-up? But I soon discovered it wasn’t. How, I asked, was a locksmith expected to run a business out of a Ford KA? 

I explained that this was unacceptable, that I would need a transit sized van to accommodate the bulk and weight of my stock and tools. I was informed that I could have bigger vehicle, but I’d have to pay £320.61 for the upgrade -£250 of the amount counting towards deposit. I had no choice; I had to pay for the upgrade to the transit van. And this was not the only additional cost; I was also told that I’d have to pay my excess before I could collect my van from the repairer - another £250. To add to the unfolding nightmare, I was also informed that my insurance premium has been increased by £90 for the next five years – and that the increase would be kept at that rate only if I remain with my existing Insurance Company because I had now lost my no claims bonus!

My customer in Enfield and Laura were right. They both warned me that this would happen! Angry and frustrated at being let down by my insurance company, and by at the additional expense and aggravation that I unfairly incurred through no fault of my own, I decided to tell my story.

 

If you’ve had a non fault accident, don’t for a moment be fooled by the insurance companies. They purposely try to frighten you away from people like Accident Mangers, and squeeze you for more money than you are already paying them. Did you know that you will lose your No Claims Bonus and have to pay your excess if you claim for a broken windscreen now?

 

All my mates call me KA Tony now. They roll around in laughter every time I remind them of the story. Sadly, I ignored what proved to be good advice and I learned a hard and expensive lesson.  Never again will I go through my own insurance company when I have had an accident that was not my fault – take it from me it cost much more. Accident Managers will be my first and only call in the future.

 

Tony Day
Master Locksmith.