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Credit crunching

I had an accident a few weeks ago now, where someone pulled out of a minor road and pranged into me. It was all amicable, I put it through my insurers (peace of mind) and they put me in touch with a company who provided me with what I thought was a courtesy car. A day or so later, I then get a call from the guy whose hit me insurers offering me their services free of charge including a replacement car of my choice? I told them thanks but that I already sorted out my repairs. When I mentioned the name of the company that was providing me with a car, I was told in no uncertain terms that this company was a credit hire company where they do not agree to pay their rates and then warned me that this company could look to me for whatever costs are due? Is this true? As I can't see what I’ve done wrong here. I've gone with this company on the say-so of my insurers who put me in touch with them and that this company told me I would not be liable at all? Your reply would be greatly appreciated

Asked on 12 September 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Yes. That’s what ‘credit hire’ means. Hire on credit until someone pays. Get straight onto your insurers and demand to know why they referred you to these pariahs. I suspect a clerk there is taking a bung to refer policyholders to them. The ABI publishes maximum amounts insurers should pay for temporary replacements of most cars. New case law on this obliges everyone involved to minimise the cost of the car supplied while the damaged car is fixed. (Copley v Lawn, Court of Appeal, 17-6-2009.)
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