Claimfast con?
In January of 2011 a driver was observed having bumped my car. The witness to this incident failed to leave his name however did leave the details.
My insurance broker, the AA, put me on to Claimfast who subsequently advised how, with no cost to myself they would pursue the perpetrator, arrange for the repair of my car and arrange a hire vehcile to cover me while this was taking place.
Ive since been contacted by their solicitors who are asking if I was "impecunious" at the time of the accident and also whether I signed the copy of mitigation.
To be honest I didn't really understand the content of the mitigation witness statement when I signed, ie "having a duty to keep my losses to a minimum".
What losses I wondered?
I'm now given to understand this includes the use of the hire car and that I should have looked to cheaper providers?
Upon discussion with the broker AA, they state prior to passing me on to Claimfast they would have went through this with me, however I have absolutely no recall of this with either AA or Claimfast.
Similarly, amongst other mitigation statements that I had a responsbility to "arrange temporary repairs to make my own car drivable where it is practical and economical to do so"
Don't remember claimfast running this by me either.
To cut a long story short, I signed the witness statement and I'm not sure I would have been "impecunious" at the time of the accident.
None of these matters where explored with me and I feel that I've been duped by the AA and Claimfast to the degree that I'm concerned I may be held liable for costs.
Can you advise of what I should do?
My insurance broker, the AA, put me on to Claimfast who subsequently advised how, with no cost to myself they would pursue the perpetrator, arrange for the repair of my car and arrange a hire vehcile to cover me while this was taking place.
Ive since been contacted by their solicitors who are asking if I was "impecunious" at the time of the accident and also whether I signed the copy of mitigation.
To be honest I didn't really understand the content of the mitigation witness statement when I signed, ie "having a duty to keep my losses to a minimum".
What losses I wondered?
I'm now given to understand this includes the use of the hire car and that I should have looked to cheaper providers?
Upon discussion with the broker AA, they state prior to passing me on to Claimfast they would have went through this with me, however I have absolutely no recall of this with either AA or Claimfast.
Similarly, amongst other mitigation statements that I had a responsbility to "arrange temporary repairs to make my own car drivable where it is practical and economical to do so"
Don't remember claimfast running this by me either.
To cut a long story short, I signed the witness statement and I'm not sure I would have been "impecunious" at the time of the accident.
None of these matters where explored with me and I feel that I've been duped by the AA and Claimfast to the degree that I'm concerned I may be held liable for costs.
Can you advise of what I should do?
Asked on 22 November 2011 by pennywise
Answered by
Honest John
Get a solicitor. Basically you have signed documents that make you liable for all costs where you have not "mitigated" your expenses, including the costs of the hire car that might be far higher than they would have been had you "mitigated" your expenses. "Impecunious" means you did not have any spare cash at the time. If that was not true you are also liable unless you can prove in court that you were conned.
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