Car through the fence. Dealing with the insurance company

[ffukedfarmer]

I had a call from the police a fortnight ago saying that a car had gone through a fence of ours and they helpfully provided all the details of the driver and his insurers. There were lambs and our bull in the field at the time so I went up there on the Saturday evening to secure the field.

I rang the insurers on Monday morning who said that they would speak with the insured and come back to be. Surprise, surpise I've heard nothing so I rang them this morning. They want 2 quotes for the repairs, but I have want to do the work myself. Am I obliged to provide them with my quote and another? It's no great problem as I know a couple of fencing guys who I'm sure with conjure up something, but I don't want to call in a favour unnecessarily.

Also what is reasonable to charge for my time on a Saturday evening to attend and make stockproof? I'm certainly not minded to charge 'farmers rates'.

 

[Hampton]

Get a quote, then put your quote in which is the same. You will be allowed to then do the work based on your quote.

 

[ih1455xl]

Remember to always add plenty of twit tax

 

[X344chap]

And remember that any claims just get added onto everyone insurance premiums.

Also the postcode of the claim will be added to the insurers database - so expect your premiums to go up for living in a 'risky' area.

 

[roscoe erf]

Surely you get two quote’s hand them in they pay you then you do the job that’s how it’s done round here

 

[Wooly]

Don't forget to add your call out time on Saturday night to secure the location.

Admin fees for getting quotes, time taken in dealing with the insurance company, any trees or bushes that need replanting etc etc.

 

[milkloss]

Make sure each quote covers the admin/visit fee of the competing quote that doesn’t get the job.

 

[Exfarmer]

The vehicle recovery firm will have charged something between £250-350 for attending and pulling the car out , so I would think something on those lines is fair.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

And remember that any claims just get added onto everyone insurance premiums.

Also the postcode of the claim will be added to the insurers database - so expect your premiums to go up for living in a 'risky' area.

Don't see why I should lose out when the damage was not my fault. Given the choice I would prefer my gate to be as it was and to have kept my feet in front of the fire on the Saturday evening.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

Surely you get two quote’s hand them in they pay you then you do the job that’s how it’s done round here

That's fine, just I was hoping not to have to waste peoples time in producing a quote for work that they aren't going to do.

 

[feilding]

Was told by a insurance company to quote about £1000 + to start with and add materials + labour on top. All plus vat. A trailer broke off a van and went through a neighbour's garden hedge. So that's what I charged. Payed straight away and then told I was cheap [emoji852].

 

[Kidds]

Talking of cars and hedges
Tuesday night I was on my way home and came across a car parked on a hedge. Right up on top with headlights pointing skyward, hazard lights on and car covered in mud.
Sat in the passenger seat was a guy eating a packet of crisps. WTF?

 

[Princess Pooper]

And remember that any claims just get added onto everyone insurance premiums.

Also the postcode of the claim will be added to the insurers database - so expect your premiums to go up for living in a 'risky' area.

rubbish, we have loads of cars through our hedges and we just hand the info to our insurers and they have said it has no effect on our premiums.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

last time i did one i charged an invoice for 'emergency fencing' seperate to the actual repair invoice, under £100 i think they paid it no problems.

 

[Stewart Setter]

Definitely put an allowance for your time. At the end of the day, while your fixing the fence you're not attending to day to day farm business.

 

[som farmer]

local farmer got fed up with cars failing to negotiate a corner, and smashing his fence down. He removed the tax disc on one, said they could have it back, when they supplied all relavent details, insurers etc.
Next day, police at door, threatening to arrest him for theft of a tax disc, if he didn't to be arrested, he would have to return it, to the car, in his field, now. Words fail me!!!!!!

 

[farmerste]

had a car through hedge and then torched a few years ago, police wouldnt give me the owners details due to data protection and the recovery firm dragged it over hedge whilst i wasnt there so ended up having to repair damage out of my own pocket...

 

[Ukjay]

local farmer got fed up with cars failing to negotiate a corner, and smashing his fence down. He removed the tax disc on one, said they could have it back, when they supplied all relavent details, insurers etc.
Next day, police at door, threatening to arrest him for theft of a tax disc, if he didn't to be arrested, he would have to return it, to the car, in his field, now. Words fail me!!!!!!

Tax Disc - must have been a few years ago surely?

 

[Brisel]

Get quotes from local fencing/hedging contractors. Buy them a pint each for their troubles.

I've tried a couple of times to claim for hedge damage on a notorious corner by drivers with more ambition than talent but the insurers made it so hard I gave up, which is what they wanted, I guess. I've put big logs in front of the hedge now which stop the cars sooner. The really galling bit is when the recovery driver turns up and winches it back through another bit of hedge.

 

[Canada Farmer]

local farmer got fed up with cars failing to negotiate a corner, and smashing his fence down. He removed the tax disc on one, said they could have it back, when they supplied all relavent details, insurers etc.
Next day, police at door, threatening to arrest him for theft of a tax disc, if he didn't to be arrested, he would have to return it, to the car, in his field, now. Words fail me!!!!!!

Its not theft if you have possession of said vehicle!!!!???