I did a list of what to do to get a payout a while back but basiclly you take pics of the hole with something like a newspaper to show scale and date then call the council and ask to be put through to their insurance department, then claim from them.

Once the paperwork gets rollingthey will send out an inspector to see if the hole is as big as you say it is who will report back.

Then they will discuss who's fault the hole is, if a subcontractor has dug up the road then you get passed onto them or the council will admit liability.

You then have to get 2 quotes from different places to get the cost appriased and then send these quotes to the council.

They will then give youbthebgobahead to get the work done.

Then you sendthem the bill and they repay your costs.

Bit long winded but I once got £1850 for the estate and only last year I got £550 for the mondeo and I'm sure I've got anoher claim in there as well for something else.

Never back down and always go in there polite but firm because it's not your fault your car has been damaged and now you can't drive it with only 3 wheels you will be paying out for things like tax and insurance wihout actually being able to use the vehicle,

in my case we didn't have a second car at the time that could fit both child seats and 3 adults so it was imperative that I got the car fixed soon as, when I paid out for the work to be done and paid the labour for the quotes showing that the suspension was fully aligned as per the manufacturers specs and that the suspesion was in fact broken internally where the gass pocket had blown out on the damper I got everything changed and said that I was happy to swallow the labour cost for the fitting to the undamaged side of the suspension but the parts would have to be paid for through the claim.

Sorted

so make sure that you haven't mentioned anywhere that the rim is being fixed, only that it is the oyby possibly option as opposed to buying a complete new wheel rim and that the tyre is not damaged.