Wazzzer

Word of warning for everyone, never use Equity Red Star for insurance, they haven't got a fuckin clue

I've just had a letter from my solicitor about the bike accident I had about 15 months ago, (woman pulled out of a side road and beat me off my bike) and they have advised me that ERS have said they are likely to take the side of the 3rd party (she was insured by them too) because of a witness statement that the bitch got hold of a year after it happened

The bloke in his statement said he didn't even see the crash he just beleived I was speeding and that was the main factor in the accident! And now they're taking her side over it!

What the hell do you pay your insurance for?!

Rich_w

Ive always wondered how Insurance Companies would reactif the 2 people had the same insurer.

Must be some form of conflict of interest there, so maybe see what an independent Solicitor will say.

Wazzzer

my solicitor has said she thinks I'd win but I will have to admit negligence on the speeding part (which can't be proved) so I'd have to pay back 20% of what I got for the bike, bollocks to that

Glen1909

If two people have the same insurer then the insurer pays the damage to both cars, its lose for them. Dont really understand why they would take the otherside of the story...unless......you losing your bonus means your premium goes up more than hers does and more money for them, or maybe im just a cynic, just a thought.

I worked in motor insurance brokers for two years and we dealt with ERS. Their service standards are completely shit in my experience.

xr2i-carl

WFT


load of bollox

i had same thing stupid decrepid old man who shouldnt be on the road pulled out in front of me and he stitched me right up lied and had 'false witnesses'

CNUTS

RSCossieGaz

iTrader: (6)

dont talk to me bout equalty red star

as per my thread im not happy with them either right now

Wazzzer

his witness statement is a fuckin joke TBH, he's trying to say that he estimated my speed to have been 45-50mph (as I went past him while he was on foot) and he also says he won't go to court with it so I'm tempted to say to my solicitor to let it go to court and see what happens

at the end of the day its FACT that she broke the law of the road by not giving way at a junction, its SPECULATION that I was going too fast

xr2i-carl

i think i was with equity red star with mine, fookin useless

Eagle

iTrader: (2)

would ask how he is qualified to make such assumptions ...

as you say she pulled out .. obviously not looking .. so thats got to be a bit of driving without due care and attention ....

sueedw

alot of the times now if the accident is not witnessed by anyone the other party will some how find someone or pay somebody a bung to be a witness.I have heard of this a lot it sways the insurance there way..

John Laverick

Can't you also do some resarch and 'find' a witness who thinks you were doing the speed limit??

Wazzzer

well I've just been speaking to a mate of my dads who is a paramedic and I asked him what sort of injuries he would expect me to have if I was travelling at around 50mph like the bloke said, he said at least a broken bone or dislocation, mainly shoulder injuries as well (all of which I didn't have)

I've got a mate who's a Sargeant for Surrey Traffic Police so I'm gonna ask his opinion of what I should do as well. There's no way I'm admitting to speeding, even if it is 20%, they can't prove it so they can kiss my arse

My missus just came up with an idea, if ERS just had to repair her car its gonna cost a hell of a lot less for them rather than pay out for my bike and clothing so thats probably their motive

KregRS

A few years ago I had accident, hit oncoming car as I pulled into tight junction. Went to court for careless driving and the old bint I'd hit played on her injuries, supposedly having to walk with a stick, as she now needed 1 since accident and she couldn't work due to injuries etc. I got done for the careless driving but unknown to her 2 independent witnesses saw her walking unaided away from court and into her car which she couldn't apparently drive. Cut long story short, insurance company got 2 statements from witnesses and bang went her compensation claim.

phil4x4saph

Serves the theiving old bitch right!
This compensation culture is sick.

"where there's blame theres a claim!" Feckless Bastards! Its us that end up paying at the end of the day.

xr2i-carl

pisses me off todays society


man if you had impacted at 50mph in a blody escort, you would not survive whatsoever

Jon ERST S2

ERS Is the company used by the RSOC insurance isn't it? Was when I used them once (never again)

Hope you can sort something out

Wazzzer

An update to this....

just had word back that her insurance company have already settled the case in her favour in October (first I knew about it) so I can't do anything...

I haven't been informed of any judgement against me, I didn't even know this was happening and I didn't even get the chance to defend myself

It doesn't look like it was never going to go my way. ERS have strung me along from the start and never had any intention to award it in my favour as it would have cost them more money.

Its been 2 years and this case has gone backwards instead of forwards

So thats it

If anyone gets insured through Bennets for a bike or anyone else for a car and it gets mentioned it will be ERS insuring you, you have been warned

SapphyMike

speak to the ombudsman.

you have to accept liability. if not, then the claim cannot be settled.

Wazzzer

trouble is I'm worried if I start kicking over some rocks they're gonna ask for their £900 back they paid out to me "without prejudice" a while back...

on the upside I did get my money for the bike. But the only reason I was going for her was to get some money back for my gear that got damaged in the crash as it left me a good couple of hundred out of pocket to replace it all

Mike Rainbird

iTrader: (3)

If you don't fight this all the way (including the ombudsman), you're a fool. What they did is totally and utterly wrong and they could get into a LOT of trouble over it. I would go STRAIGHT to the ombudsman and tell them everything.

SapphyMike

shit the bed!! the 'Bird agrees with me!!

hell's going to freeze over!!!

ian_s

Ombudsman, I took them there when they started fucking me about, 3 months to settle an "agreed value" total loss claim.
Ombudsman gave them a deadline to sort the claim, which they missed, when they realised they had missed it, they couldnt be more helpful lol.

From what you have said, there is no way they should have settled this in her favour, a witness statement that says wont go to court, and that says speed is the cause would be binned immediately at my office. Especially when she pulled out of a side road.

You will need to put an official complaint into ERS before the ombudsman will look into it, so get that done in writing.

Deny that you were speeding, and even if you were, speed in itself is not an act of negligence and can not be proven. I would also ask them what acts of negligence you have committed for the accident to be settled against you, state that she has failed to give way so liability lies firmly with her.

Wazzzer

Cheers for the replies people

Just reading about the ombudsman and that I have to lodge a complaint with ERS first, which I am going to do today (in writing)

Just makes you wonder how many people are shafted every year with this kind of outcome

Ian M500COS

We are all shafted by most insurance companies when it comes to expecting pay outs or rebates on premiums.

The police should be worried though as the witness has in fact now made all GATSO's and speed traps redundant if this guy can estimate speed by "sight"

Wazzzer

Yeah I did tell my mate (the sargeant) and he wanted me to ask him if he wanted a job as it seems they'd get loads more convictions with him

neilm

Even a broken clock is right twice a day