Accident Exchange

[Dr C]

Hello all.

Have any of you ever used Accident Exchange? Got rear ended yesterday, no one hurt and car drivable thankfully. Anyway, I took the car to Eastern Western BMW in Edinburgh to get it looked at (funnily enough the accident happened outside the dealership as I was taking the car in for its first service). Basically, Accident Exchange, through BMW, get your car fixed and they do all the chasing of the at-fault driver's insurance, at no cost to you, and give you a like for like courtesy car. Even if the at-fault driver starts playing funny buggers, they sort it all out. Seems too good to be true! Would be interested to hear of other peoples' experiences.

Cheers
Scott

[Don Coffey]

Sorry to hear of your collision, soooo annoying but pleased no-one was hurt.  Not used the Accident Exchange myself, but when someone reversed into the door of my 5 series a couple of years ago, I found the bmw body repair workshop to be very professional and gave a first rate service, although I'm sure the bill would have reflected that.

Don

[pvr]

My understanding, but not sure, is that the contract states something like that if they fail to recover the funds from the third party, that you will become liable for the rental which is something like £5k a week or so?

I have seen cases where the third party refused to pay the (excessive) rental charges and that they lost the case in court as the judge agreed with that part (limitation of expenses by the "victim").

Best do a search on this concept first as you don't want to expose yourself to a huge bill at the end.

[pvr]

Some reading …

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/fo ... t-Exchange

[quote=""]
Accident Exchange are a credit hire company who offer hire vehicles to victims of non-fault accidents. Under a credit hire agreement you are liable to pay the charges, but the agreement says they will endeavour to recover these from the other side. From your post it also appears AE conducted a credit repair, which is the same thing but for repairs instead of hire. Under a credit repair AE will instruct their own engineers to authorise repairs with the garage and get them sorted.
[/quote]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/fo ... W-Chiswick

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/what-is-credit-hire/

[Don Coffey]

Good spot PVR, I like most would assume that when dealing with the BMW dealership they would look after your interests!

Don

[Dr C]

Wow, that is very eye-opening! I thought it was too good to be true...I will be make a call today!

Thanks guys.

[cooa99]

Best go through your insurance company instead of dealing with the small prints

or ring the 3rd party insurer up. I found this worked on my previous accident since the are always willing to keep the cost of courtesy cars & period of repair down.

[535dboy]

Have you used these type of people a few times but also became aware that you could get royally screwed over with these charges now so would be wary to use if I was unlucky enough to find myself in that situation again

[pvr]

A few times ??? A regular event for you then?  )

[Dr C]

I've spoken to Accident Exchange and specifically mentioned the credit hire thing and asked if I would be liable for the hire fees if the at fault driver's insurance failed to cough up - they were adamant that I won't be liable for a penny, under any circumstances. I still feel a bit uneasy and will be going through the contract with the finest of fine tooth combs. They'll be told to poke it if there's any doubt. Will report back on what happens.

[d7bow]

We used Accident Exchange when our car got hit. My insurance company wanted me to put the car through the local vauxhall dealer to be repaired and a corsa as a hire car. Told them no ,phoned bmw,  they put me in touch with AE. Talked through with there operator and they said there would be no charges under any circumstances if we lost the case. Our car got picked up, and a new 5 series was delivered next morning. Cost of the bm was £332 a day. They take 10 days before they inspect the car. Car ended up taking just over a month to be fixed.hire charges were over 10k. The solicitors AE  used are a joke, and they changed them around 2 months ago to another solicitor. Our case is still on going as the 3rd party insurance is refusing to pay the hire charges. It will be a year on the 23rd of December. I also get weekly phone calls from a company about claiming from injuries. I've blocked around 20 no.s as they use mobile no.s as well

[535dboy]

I was initially chased for the money which made me uncomfortable.

My initial hire car was a 7 series BMW, which I broke, so they replaced it with an A8

The hire charges went through the roof as you can imagine

I can't remember but as the agreement is in your name, doesn't it affect your credit rating if you have a long outstanding debt too?

[535dboy]

[quote="pvr"]
A few times ??? A regular event for you then?  )
[/quote]

Ok possibly twice

Once in an old Audi (boy racer rear ended me when I stoppped quicker than him) and I'm sure twice whilst it was parked in the same bloody parking space (different occasions) at a clients !

[brewer]

AE are another great example of why insurance premiums are so high (along with car jacking, false whiplash claims, etc.).

BMW are happy to use them as they undoubtedly make a significant profit from hiring out vehicles @ £200-£500 per day! 

There should be no need for a middleman like AE - this is exactly what we pay insurance companies to do.

Introduce a middleman and you introduce another layer of cost and profit - at some point, someone foots the bill.

[535dboy]

I don't think they are the dealers cars