Short version : third party drove into me, impacting front drivers side wheel and creasing the bumper, wing and whole door.

Details exchanged and they suggested using a garage round the corner and not going through insurance.

Once I'd got over the surprise of being driven into, I priced up, briefly, a new wing, door, and bumper,an alloy refurb and the pondered if the alignment might be a touch off.

I therefore declared the incident to my insurers, and they said they would handle this.

4 weeks have passed and I have just received a text from third party among if I'd used the garage in order to avoid them losing their no claims. I rang my insurers to query if they'd been I contact with the third party insurance and they said they'd written to them to establish liability.

I have now sent them a picture of the text with the third party openly admitting to having "bumped the car."

So, how do I word a response to the third party? Do I even actually reply?

I don't want them showing up at the house if they're not happy with my simply invoking the insurance without telling them, but I was under the impression I had to inform my insurers of the accident, and it wasn't for the third party to dictate what I should do.

You've done the right thing in informing your insurer. I suspect they would prefer you not to respond to the third party directly at all and yes, you're controlling this, so you can call the shots with regard to how you get YOUR car fixed following THEIR (third party's) negligence.

 

I hope it goes well for you.

Tell the third party that they have the right to go and pay your insurer directly for the associated costs of the claim.

As long as their insurers do not shell out any money they should be able to retain their NCB. (Although their insurance premium will very likely rise)

Just quick update to this:

I went to collect my repaired motor on Tuesday night - a day later than I'd been told, but at least I always check so didn't have  wasted trip) and, after calling the bodyshop QC Manager to sort out the bolt securing the wing (wasn't done up tight, wing standing very proud) and having them replace a interior door card clip (again, panel standing proud) I went to pay the excess as instructed by my insurer.

"there's nothing to pay"

"Pardon? This isn't even my insurance company on the bill"

"Yes, that's the third party - they're paying the bill,"

 

A quick call to my insurance to query this - absolutely correct, nothing to pay - note from the third party insurance about the accident and my excess waived. 

So at least I don't have to go through the hassle of claiming that back.

Probably the text they sent admitting to it and trying to skirt round having it declared on their insurance that sealed it.

Course, we all know I'll probably get hammered just the same come renewal.

And I've got to tell my insurers about a new change of circumstances.  Cue more charges and price hikes.

If the third party is worried about  losing their NCB then they can usually refund their own insurance company any money that was paid out and have it re-established.

Newsflash...

Another text from the third party this morning, again admitting to crashing into the car, saying their insurance has written to them and they're ignoring it. They want me to use the body shop and spray guy they will pay for and they don't want to loose their no claims.

Surely the very fact they are being written to by their insurance about it should be enougH for them to get the hint?

I've forwarded this communication to my

Insurance and asked them to reply, detailing what communication they have had with the third party and their insurance. I don't want to be involved

In their apparent attempt to avoid disclosing the accident to their insurance. My insurer has advised me to not respond to them. I don't, however, want them turning up at the house for a show down - I mean, to be still trying to get me to go and get it repaired off the books, even though it's already been fixed, makes me wonder what they'd do next, and indeed, what I'd do if they turned up..

You're doing all you can do. It's now down to the 3rd party's insurer to sort their end out, including getting their client to stop harassing you privately.

Just block the number and get on with your life.

 

The third party has nothing to gain by harassing you as the insurance companies have already sorted everything. If they do turn up at your house (which I seriously doubt they will) it becomes a harassment complaint to the police.