Going bonkers!

Got whacked 10 days ago - Hefty rear end with about 7K worth of damage. The guy who rear-ended me seemed in a bit of a hurry to leave the scene but I not too gently persuaded him to hang around.

All his windscreen discs checked out (Road Tax, Insurance and NCT) - Tried to get his name and address but he suddenly reverted back to his native Chinese and put on the 'don't understand' face. Cops, of course, not intereseted in coming to the scene as no one was kelled etc.,

Anyway, I reported matter to the cops, my own insurance Co, and also got in touch with the guys insurance Co (AXA) who said they would get back to me shortly.

Surprise! Surprise! Mr. Chinese guy is no longer insured with AXA! He took out the policy in July 07 and cancelled a week later! He did not return his insurance disc (The one he so proudly displayed on the day he whacked me!). The guy from AXA told me this is a regular scam operated by 'non-nationals' and was on the increase.

So here I am - To get my motor fixed up pronto I must claim off my own insurance and wait for Motor Insurance Bureau to drag its tardy heels sorting out my claim with them - In all probability my renewal next year will reflect the fact that I have had 'a claim' and I will be lashed accordingly.

The cops meanwhile tell me they are extremely busy and haven't been able to trace Mr. Chinese guy - They say they will get around to it whenever.

My advice? Well what can you do? Insurance companies know this kind of thing is rampant (they suggest that 10% of drivers are uninsured - many of them employing this scam to avoid detection at checkpoints). I suppose the best advice is stay of the road so you don't have a prang with Mr. Wang!

If AXA issued a certificate of insurance which was not returned then they will have to deal with the claim under the terms of the Road Traffic Act 1988 rather than the Motor Insurers' Bureau.

In simple terms, they would be required to satisfy a County Court Judgment which remains unsatisfied for a period of 28 days. In reality, it is rarely cost effective for an insurance company to allow Judgment to be obtained so the alternative is that they will settle before then.

Sorry to here of your troubles, at least over there you have insurance discs so you are able to get some info at least, insurers will at least have an addresse of some kind.

If AXA issued a certificate of insurance which was not returned then they will have to deal with the claim under the terms of the Road Traffic Act 1988 rather than the Motor Insurers' Bureau.

In simple terms, they would be required to satisfy a County Court Judgment which remains unsatisfied for a period of 28 days. In reality, it is rarely cost effective for an insurance company to allow Judgment to be obtained so the alternative is that they will settle before then.

Always handy to have an expert on insurance/ insurance fraud around, without your knowledge Mr. G AXA probably wouldn't have been in a rush to impart this knowledge

Hope you get it sorted soon mate

Thanks guys for info and comisserations - Will have to get the head down and sort this matter out soon.

Jacko:(

jacko, I suspect from your location that you are based in Dublin. If so forget about the Road Traffic Act 1988 and County Court judgments as these are UK only.

You are faced with the ridiculous prospect of claiming off your own insurance, losing your NCB and claiming off the MIBI and the cops are too busy to enforce the law - more blue flu?

Why haven't the police arrested Mr Chinese for driving uninsured then?

I'd suggest writing a letter to the Police and AXA.

Us law abiding motorists pay our dues yet its always those who flout the laws who get away with it.

Shame we dont have a modern day A Team or Knight Rider.

What if someone was injured/killed by an uninsured driver?

AXA should give the other parties address to the Police and charge him/her.

Just a Thought - but did you not take the guys reg plate?

Did he not give you a contact number or Address... If yes - Are they Valid??

So sorry to hear about this - such a shame :(

I really hope you manage to get this sorted asap, I would go mad if it happened to me :(

Sorry to be a prude and a PCist, everyone, but could we keep the references to the offenders nationality out of it? It doesn't have any pertinence, other than to say he was, possibly, a foreign national. Do you know for a fact that he wasn't nationalised?

Just because he's Chinese, it doesn't make him bad.

By the way, I feel for you, Jacko. Got hit by an uninsured driver about 4 years ago. Took 2.5 years to sort it all out through the MIB...

If you look at my original post you will see that it was actually the guy from AXA who advised that the 'scam' he refers to is one favoured by "non-nationals".

My purpose in making this post was not to seek pity or advice regarding my plight. I had hoped, rather, that it might make other members aware that the scam I refer to is widespread among "non-nationals". (Remember I got this from AXA!)

Had I been aware of this at the time of the incident involving this particular individual I would have 'insisted' that he accompany me to the local police station where we might jointly report the matter.

Unlike Great Britain, with its former vast Empire/Commonwealth, little Ireland had no interests or social indebtness in what we would quaintly refer to as 'foreign countries'. The term 'non-national' is widely accepted in Ireland ever since the huge influx of 'foreigners' following the onset of the Celtic Tiger phenonenom when we became an attractive destination for those seeking a better life. Prior to that (and we're only talking about 15 years here!) people of 'foreign' appearance were about as common as hens' teeth. It's not that long either since the Irish who travelled to the UK, also seeking their fortune, were generally referred to as 'Paddys' - A tad less PC you might agree. But then hasn't this whole PC thing gone a bit mad?

Sorry if I offended your sensibilities and appreciate that your England is vastly populated with people of every conceivable race who may be several generations

in your fine land. I should, perhaps, have flagged my post for interest of Irish members only.

I wonder though if even you might not be a little suspicious in light of my advice should you find yourself in my particular situation in the future?

i'd have bounced the dicks head off the bonnet untill he could speak english again.

what a ***** really makes me angry that if this happens you have a claim against your name

Happened to us car was parked outside house and an idiot crashed in the back of it at high speed cops wernt bothered and we lost our no claims .and a few hundred quid due to it.

Not seen a penny back