My wife's car (less than 600 miles on the clock from new) has been damaged by something thrown over the school playground fence that landed on the roof of her car and dented it in two places. The car was parked in the school car park. She works at the school.
Repair estimated at £800 by body shop.
Synopsis;
1) she has 'Smart Protect' panel insurance which would have paid for a repair if it had been on a side panel/bumper etc but not the roof. *sigh*
2) the school/LA doesn't have 'insurance' as such for this so if they paid for the repair it would be out of the school's already tight budget.
3) she's worried that if she makes a claim on her own insurance then she'll either end up with increased premiums plus the insurer just claim against the school anyway (so why not just ask the school to pay direct?) or paying the £250 excess and subsequently having increased premiums. She had a 'fault' claim 2 or 3 years ago when she scraped her previous car on a wall so another 'fault' claim may mean her protected no claims goes.
4) Just pay for the repair and save the school the money and herself the insurance worry.
So what would stw do;
1) Insurance claim
2) School pays (maybe she pays what the excess would be on insurance?)
3) pay all and park elsewhere in the car park next time.
