I was wondering if any other of your readers have had the same (or

I was wondering if any other of your readers have had the same (or
similar )problem with their insurance companies the way I have.
in July of 2004 I was involved in a car accident (I was the driver)
the accident was caused by the other person pulling out of a side road in
front of me, whilst I was travelling at between 45 and 50 mph. along a 60mph
road.

the same day i reported the matter to my insurance company (Norwich union
direct) giving them the details of the other vehicle, drivers
name/address/insurance company. I also gave them the name and contact
details of the police officer that dealt with the accident. And told them
that he has the details of the whitnesses.

i told them that the accident was caused by the other driver of the other
vehicle.. and that i was just reporting the matter to them (my insurance
company) as that is a part of the insurance contract as well as the law..

i also told them that i was going to claim through the other persons
insurance and did not want to claim on mine.
but they insisted that i claim through them (Norwich union direct) as i had
fully comp..
This i ended up agreeing on.
They had my vehicle accessed and put it down as a financial Wright off, and
paid me £600+ this was less my excess of £120

Now the fun bit..

my insurance is up for renewal this month. and i have just found out that i
have lost 2 years no claims bonus,
Thus doubling my insurance costs this year from £319.99 to £613.89.. And
increasing it next year and the next ect ect..

i phoned them up on this matter and asked them why i was being penalized on
my no claims bonus, and was told it is because i put in a claim on my
insurance. And they have not been able to recover the costs from the other
persons insurance.

i asked them how i can get my no claims bonus back, since i was the innocent
person in the accident, and was told that I have to do all i can to help
them get their money back..!!!
once they have their money back from the other persons insurance company
then I will get my no claims bonus back.

i gave them all the information that i had..what more can i do??

Also the other company will not pay up because their person never told them
of the accident..
(Remember I have given Norwich union direct the police officers name and
contact details so why have they not got in contact with him?? As not
reporting a accident to the insurance company is an offence)

I feel so angry over the matter that I have done everything by the law. Only
to find that I am being punished for doing so and being innocent.

This matter has cost me more than the other person.
The other person was taken to court for failing to stop at a junction and
for having 3 bald tires on his car.
He got a £30 pounds fine plus £35 court costs.. with no action being taken
on the failing to stop at a junction

I have lost £120 excess around £300 this year on the cost of my insurance
going up (not including the cost next year-but I have been told that it
works out to about 45% on top of what it would normally cost me until I get
back all of my no claims bonus..