Good day
I was reversing my car with no car insurance and it kissed (very minor touch) the bumper of a Brand New Mercedes Benz. APPARENTLY there was no damage to the Mercedes Benz but the female owner started jumping up and down that it's a brand new car and there are scratches on the bumper.
I took close up photos from different angles and offered her to get her car fixed but she insisted that she will report to her car insurance company.
A week later we received a letter from her car insurance company with the reference to claim number etc. I rand up her insurance company and asked them not to get the Mercedes Benz fixed without telling me at least 2 quotes as I can get the car fixed for very cheap by my own resources.
Now after almost 4 months, the Australian Debt Collectors have sent us a bill worth $2900 asking us to make the payment with 14 days, otherwise they will take me to court for legal action.
My legal questions are:
1. Can the car insurance company fix the car without sending me the quotes?
2. Can I get the benefit from the photos taken on the spot that the damage was not worth $2900?
3. I am on dole payment and unemployed with very low assets and no other income. Can the court order me to make the lump sum payment? Or can I request the court to relax the payment terms so I can make $10-$15 monthly payments to pay off in instalments?
4. What is the best reply I can make to the Australian Debt Collectors. Of course I do not want to pay more than $100 which to me is still more than the damage I caused to the brand new Mercedes Benz?
Many thanks for the forum and providing the opportunity to seek help on our issues.
I was reversing my car with no car insurance and it kissed (very minor touch) the bumper of a Brand New Mercedes Benz. APPARENTLY there was no damage to the Mercedes Benz but the female owner started jumping up and down that it's a brand new car and there are scratches on the bumper.
I took close up photos from different angles and offered her to get her car fixed but she insisted that she will report to her car insurance company.
A week later we received a letter from her car insurance company with the reference to claim number etc. I rand up her insurance company and asked them not to get the Mercedes Benz fixed without telling me at least 2 quotes as I can get the car fixed for very cheap by my own resources.
Now after almost 4 months, the Australian Debt Collectors have sent us a bill worth $2900 asking us to make the payment with 14 days, otherwise they will take me to court for legal action.
My legal questions are:
1. Can the car insurance company fix the car without sending me the quotes?
2. Can I get the benefit from the photos taken on the spot that the damage was not worth $2900?
3. I am on dole payment and unemployed with very low assets and no other income. Can the court order me to make the lump sum payment? Or can I request the court to relax the payment terms so I can make $10-$15 monthly payments to pay off in instalments?
4. What is the best reply I can make to the Australian Debt Collectors. Of course I do not want to pay more than $100 which to me is still more than the damage I caused to the brand new Mercedes Benz?
Many thanks for the forum and providing the opportunity to seek help on our issues.
