I walked away with only a mobile number and a promise. A promise echoed that night via a phone call. Shame they were lieing (?) and proceeded to hide, making my claim seem impossible.
Well I contacted BC that night and they were helpful sending out the claim pack etc.
Pearsons who were looking at the damage contacted Alyson France at Bikeline who sent me a full quote and her claim pack.
I went with the more personal touch from Bikeline. BC seemed a bit too formal for my liking.
I have been since told that a claim through BC would have made a small difference to road safety figures etc so maybe should be the choice for members, after all our membership pays for it.
So anyway.
I filled in forms, visited appointed doctors and Bikeline informed me that I would be lucky to get much. Due to the fact that we hadnt found the guilty party my claim would go through the 'Motorists Fund' or something which is government led and would result in me getting nothing or some token payment but it was worth doing.
Lesson - even when dazed and shocked, remember that mobile phones can be used to store text messages and therefore registration numbers not just phone numbers.
So more waiting.
Using my free time and broadband connection at work I actually traced the offending party!!!!!!!!!! (I am available for internet sleuthing? I seem strangely atuned to search engines?!) Bikeline contacted a rep in their location and they were nabbed, admitting everything and handing over all the details. The damage to the front of their car made it difficult to deny.
More waiting for their insurers etc.... more paperwork.
By December they had admitted fault and made an offer, which Bikeline suggested I declined as it was 2/3 of what I could get.
So the court date was set for March.
More waiting.
This morning a letter arrives. Fear of court has led to them agreeing to Bikeline's figure.
WWOOOOOHHHOOOOOO
SO you may expect to see a new bike soon, or a new pair of Nucleons and a groupset upgrade well sorry to dissapoint the cycling fraternity but it's gonna pay for the second half of this years tax return - and maybe a cheaper pair of wheels and some bar tape.
Its a very good payout. The bike damage was quoted at £800. I travelled to work by train for two months, which is expensive and inconvenient, suffered aches and pains, lost half of my leisure activity etc and:
Second lesson - if you do something bad and then hide, when they catch you it makes it worse.
And I have been awarded enough to buy atleast two of my current bikes.
(Bloody Taxman)
Third Lesson - self employment means you can work when and where you want, but you dont get any other perks and dont forget to save some for the tax bill!
So Bikeline have been great and recieve all of my recommendations, no matter how rambling right now.
My advice to anyway in this process is give them the info they want when they want it, otherwise leave them to it and just wait in silence.
I may edit this later when i have woken up.
I have editted it but wonder if anyone will notice - or just laugh louder at any further mistakes, not that it matters cos it just isnt that important is it.
