Hi Mary, of course. You’re through to Althorp Insurance Brokers on WhatsApp.

First: is everyone safe, and do you need emergency help right now (police/ambulance or urgent repairs to prevent more damage)?

Also, what type of claim is it?

• Motor (accident/theft)
• Home (escape of water, storm, theft)
• Commercial

If you tell me which, I’ll guide you step-by-step and start the claim notification.

Thanks Mary—glad you’re OK.

What to do first (now)

1. Don’t admit liability (just share facts).
2. Take photos: both vehicles, number plates, damage close-up + wider scene, any road signs.
3. Swap details: names, addresses, phone, reg, insurer (if known).
4. If there are witnesses, get their names/numbers.

To log the claim, please reply with:

• Date/time + location
• Your vehicle reg
• Brief description of what happened
• Other vehicle reg + driver name
• Any injuries? (yes/no)

Got it, thanks. I’ve captured those details to get this moving.

Documents/info usually needed (you can send later if you don’t have them to hand):

• Photos/videos of damage and the scene
• Dashcam footage (if any)
• Witness details (if any)
• Your driving licence number (sometimes requested)
• Any repair estimate (optional—insurer may appoint an approved repairer)

Next steps & timeframes

• We/insurer usually acknowledge within 1 working day.
• Vehicle inspection/repair authority often within 2–5 working days (can vary with parts/garage capacity).
• Liability disputes can take weeks to months depending on evidence.

Completely understandable.

No-claims bonus (NCB) impact depends on the outcome and your policy:

• If the insurer recovers all costs from the other driver/insurer (a “non-fault” claim), your NCB is often reinstated/left unchanged.
• If it’s settled as “fault” (including where recovery isn’t possible), your NCB may reduce at renewal.
• If you have NCB protection, you can usually keep the discount after a limited number of claims (your premium can still rise though).

If you tell me your insurer/policy number (or send a photo of your schedule), I can check whether your NCB is protected.

No problem.

Right now, the essentials are:

• Your full name (I have Mary Broadhurst—please confirm)
• Best contact number + email
• Where the car is now (drivable / at home / at a garage)
• Any third-party contact or insurer details (if you have them)

Photos: you can send them here as soon as you’re able—ideally within 24 hours. They really help if liability is disputed.

Finding the policy number: it’s usually on your policy schedule PDF or last renewal email. If you can’t find it, share your postcode + date of birth and we’ll locate your policy securely.

Thanks Mary—perfect.

Please send:

• 3–5 clear photos of your damage
• 1 photo of the other car (if you have it)
• 1 wider shot of the road/junction

Because the other driver is disputing it, if you have any of the below, it can really help:

• Dashcam footage
• Witness contact
• A quick sketch of positions (you can even photograph a drawing)

I’ll now route this claim notification to the motor claims team for review. If anything changes tonight (symptoms/injury, vehicle becomes undrivable), message here and we’ll prioritise it.