Hi,
Check your POLICY document ... there is "something" in my memory banks (such as they are) that at one time, maybe still, my NCD was not affected by the first claim.
Also check your policy to make sure that YOU are not liable for the first £1,000 of your neighbours claim against your insurers.
It may also concentrate the neighbour's mind, if it is pointed out that "formalising" his claim WILL go onto his insurance history. Insurers are becoming increasingly interested in "repeat claimers".
Barbara's incident with the tailgate on the M4 resulted in her paying the first £1000? of her own damage, plus losing at least some of her NCD.
LV fought her corner ... I'd be reluctant to not have LEGAL PROTECTION @ £10 per year, particularly if my opponent had such assistance, and I didn't.
Everything was repaid/re-instated when the HGV operator settled out of court ... two years later.
The problem of "settling out of court" to protect your NCD, if when you do lose your NCD the following week.
Is your SWMBO certain that she did the damage? Was there any previous damage to the car, particularly that panel?
602
Would it be viable to offer to buy your neighbours car? Probably not. I hope you have done an MOT check on the neighbours car? Are histories of Economic Write-offs available on-line?