L
2850 days ago

$500 Lesson Read and tell your family and friends

Lilian from Bryndwr

At Hoani Street. I stopped my car for a driver backing out of driveway, the driver backed into my car. She said it's her fault and the car is not hers. So I don't called the police. There is no witness.

Next day AAI called me, that the driver don't answer and return calls from them. And I need her full name, first name is enough to identify. Told me to contact her. I sent 2 texts to her but no reply. I went to her house. I met the car owner. He said his insurance will call mine.

A day later, received text from driver. "Good afternoon. Sorry for the late response. I was working, and I don't exactly appreciate you coming onto my property yesterday, as that's highly illegal and I've talked to company that have said the same thing. I will call your insurance tomorrow if your would like when it's open? Or I was wondering if we could do a cash job? If we can get a quote on how much it's going to cost from a panel beater and I pay you that cost?"

I called AAI about the text, told me to tell her contact AAI. So I did. But on the day before my car repair. AAI called me to pay my excess or cancel my booking. AAI told me the driver and the car owner have not contact AAI and not answer and return calls. So I have to pay excess or wait for unknown time for them to contact AAI. I asked AAI can they do anything, AAI said they can't do anything to get them to call. I need to use my car. So I paid $500 excess. I said should I go to Police. Told no need. We will handle it.

A week after car repair. AAI sent me email. That the third party is disputing liability. Asked me to do a written statement and diagram of the accident. I did. I called AAI for details. AAI told me, the car owner called on behalf of the driver to deny liability and said have no insurance.

What is going to happen? Someone told me. If third party is not insured, deny liability, insurance can't get from money from them. My excess will not refund. I went online for help. Answers are not good.

Person 1: My son had the same thing happened, the driver said it was my son's fault. Luckily FMP believed my son and made her paid.

Person 2: I was gaven fake names and fake contact details.

Person 3: I and the witness have to appear before The adjudicator to determine who is the faulted one.

Person 4: At intersection, car in front backed into car behind. Car owner says please please my fault we go through insurance but please say me driving not my father (not on insurance) who only drives automatics where they come from.(hence jamming on brakes and putting in reverse) Car that backed was insured. Now their insurance company is trying to get the car behind to pay when the car in front backed into the car behind.

Person 5: The driver is not insured. Insurance can't get money from him. My excess is not refund.

I so regret NOT CALL POLICE!
Call POLICE! Don't be another victim!

More messages from your neighbours
20 hours ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.

Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.

For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.

Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?

We hope this brings a smile!

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20 days ago

Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.

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1 day ago

Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!

William Hansby Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.

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