Darren Bent caught up in allianz credit hire challenge

Allianz is in dispute with credit hire operator Accident Exchange over charges relating to Sunderland footballer Darren Bent.

It follows a road crash in February 2007 when former £16.5m Tottenham and Charlton striker Bent’s Mercedes CLS Coupe collided with an Allianz policyholder.

In a statement, Allianz said that the striker – who has played four times for England – was later referred to Accident Exchange and through them hired an Aston Martin DB9 for 94 days.

Allianz is challenging the period of hire, rate claimed and general need for hire, and has received permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal. The matter is listed to be heard on 18 or 19 March 2010.