Low-value road traffic accident personal injury claims sent through a new electronic data exchange launched three weeks ago have begun hitting insurers’ desks this week, figures show.

Of the first 617 claims submitted as the Gazette went to press, liability had been admitted in 386 cases and 48 had progressed to stage two.

However, some firms were still unable to process claims from start to finish because software testing had not been completed. Others had still not received portal login details.

Insurer RSA said it had received more than 150 claim notifications since 30 April, while insurer Allianz said it received 57 notifications between 7 and 14 May and accepted liability on seven claims. Both insurers reported improved response times.

However, some solicitors who have been able to log into the portal have been unable to select the correct insurer to submit a claim. According to an email sent to one solicitor on Tuesday, IDSL was still uploading the full list of insurers to the portal.

As the Gazette went to press, firms using case management software rather than a web browser to access the portal could only complete ‘stage one’ of the claims process, where they submit a claim to an insurer. However, because of delayed software testing, they could not use the portal to progress to ‘stage two’, where, if the insurer accepts liability, the parties agree on the level of damages.

Fraser Fundell, chief executive of IDSL, which manages the portal, said there had been ‘teething problems’ which were being addressed, and a dedicated helpline had been set up for support.

Fundell said that all of the 1,450 law firms and 81 insurer brands that have already registered will receive login details ‘shortly,’ and organisations registering from 19 May will receive login details in five working days.

Fraser Whitehead, Law Society representative on the steering group implementing the portal pending its takeover by an LLP, said: ‘While there have been some delays in some law firms obtaining their registration details, over 75% of registrations have proceeded without any hiccup, and it is hoped that all firms will be registered by the end of this week.

‘The underlying IT system is working well with no reported problems. While testing of phase two remains to be completed, it will be some time yet before claims reach the stage two completion level, and by that time all testing will be finished.

‘So far there has been nothing but support for the system itself. Solicitors whose claims have been accepted within the first 15 days of the programme will shortly be receiving their cheques for stage one fees.’

He added that neither claimants nor their legal advisers will have been prejudiced by any login problems.