insurance claim advice

tinca

New Member
Messages
11
Had the misfortune to be hit by another car today (not in mazzer),he's hit me on nearside and damage from rear wheel backwards .Insurance company are keen that I use their repairers (which look like a bodyshop,) for repairs and want charge me £200 to use my own repairers, and if I don't use theirs I will not get a hire car paid for. My main concern is that the rear wheel looks like its taken some impact and worried if a bodyshop type place will check for any mechanical damage to brakes, hubs etc ,and the car is also four wheel drive (Merc GLC). The car seems to drive ok, should I go with them or choose my own repairer ,preferably Mercedes dealer?
 

Scaf

Member
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6,512
Personally and unless it’s a specialist car, I would go with them, you can always get it inspected afterwards if you are worried.
 

tinca

New Member
Messages
11
Yes they have. Insurance company have been great just not sure of their repairers although i'll probably end up using them and maybe get it checked by mercedes after repair as suggested by scaf.
 

CatmanV2

Member
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48,547
Yes they have. Insurance company have been great just not sure of their repairers although i'll probably end up using them and maybe get it checked by mercedes after repair as suggested by scaf.

So is this *your* insco or theirs? My experience is that the responsible party's insco tend to bend over backwards in terms of hire cars and choice of repairers but it's been a while (and I know some don't like the ethical view of this)

C
 

tinca

New Member
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11
My insurance have said that they(the other driver) have admitted responsibility and said it will be a no fault claim for me
 

Phil H

Member
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4,107
Some years ago my X-Type was sideswiped all along the offside by an errant foreign driver who forgot the rules of engagement on UK roads. He was held fully liable so it was a no fault claim for me. My insurance company scheduled the repair with their 'preferred and accredited' bodyshop; preferred because they worked down to a price even though the other guy's insurers were paying! The car was collected from my house and delivered back on a flatbed, only for me to send it straight back. It had:

Paint fingerprints on the nearside front wing (only the offside was damaged).
Paint fingerprints on glass.
No paint on the bonnet slam panel.
Unfinished paint on the top of the inner offside wing.
Bodge repair on the driver's door panel.
Poor paint finish along the whole offside.
Lousy paint job on the offside wheels which should really have been chemically stripped and properly refinished, not blown over.

The flatbed driver told me he had been reluctant to bring it to me as he didn't like the quality of work, but he was overruled by 'the boss'.

An inspection was arranged with an independent assessor, and the bodyshop was told to quarantine the car until he arrived a few days later (because the insurance company would then review the bodyshop's accreditation). They re-did the work instead and although he still criticised the standard of re-work he said "it was adequate for the price" and my insurance company then stonewalled. I considered legal action, but it wasn't worth the hassle as I wasn't keeping the car much longer anyway.

The bodyshop is a 'conveyor belt' operation that puts through hundreds of cars every year, and they actually told me they hadn't been paid enough to do a proper job. The insurance company is one of the biggest in the UK; I have always had a good driving record but was happy to pay a higher premium for a comprehensive and 'quality' policy - that proved not to be so.

My advice is to go where you feel happy, not where you're guided. Do check for any offloaded liability if you choose the workshop though, as imho insurers use every loophole they can.
 
Last edited:

safrane

Member
Messages
16,748
I would only use a bodyshop I was happy with and I know some will argue, but I would simply say it goes to Mercedes (or where ever you decide) and if thy are not content hand it over to a claims company along with a like for like curtesy car.

Poor repairs, even those that look good today, will tarnish over time and knock money off your car.

You are being inconvenienced buy the fault of another party... play the nice guy and they will pull your pants down and spank your a r s e.
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,179
So is this *your* insco or theirs? My experience is that the responsible party's insco tend to bend over backwards in terms of hire cars and choice of repairers but it's been a while (and I know some don't like the ethical view of this)

C
I don't see it as unethical...
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
My insurance have said that they(the other driver) have admitted responsibility and said it will be a no fault claim for me

I'm a little surprise their insco hasn't been in touch then? Might be worth suggesting it....
I don't see it as unethical...

Well ultimately it pushes up prices as the at blame insco tends to go large to prevent big bills from the 'claiming' insco.

As an example, my GT got hit a few years back:
My insco: Have to use our shop under similar conditions as the OP
Like for like courtesy car: Ford Mondeo (Taurus in Leftpondian)

Their insco: Take it where you like
Like for like courtesy car: 911 turbo (911 turbo in Leftpondian)....

C
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,179
Yeah...still not seeing an ethical lapse. Feels more unethical to make ANYONE drive a Taurus/Mondeo...!
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,179
Well there's an element of gouging going on in the daily prices of the car hire, for example

C
Yeah, I see what you mean. Seems like a reasonable "like for like" should be the deal...and you should have the right to the shop of your choice, as well. Just my opinion, there. Not about taking advantage, more about actually making it right and minimizing all of the inconveniences that come with something like that.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
Yeah, I see what you mean. Seems like a reasonable "like for like" should be the deal...and you should have the right to the shop of your choice, as well. Just my opinion, there. Not about taking advantage, more about actually making it right and minimizing all of the inconveniences that come with something like that.

I tend to agree

C
 

tinca

New Member
Messages
11
Thanks everyone for your comments ,I think I'm going to choose a Mercedes approved shop, will feel more confident of a good job or more chance of it being put right if I wasn't happy with it! The car is a lease car and if its not right I'll be paying for it when they come to collect at full term.
 

JMS

Member
Messages
262
Before selecting my insurer I check if my local preferred bodyshop is on their approved list.

Chartwell in Derby. Very very good- approved by Porsche Ferrari Aston Lambo etc
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,179
Before selecting my insurer I check if my local preferred bodyshop is on their approved list.

Chartwell in Derby. Very very good- approved by Porsche Ferrari Aston Lambo etc
...sounds like an HMO in Leftpondia
 

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,764
Yeah...still not seeing an ethical lapse. Feels more unethical to make ANYONE drive a Taurus/Mondeo...!
I refused the accident management companies offer of a hire car after a non fault accident because

A I didn't really need it
B There was a huge excess on it
C £220 a day which I thought was taking the ****

It's OK saying I've crashed my lamborghini I want an equivalent but we're all paying for that in our premiums when it doubles the repair cost

If it was an at fault accident you'd be happy if they gave you a fiesta for free as long as you were still mobile.
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,179
I refused the accident management companies offer of a hire car after a non fault accident because

A I didn't really need it
B There was a huge excess on it
C £220 a day which I thought was taking the ****

It's OK saying I've crashed my lamborghini I want an equivalent but we're all paying for that in our premiums when it doubles the repair cost

If it was an at fault accident you'd be happy if they gave you a fiesta for free as long as you were still mobile.
I am not speaking about being exploitative. Nor am I saying that someone should game the system. I would similarly not need or want a rental because I have four vehicles.

Unless it's my truck. In which case, the livestock aren't going to care who was at fault in which accident. They are going to care if they don't have feed.

Or if someone needs a van to earn their livelihood...offering them a Honda Civic isn't helpful. That's where the "like for like" comment came from. I am not suggesting that anyone needs a Lambo rental.

I appreciate the opportunity to clarify my position.

Plus, Ford Tauri are awful.