Crach Repairer Charging For Quotes?

[Lizzi]

Hi all.

Bit unusal this - had a bit of a 'prang' last weeked, (rear-ended someone!). Nothing bad and no-one hurt, but had to inform my insurers as it affected a third party. The car is drivable (as is the one I hit) - has some scratches on the bumper, and one headlight cluster has moved in slightly, also a dent at the front of one wing. Anway, insurers said I could take it to their 'approved' garage, some 30 miles away, or get two quotes from garages of my choice. I went for the latter, as thought it would be closer and easier. Got first quote no problem. Sent it off to insurers. Went to a second garage at the weekend; they wanted to charge me £35 for assessing the damage and sending the quote to my insurers! Said it would be taken off the price of the bill if I used them! - What good is that to me if the insurers and paying?? So I went to another garage, and they said the same thing! Has anyone heard of this before? My excess is £350, so I don't see why I should pay another 10% of that in getting a quote. I spoke to my insurers again and told then this, and they were just adement that if I didn't use their approved garage, then I must get two quotes; and if that means being charged for it then so be it. I haven't got the time to keep running around to find another garage that will quote for free. I want to use the first garage anyway, as it was recommended to me. But with the insurers insisting I get another quote, I can't see what options I have....?

[Parts-King]

It is quite common place now to charge for estimates, the rates paid by insurance companies are appaling. The garage you went to probably asked you who you were insured with, and depending on your answer, wanted to decline the work. Charging you for an estimate is often a way to make you go elsewhere. We also charge for estimates when we know we wont get the job, it sounds harsh but when you know the insurance company will send it to XYZ motors, why should we do it for free if we have no chance of getting the work? It does take time to tick the right boxes and produce the estimate

YOU are paying your insurance premium, you can take it to a main dealer for repair, you dont have to hawk your car around the town. Take it to your dealer, get an estimate, and tell your insurance company that is all you are prepared to do, its a Toyota and you want the dealer to repair it, it is your right, dont be fobbed off with excuses from the insurance company

Kingo

[Jamesbelfast]

Taking the car to a dealer doesn't always get the result you may think. As most dealers farm out bodywork repairs you may end up with a repairer not to your or insurers liking.

This type of scenario can arise especially where the car is still drivable. If after the accident the car was immobile then the car would have been transported at the insurers cost. In your situation you are worse off and the insurers better off - after all they have saved in tranpsort costs. Maybe you should remind the insurers of this apsect.

I think you appreciate you can't expect a repair shop to provide a service for free and after all the insurers have offered a repair as per your insurance policy.

[Lizzi]

Thanks for your reply Parts King. I can sort of see your point about having to charge. However I am very annoyed with Admiral (my insurer) as I rang them yesterday and said that I was not prepared to continue to search to get another quote, or see why I should pay for one - I wanted the first garage I had gone to to do it for me. (Not a dealer, but one with an extremely good reputation for bodyshop repairs in my area.) They were absolutely adement that if I wasn't taking it to their 'approved' repairer, I had to get a second quote. I got so angrey with the customer services guy I was talking to, that I asked for a supervisor, but he too stuck to this approach.

I seem to have no alternative but to fork out the £35 for a quote that I don't want. Just as well my insurance is due for renewal next month. ;)

[Parts-King]

To be a Toyota approved bodyshop, it means you must meet very strict criteria on facilities, training, environmental and a whole host of other things. Even if the dealer farms it out, it has to go to a third party bodyshop that meets the exact same criteria. Your insurers may well own the bodyshop they want you to send it to, so they control all the costs. Your local bodyshops will know this, and know that they will also stick to their guns, which is probably why you are being charged a fee. You have the right to take it to a dealer if you so wish, why not take it to them and ask them to handle the claim for you? The bodyshop manager may well know the local assessor for Admiral and avoid you additional costs, it is worth a go if the dealer is not too far away

Kingo