Advice re: repair

[smorg00]

So on Saturday afternoon, while stationary in traffic, I got rear ended by a woman in a Jag claiming that something flew in her face which caused her to not see me, hmm. My wife and 15 month old were in the car at the time but thankfully it was a relatively low speed impact so they were all ok.

Anyway, she accepted liability there and then and after close inspection there is a crack on my rear bumper to the left of where the number plate is, and also along the top of the boot lid you can see the area of impact as the paintwork has dozens of hair line cracks radiating outwards. My insurance company have an 'approved' repairer and when I spoke to them today found out it was a mobile outfit who come to your house or place of work and setup a canopy and carry out the work there and then.

I assumed it would have gone to a body shop so they could either repair or replace the rear bumper in a closed environment. Surely if they are to spray the area they are fixing, then outside in the wind isn't the best idea? Also, will they have genuine VW paint? I've not been in this position before so no idea what I can and can't ask for!

Cheers for any advice, as always.

[peterdoherty]

Id push them for a VW approved repairer - some insurers tell you you have to use their 'approved' repairers (i.e. the ones they have a deal with!!!) whereas you may have the choice to choose any repairer you wish (Depends on policy)

[p3asa]

You are under no obligation to use your own insurance companies approved repairer.
If you don't though you may forego the use of a courtesy car however in saying that most body shops have courtesy cars so you should be fine getting one from them.

I personally wouldn't be wanting my car sprayed on my drive in the middle of summer with insects flying about when it could go inside and into a proper booth.

[p3asa]

Id push them for a VW approved repairer - some insurers tell you you have to use their 'approved' repairers (i.e. the ones they have a deal with!!!) whereas you may have the choice to choose any repairer you wish (Depends on policy)

It doesn't depend on your policy. You have the right to choose.


This seems to be the standard blurb on most insurance repairer sites: Bottom of this page
http://www.arnoldclark.com/accident-repairs/

"It has been agreed with the Office of Fair Trading and The British Board of Motor Insurers that as a Motor Vehicle insurance policy holder you have the right to choose where to have your vehicle repaired regardless of your insurance advice. You are not obliged to use their approved repairer and you can insist on having your vehicle repaired by an approved Accident Repair Centre of your choice."

[Booth11]

Regardless of your policy, you have a legal right to choose your own repairer though your insurance company may charge you a higher excess if you do.  I looked into this back in 2013 when someone went into the side of my car.

[monkeyhanger]

The use of a "smart" repairer seems to indicate that they want to plasti-weld your bumper rather than replace it and do everything on the cheap. Get it to a VW approved repairer (one with a good reputation - they aren't always the best) who will appraise your damage without an ulterior motive to get it done as cheaply as possible.

As previously stated by more than a few people here, you can nominate your own repairer - the only downside to that is your insurer may impose a higher excess on you and not provide a courtesy car (making you rely on the repairer for one). The higher excess may not be a bother for you as the other side will pay you back eventually if they are not paying out up front.

Been through all this in Nov to Jan, after the GTD getting rear ended. Despite the other side's insurer (Aviva) accepting responsibility, my insurer (Esure) took it upon themselves to double my excess because I wasn't using their approved repairer. I then had to claim that hefty excess back from Aviva.

If you want someone to be between you and your insurer to push through a proper repair, go via VW Ensurance (they were a bit slow for my liking, but got there in the end). You may have joined them when you bought your car, if not you can join at a later date (now).

[smorg00]

Thanks, all.  Think I'll take it to an approved repairer and see what they say. I was talking to someone today who had a mobile smart repair and it took 3 times before he accepted the work as the paintwork was of low standard and didn't match 100% on previous attempts.

[itavaltalainen]

It has nothing to do with your own insurance - you are NOT claiming off them but the Jag's (even if it happens to be the same company), so you have any right to choose as well as a car while yours is being repaired.

Go to approved repaired and give them the ladies insurance details - let the body shop sort it out with insurance directly, though ask them to give you a call as you will be liable if they refuse to pay for whatever reason.

[Juicetin]

You have to claim off your own insurance first, and then your insurance company will try and recover their outlay from the other party if they have admitted liability.
If you take your car to a non-approved repairer then your insurance company may not pay whatever the difference is between their approved-repairer cost and your chosen garage. Check with them before getting the work done.

[itavaltalainen]

Is that really how it works in the UK???

What a daft system!!