E500 W211 insurance repair advice needed

[Londonscottish]

I have never claimed off insurance so need some advice.

As per earlier post my 211 estate was rear ended. I've had it looked at by one bodyshop and by the assessor from my insurer, LV.

They both agree on the basic damage - new bumper, new bumper cover, new hatch, repair to rear panel.

They disagree on the amount of labour.

The assessor is telling me that to go though my chosen bodyshop (Three Ways) the cost would probably mean a total loss.

Whereas if I went through the LV-approved bodyshop (Theoco) he's pretty sure it would get fixed.

He's going to do a value check this afternoon and get back to me on my options.

Obviously he's trying to steer me to Theoco who, to me anyway, are an unknown quantity. But LV will get a good deal. And the assessor reckons they could potentially turn it round next week. Which as attractive as the wife would like to be able to take the kids away on the 12th.

On the other hand Three Ways are a known quantity to me and, although more expensive to LV, if I stand my ground I might be able to get it done through them. But it would take them nearly two weeks to turn it around. To complicate things further the main man there is no around today so I can't ask him how he would play it.

What would you do? Go down the apparently more convenient route or push back? Theoco are an approved repairer for several manufacturers, after all.

(to put this into context my house also got hit by lightning last week and I really can't afford any more time in long, complicated insurance processes etc).

Thoughts?

 

[paul73mt]

I would go done the route that you know. Yes it will take longer but at the end of the day, Its your car. If they did right it off could you buy it back and then get it repaired for the cost of the right off money if the body work place done a 'cash' deal???

 

[BTB 500]

Re. wife taking kids away - do you not have a hire car provided? Should be able to get this via the other party's insurance if you got hit from behind, even if you don't have the option on your own policy.

That would remove any time pressure - stick to your guns then on who does the work.

 

[Kris-H]

I would go done the route that you know. Yes it will take longer but at the end of the day, Its your car. If they did right it off could you buy it back and then get it repaired for the cost of the right off money if the body work place done a 'cash' deal???

And here-in lies the problem .... the garage charging one price to the insurer ... but a lower price to a "cash" customer to do the same job.

If the garage charged the insurer the same price as they'd charge you, then the car would probably already be booked in for repair.

 

[Londonscottish]

And here-in lies the problem .... the garage charging one price to the insurer ... but a lower price to a "cash" customer to do the same job.

If the garage charged the insurer the same price as they'd charge you, then the car would probably already be booked in for repair.

Agree. There's a game being played here.....

 

[Londonscottish]

- do you not have a hire car provided? Should be able to get this via the other party's insurance if you got hit from behind, even if you don't have the option on your own policy.

That would remove any time pressure - stick to your guns then on who does the work.

Good advice, thanks.

I deselected the hire car option from my insurance as having had 32 years of never claiming on my insurance I decided not to pay for the option of a hire car on my insurance. Doh. Never again. Already added it in for my renewal...

Re the third party accepting blame - I'll ask my insurers where they are with that right now.

 

[Londonscottish]

Should be able to get this via the other party's insurance if you got hit from behind

I called them and they can indeed provide something. Opening gambit was Vectra or Laguna. Will see if I can't get something a bit more appropriate if and when it comes to it. I'd say an E Class is more like it, personally.....

So now I don't need to get rushed into a decision on the bodyshop today and also know that SWMBO can get away of needed and that I can be mobile while the car is off the road.

 

[b1g1an]

And here-in lies the problem .... the garage charging one price to the insurer ... but a lower price to a "cash" customer to do the same job.

If the garage charged the insurer the same price as they'd charge you, then the car would probably already be booked in for repair.

Doesn't work like that anymore as they know the assessor will be in there beating everything down on price probably to the point they don't want the work anymore or they'll end up doing a bodged job themselves to still make a profit. If the insurance company doesn't own their approved bodyshop they will certainly be getting a tidy kick back on top of a lower price.

 

[Kris-H]

Doesn't work like that anymore as they know the assessor will be in there beating everything down on price probably to the point they don't want the work anymore or they'll end up doing a bodged job themselves to still make a profit. If the insurance company doesn't own their approved bodyshop they will certainly be getting a tidy kick back on top of a lower price.

Hmmm, I have to differ I'm afraid.

1st question asked when taking any car in for bodywork .."is this an insurance job or are you paying for it"...

 

[joecash]

do you have legal cover? if so use it - they should be able to advise your legal position and in fact probably deal with the claim on your behalf. I certainly wouldn't rely on a "helpful" assessor.

 

[BTB 500]

I called them and they can indeed provide something. Opening gambit was Vectra or Laguna. Will see if I can't get something a bit more appropriate if and when it comes to it. I'd say an E Class is more like it, personally.....

So now I don't need to get rushed into a decision on the bodyshop today and also know that SWMBO can get away of needed and that I can be mobile while the car is off the road.

Good result.

Thought you might be in luck - Mrs BTB's Audi got shunted from behind last year and we got a brand new Insignia Sports Tourer (from the other party's insurers) for two weeks while it was fixed. We were OK with that as her car was a 16 year old skip on wheels

 

[Londonscottish]

do you have legal cover? if so use it - they should be able to advise your legal position and in fact probably deal with the claim on your behalf. I certainly wouldn't rely on a "helpful" assessor.

After 32 years driving without a claim guess what else I decided to deselect....

 

[A-AvantGarde]

After 32 years driving without a claim guess what else I decided to deselect....

Oops, you may have access to legal cover via a professional body or trade union (if you're a member of one) or possibly via your home insurer or even Bank Account (some of the premium accounts provide legal cover).

 

[Londonscottish]

Oops, you may have access to legal cover via a professional body or trade union (if you're a member of one) or possibly via your home insurer or even Bank Account (some of the premium accounts provide legal cover).

Thanks - I'll look into that. I could certainly do with some genuinely impartial advice.

 

[b1g1an]

Hmmm, I have to differ I'm afraid.

1st question asked when taking any car in for bodywork .."is this an insurance job or are you paying for it"...

No doubt but unfortunately probably for the reasons I stated

 

[219]

While you are talking to the other insurer re a hire car , have you asked them whether they would be happy to pay for the repairs directly rather than you going through your own insurer ?

Most insurers are happy to do this if they accept their driver was at fault since , for them , it keeps costs to a minimum by cutting out middle men .

For you , if you withdraw the claim via your own insurer ( just change the report to a 'for information only' notification , which you have to do anyway ) it means you have not claimed - hence no loss of NCD on your policy , and no excess to be paid out by you then recovered from the other side . All in all less painful for you and cheaper for the other side to deal with .

Your premium may well go up the following year because of your accident history - statistically you are apparently more likely to have another crash having had this one - but that is different from losing NCD which could add further to renewal costs .

Remember , you may have inadvertently agreed to something when taking out your insurance , allowing you to let them choose where to have your car repaired at least cost . Conversely , you have no contract with the other insurer , so they are much more likely to agree to your choice of repairers .

I had this experience many years ago , twice in the space of a year , when hit from behind , and both times the other insurer phoned me up within an hour of the incident offering to pay for everything - there were no problems taking my car to my local MB dealer , who had their own body shop , and I wasn't even asked to get other quotes . I was also offered a hire car and accepted a new but basic Rover for the few days since it was adequate for me to get around in and I was happy that they played ball by letting me use the main dealer for repairs - this was on my W124 estate which was three years old at the first incident , then again a year later .

 

[Londonscottish]

While you are talking to the other insurer re a hire car , have you asked them whether they would be happy to pay for the repairs directly rather than you going through your own insurer ?

Most insurers are happy to do this if they accept their driver was at fault since , for them , it keeps costs to a minimum by cutting out middle men .

For you , if you withdraw the claim via your own insurer ( just change the report to a 'for information only' notification , which you have to do anyway ) it means you have not claimed - hence no loss of NCD on your policy , and no excess to be paid out by you then recovered from the other side . All in all less painful for you and cheaper for the other side to deal with .

Your premium may well go up the following year because of your accident history - statistically you are apparently more likely to have another crash having had this one - but that is different from losing NCD which could add further to renewal costs .

Remember , you may have inadvertently agreed to something when taking out your insurance , allowing you to let them choose where to have your car repaired at least cost . Conversely , you have no contract with the other insurer , so they are much more likely to agree to your choice of repairers .

I had this experience many years ago , twice in the space of a year , when hit from behind , and both times the other insurer phoned me up within an hour of the incident offering to pay for everything - there were no problems taking my car to my local MB dealer , who had their own body shop , and I wasn't even asked to get other quotes . I was also offered a hire car and accepted a new but basic Rover for the few days since it was adequate for me to get around in and I was happy that they played ball by letting me use the main dealer for repairs - this was on my W124 estate which was three years old at the first incident , then again a year later .

Thanks Pontoneer - I didn't realise that that was a possible course of action.

At the moment, though, I am not talking to the other guy's insurers, just mine.

Should get some feedback on the assessor's report today.

And I have established that I can hire a car at zero risk to myself. Enterprise take the hit in the unlikely event they can't recover costs from the third party.

I'll give them a call.

 

[Londonscottish]

After asking LV four or five times about my courtesy car (to make sure I was good to go) I called Enterprise today.

They can't issue a me with a car until they have seen evidence that the other driver has admitted liability.

The driver called yesterday at 6.00-ish me as he was filling out his accident report.

So his insurers probably won't be in receipt of it till tomorrow earliest, I guess.

FFS. Why can't insurers spell out their processes clearly?

Looks like the Mrs will miss another break with the kids.....

 

[Londonscottish]

A ray of light; Theoco handle MB Colindale's bodyshop requirements. I assume that that's a good thing?

 

[219]

After asking LV four or five times about my courtesy car (to make sure I was good to go) I called Enterprise today.

They can't issue a me with a car until they have seen evidence that the other driver has admitted liability.

The driver called yesterday at 6.00-ish me as he was filling out his accident report.

So his insurers probably won't be in receipt of it till tomorrow earliest, I guess.

FFS. Why can't insurers spell out their processes clearly?

Looks like the Mrs will miss another break with the kids.....

Do be careful re the hire car - although they may say it is at no risk to yourself , sometimes you have to take out a separate insurance in case you cannot recover from the other side .

Quite often , you will sign something agreeing to appear in court as a witness against the other party - this ought not to be a huge problem but can be inconvenient if the other party plays games with the court , postponing hearings then capitulating in the end .

One the other party has submitted his report , his insurer may be willing to play ball .