N U Repairers , can invalidate warrenty

[JumJum]

Yesterday morning Mrs had a bus hit her and fail to stop.

She was driving to work on the A56 into Manchester, the accident happened on Chester road just before Sir Matt Busby way. Here the road is a four lane and my wife was passing a bus in the outside lane when the bus moved out, she could see the side indicator on the bus but it wasn't lit, despite braking and sounding her horn the bus still got her, damaging the wing mirror, front wing and front wheel. She continued sounding her horn and flashed her lights repeatedly but the bus continued down the road.

She got the number of the bus and phoned the police to report it, not a huge deal she wasn't hurt and I assume the bus driver had just not noticed although given the fuss my wife made I am very surprised he didn't .

A problem did come up with NU insurance, they put us to a repairer not approved for the make of car.

A chap phoned from Gateway Autos to book us in, I questioned him if he was Mercedes approved, he told me that their repairs comply with Mercedes manufacturers warranty but then when pushed he said that they guarantee for 3 years or manufacturers warranty whichever is longer, which is not the same, then I queried about the 30 years corrosion warranty and he said that no one would cover a repair for that.

I then phoned MB, they confirmed that a non approved repairer would invalidate the warranty, but of course an approved one wouldn't. They gave me a list of approved ones, happily the first one I phoned was also NU approved, they knew about Gateway and told me they don’t even use MB paint , anyway I ‘ve gotten NU to phone them and sort it out.

It's pretty bad that Norwich Union authorised the wrong repairer and I wonder how many people have had various warranties invalidated by this type of thing.

 

[Mambo]

All insurance companies are like this, had the same problems with Elephant. Since then I always ensure that I choose the garage that the car is going in to....

 

[Shude]

from another thread:

My Dad used to have a Toyota Avensis as a company car and it was hit side-on at about 40mph. The car was taken away by the insurance company and was returned about a month later in perfect working order. My Dad kept the car for a further 18 months or so on the company car contract then he got a new car and some other guy at his work took on the contract as his own company car. A month or two later the steering rack or some other fairly important piece of hardware broke and the car was involved in another accident. The insurance company tried to reject the claim saying the car had been inspected and it was improperly repaired from a previous accident - they weren't happy when they discovered it was their own "authorised" or "recommended" workshop that had done the work! . Car was totalled I think, insurance company ended up doing some deal with the rental company and the guy got a new company car I think. If that was my own personally financed car I'd have been very angry!

I think GrahamC230k's buddy with the M3 has a similar story about insurance company "authorised" or "recommended" workshops!

 

[Satch]

Yes, you need to insist that any work is done by a maker accredited repairer to protect your warranty status. The insurance company has no real interest other than closing the claim out at the lowest cost to them.

Some years ago my cousin had a moronic boy drive into the nearside of her 6 month old Ford Focus (yes, I know) at a junction. Insurer appointed a repairer who did an absolutely crap job: with the door shut you only had to depress the passenger door rubber from inside slightly and see daylight at the top of the frame.

Rear suspension was clouted and "repaired" as well. Needless to say other problems emerged some months later and lo, Ford tell her that sub standard repairs had not only voided warranty but had rendered the car unroadworthy to the point of being positively dangerous.

That went to the Association of British Insurers complaints panel and took 18 months to get half sorted with the now useless Focus off the road the entire time. Insurer eventually "purchased" the car off her at at a moderate premium as part of an informal settlement but it still left her cash out.

Take care!

 

[Will]

Everyone should proceed with caution over an insurance company's 'recommended' repairer. Invariably, these tend to be the cheaper end of the scale - I would prefer to personally choose a trusted and recommended repairer than one that is most likely chosen purely for the price that they charge the insurance company for the work!

Most likely, an MB approved repairer will be more expensive than one that normally deals in Ford/Vauxhall etc. Not wanting to sound snobbish or stereotypical, but 'generic' cars are more likely to be owned by 'generic' drivers, and as such they may not have such high standards with regards to the work that is done on their vehicles. Perhaps I/we are more fussy, but who wants a less than perfect repair?

Again, IMHO

Will

 

[Dieselman]

Most likely, an MB approved repairer will be more expensive than one that normally deals in Ford/Vauxhall etc. Not wanting to sound snobbish or stereotypical, but 'generic' cars are more likely to be owned by 'generic' drivers, and as such they may not have such high standards with regards to the work that is done on their vehicles. Perhaps I/we are more fussy, but who wants a less than perfect repair?

Again, IMHO

Will

I don't agree here. Even my local MB dealers bodyshop appears to use sensible labour rates.
Most non dealer bodyshops will apply the same labour rate to any vehicle make.
As in all businesses you can get good and bad, price appears to bear no reflection to the quality.
As a rule of thumb avoid Nationwide accident repair. They are truly rubbish and I've seen some shocking repairs from them.
Often local indies are good as it's the boss that is involved in the job.

 

[Will]

As in all businesses you can get good and bad, price appears to bear no reflection to the quality.

Hmm - I'm not so sure. If you were to compare the labour rates of 100 Mercedes-Benz recommended repairers to that, say, of 100 Vauxhall repairers, who do you think would be cheaper?

Insurance companies are not your friends, they are there to make money. If they can get away with using a repairer that costs less, they will. I know that there is not a 100% direct correlation with regards to quality of service vs. cost, but do you really think that the cheapest repairer will be the best?

I personally prefer to use known and trusted businesses wherever I can. I would be more inclined to use a company that comes with an unbiased recommendation, rather than a 'battery farm' garage that happens to be the repairer that has insurance company contracts - chosen because they were among the cheapest.

Just IMHO of course.

Will

 

[peterchurch]

Everyone should proceed with caution over an insurance company's 'recommended' repairer. Invariably, these tend to be the cheaper end of the scale - I would prefer to personally choose a trusted and recommended repairer than one that is most likely chosen purely for the price that they charge the insurance company for the work!

Most likely, an MB approved repairer will be more expensive than one that normally deals in Ford/Vauxhall etc. Not wanting to sound snobbish or stereotypical, but 'generic' cars are more likely to be owned by 'generic' drivers, and as such they may not have such high standards with regards to the work that is done on their vehicles. Perhaps I/we are more fussy, but who wants a less than perfect repair?

Again, IMHO

Will

I agree. Anyone that thinks that an insurance company cares about the quality of the work that a body shop performs, is in for a shock. Or indeed anyone that thinks an insurance company will waste its time chasing uninsured or hit and run drivers is also in for a shock
They couldn't give a stuff about your 30 year waranty or the fact that the job is good for 5 or 10 years. just as long as its cheap. Most bodyshops grin when you tell them you are not having insurance work done. As it means that they are able to make some money on the work.

 

[clegsr]

Another problem is that the insurance company's "Authorised" repairer will have already been economically squeezed by the insurance company to get themselves on their approved list - as this can mean a lot of business for the repairer.

The insurance company will insist the repairer gives a 3 year warranty (because its a good selling point for the insurer) but note that it is the repairer giving the warranty - not the insurer.

So if the repairer goes bust - what use is the waranty? - no use.

I had a car in for repair at huge "specialist" "authorised" repair facility which went bankrupt whilst my car was being repaired there - I had to get it trailered out to another repairer.

The people who worked there told me that the insurance company owed them hundreds of thousands of pounds for work they had done - but had not been paid for, and it was the crappy cash-flow which killed them...

Unfortunately that's one of the reasons why mercedes own insurance is often more expensive - you get what you pay for.


-bottom line - read the small print/contract

 

[sym]

Not sure how the insurance companies can necessarily tell who is cheapest !

I was involved in a minor incident last week, gave details of the visible damage to my car to my insurance company, over the phone, was immediately allocated to an 'authorised repairer' in my area - before the damage had been inspected (!!) - who knows what cost might have needed to put it right.

In any case, the car was booked in for the following day, brand new courtesy car was supplied, and job was completed within 3 working days - back on the road damage free within a week of the incident.

Repair looks first class - and I don't even know whether they are BMW or any other marque approved.

S.

 

[Will]

Not sure how the insurance companies can necessarily tell who is cheapest !

Answer - the labour rate.

The price of parts (they are using OEM parts, right? ) will be more or less fixed. The cost of labour can vary significantly.

Glass's information services and similar give indications on how long a given repair should take. Therefore a garage that charges less per hour will generally be cheaper.

Will

 

[sym]

Answer - the labour rate.

True !

The price of parts (they are using OEM parts, right? )

I hope so ! But have absolutely no way in the world of telling ! Paint match seems absolutely spot on though.

The Insurance company even went as far as boasting that the work would be covered by a 'lifetime' guarantee ! Wonder how they define that !!

Oh well - it hasn't fallen apart yet ... will see what happens when I wash it !

S.

 

[peterchurch]

Answer - the labour rate.

The price of parts (they are using OEM parts, right? ) will be more or less fixed. The cost of labour can vary significantly.

Glass's information services and similar give indications on how long a given repair should take. Therefore a garage that charges less per hour will generally be cheaper.

Will

I was told that insurance companies tell the bodyshop what they can charge for each job So a wing on a Merc = £200 sprayed and fitted (coz they know how much paint, labour and materials the shop needs to use) The may also use non OEM stuff without getting your permission

 

[glojo]

When my wife had her accident in our old 210 Directline were brilliant. The Mercedes-Benz dealer simply contacted the insurance company and informed them that the repair would have to be carried out by a Mercedes-Benz approved agent. Directline readily agreed. No competitive quotes, just an authorization for repair.

John

 

[Will]

I was told that insurance companies tell the bodyshop what they can charge for each job So a wing on a Merc = £200 sprayed and fitted (coz they know how much paint, labour and materials the shop needs to use) The may also use non OEM stuff without getting your permission

That sounds about right - I remember once when an old lady reversed into the front bumper of one of my cars (I was stationary in a traffic jam). The insurance company (her insurers, obviously) were more interested in the price than anything else. They must have asked about 5 times how much the labour was - still got approved though.

Proper repair was completed by a local quality coachworks. The job was to a very high standard (as expected), but could I have guaranteed the same result if it had been carried out on the cheap? Maybe, but I didn't want to chance it.

Bit like windscreens really. Do you think that insurers prefer aftermarket glass because it is better, or because it costs them less? Are Autoglass/RAC Auto Windcreens as careful as a trusted independant firm who have to rely on their reputation for business as opposed to large insurance contracts?

Will

 

[Dieselman]

Unfortunately that's one of the reasons why mercedes own insurance is often more expensive - you get what you pay for.

Strange that because MB insurance is actually a NU policy. If not now it certainly was a couple of years ago.

 

[Dieselman]

Hmm - I'm not so sure. If you were to compare the labour rates of 100 Mercedes-Benz recommended repairers to that, say, of 100 Vauxhall repairers, who do you think would be cheaper?

I don't follow this, especially as the same bodyshop is probably approved for many manufacturers unless it's in house ate the dealers.

Last time I knew my local dealer was charging £25 per hour in it's bodyshop. That doesn't sound high to me.

 

[Will]

I don't follow this, especially as the same bodyshop is probably approved for many manufacturers unless it's in house ate the dealers.

Last time I knew my local dealer was charging £25 per hour in it's bodyshop. That doesn't sound high to me.

If the best bodyshop for the job happens to deal with all makes, then so be it. My main point is that insurance companies are biased and are likely to choose one of the cheapest repairers that they can get away with - an independant source is more likely to offer impartial advice, not based around spending as little as possible.

And although a typical bodyshop that works with all makes will charge a standard hourly labour charge, it may well be a higher charge if they specialise in a certain area. Eg, a bodyshop that specialises in prestige cars would be happy to work on something like a Fiesta, but I doubt that happens quite as often.

Going to one end of the scale, if you owned a car such as a Ferrari, would you accept a general insurance recommendation of using a repairer that you knew nothing about, regardless of whether they were approved or not?

Will

 

[glojo]

Going to one end of the scale, if you owned a car such as a Ferrari, would you accept a general insurance recommendation of using a repairer that you knew nothing about, regardless of whether they were approved or not?

Morning Will,
I agree with all your points and since owning Mercedes-Benz whenever I telephone for competitive renewal insurance quotes I always, always ask if I will be allowed to use an authorised Mercedes-Benz bodyshop, as this is part of my ongoing warranty.

I have never had a company say NO, but then again I only have had only the one experience of putting that acknowledgement to the test.

I totally agree though that insurance companies as a general rule go for the cheapest repair, as opposed to the best. It is down to the policy holder to clarify where they stand at the time of renewal, and not really at the time of repair.

Regards,
John

 

[Dieselman]

And although a typical bodyshop that works with all makes will charge a standard hourly labour charge, it may well be a higher charge if they specialise in a certain area. Eg, a bodyshop that specialises in prestige cars would be happy to work on something like a Fiesta, but I doubt that happens quite as often.

I know local bodyshops that are approved for most makes, the price doesn't vary, it's just a piece of steel and paint.

One shop is approved by Honda, Citroen and Rolls Royce. All types of cars are worked on next to each other.