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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want my car repaired properly?

41 replies

ConfusedDotty · 27/09/2014 16:13

Someone drive into my car in a car park last week. I saw it happen and the other driver drove into my car twice causing damage to the bumper. She admitted it was her fault and we exchanged details.

I took my car into the garage to get a price for repair. I rang and spoke with her husband who told me that price was ridiculous. He wants me to use a local garage and not go through the insurance.

My car has only ever been serviced and looked after through the main dealer as I do trust them and have bought cars there for the last few years.

This man thinks I am being unreasonable for not wanting to use 'his man' at some local garage.

What do you think?

OP posts:

Original poster

ConfusedDotty · 27/09/2014 16:13

Argh. Some drove not drive.

OP posts:

chockbic · 27/09/2014 16:14

Go through the insurance. What if the repair is crap?

AlpacaLypse · 27/09/2014 16:15

I might not go through insurance if someone asked me nicely but this bloke's blown it.

Did you take photos of the damage btw?

BellaVita · 27/09/2014 16:15

Yep, go through the insurance.

Original poster

ConfusedDotty · 27/09/2014 16:21

Yes I have photos. He has just made me feel like a money grabbing bint.

He wants to come and see the car for himself.

OP posts:

chockbic · 27/09/2014 16:23

Its not up to him though, its up to you.

Maybe he's not insured...

Sparkles23 · 27/09/2014 16:23

Go through insurance!! Don't even talk to him anymore, let the insurers deal with it! Why should you risk your service history etc. and risk a shoddy repair!

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 27/09/2014 16:25

Yeah, "his man" might do the repair on the cheap, you get to decide how you get it repaired, it was your car that got hit.

Pico2 · 27/09/2014 16:26

Your insurers will probably not use the main dealer. And a no fault claim might increase your premiums. But I wouldn't go to his choice, so if it is insurers or his choice then insurers wins.

Original poster

ConfusedDotty · 27/09/2014 16:32

My insurer would use the main dealer. My garage would pick my car up leaving me with a courtesy car and then drop my car back to me when it's repaired. They will claim everything back from her insurance.

I am aware my premium may increase next year regardless of fault.

OP posts:

Whippet81 · 27/09/2014 16:38

Just go through the insurance.

He's being an arse and trying to bully you. I'm all for being fair and the last person to bump me I told to forget it as you couldn't really see anything and I have been let off similarly and been very grateful.

I wouldn't even talk to him again just go through insurance companies.

HannerHet · 27/09/2014 16:44

Agree with others, just let insurance sort it out

Original poster

ConfusedDotty · 27/09/2014 16:45

Thanks everyone.

The silliest thing I work in insurance but I was trying to be nice. I won't bother now.

OP posts:

specialsubject · 27/09/2014 16:53

contact your insurers and don't accept any more contact from him. That's what you pay insurance for.

she drove into you TWICE? What, she didn't hit it hard enough the first time?

it is possible (although hope not) that she's caused a lot more damage than you can see.

yes, repairs through insurance cost more but they won't be paying directly.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 27/09/2014 16:56

Yeah, how did she manage it twice anyway?

Original poster

ConfusedDotty · 27/09/2014 16:57

Yes twice! I couldn't believe it. I heard a loud bang turned round an seen a Nissan Note embedded into my back bumper. She reversed back but then put it into first gear again and went forward.

The worst bit of the story is, I am sad to say, this all happened in Asda car park. I only went in to get some cut flowers. You don't get this sort of thing happening at my local sainsburys.

OP posts:

Pico2 · 27/09/2014 17:06

Definitely go through your insurers then.

Whippet81 · 27/09/2014 17:09

Made me laugh OP as I have just been to my local sainsburys and had to drive round two cars that have done exactly the same. The time I bumped someone might have been there too

Waitrose now....probably wouldn't happen.

TheCraicDealer · 27/09/2014 17:41

I can see where he's coming from because there are specialist repair guys who work from home and do a great job for a fraction of the dealer or their recommended firm. However, if you hit someone you should try to inconvenience them as little as possible, not have them running around trying to get the best deal for you.

I hit a guy last December; a minor prang and in my initial "fuck, my no claims" panic I said I'd pay for it. However, by the time I got back to the office I realised that was going to be a major pain for him and that it would be better and less stressful for all involved to just swallow the premium increase and inform insurers. Paid my excess and it was sorted.

jerryfudd · 27/09/2014 17:58

Nope I'd go through insurance. A rubbish job by his man will affect the value of your car through no fault of your own.

We had this a few years ago. Someone hit our car and asked not to go through insurers. We got a quote from local garage (not even main dealer despite car only being couple of years old). Admittedly the damage didn't look much but the repair came in at few hundred. Told guy and he ranted about it and moaned couldn't afford it and if had to go through insurance he wouldn't afford renewal. Do you know what then - don't reverse into parked unattended cars (which us standing nearby luckily). We went through insurance who used main dealer

greenfolder · 27/09/2014 19:38

actually, i would find out his insurance details from the askmid website and ask them to deal with the repair, rather than involve my own insurers

TeracottaTurtle · 27/09/2014 19:42

What was the price and what was that for?

Some garages are an absolute rip off so if the price you're quoting is ridiculous I can well understand why they think you're trying to pull a fast one tbh.

riverboat1 · 27/09/2014 19:45

This happened to me recently - someone else pranged my car, admitted fault, then the owner of the car (not the driver) tried to get me to deal with it outside of insurance, but then insisted quoted price was too expensive and i should find a cheaper price elsewhere.

I put considerable effort into co-operating, but it just got to be too much hassle and I was worried he'd keep squirming out of paying anything at all, so I ended up going through insurance. No regrets!

DancingDinosaur · 27/09/2014 19:50

Just go through the insurance. I hate it when people try and avoid the insurance. It always works out as a major hassle. Just say, no sorry, I'm not able to do that, in a sad and regretful tone

Original poster

ConfusedDotty · 28/09/2014 08:41

The price was not high IMO. The back bumper needs to come off, be painted, brackets replaced and the bumper polished up. The car is just over 6 months old and there wasn't a scratch on it. They will also check if there is any damage to the parking sensors/camera. The estimate was £405.

If I had done the damage myself I would still use the main dealer.

OP posts:

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