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Bumper car
The brilliant new Kia Cee’d CRDi which you correctly advised me to buy earlier this year (6,000 miles already) was yesterday shunted in the rear by an AA Patrol Van at Fleet Services off the M3. I will now need a new rear bumper. Direct Line, my insurers, put me in touch with its approved repairer. Having checked out this repairer on the Internet, I discover there have been some appalling complaints: poor work, huge delays, etc. Naturally I wish to have my 3-month-old car restored to its former glory by the best people possible, namely my local Kia dealer in Kent, which has a bodyshop. Direct Line assured me I could of course take my car to my own garage. They then went on to do everything possible to persuade me not to - saying they wouldn't necessarily accept a quote from my Kia dealer and that all in all, it would be much easier if I just settled for its approved repairer. What is the relationship between insurers and their nominated garages that is making Direct Line so insistent? What should I do? I've already rejected a hire car from Direct Line on the basis of correspondence in your Telegraph column suggesting this is just another scheme to make money out of other people's misfortune. I've also been told (by the AA driver who shunted me) to expect a call from the AA's insurers.
Asked on 21 August 2010 by JC, via email
Answered by
Honest John
Insurers have volume deals with nominated repairers so it is more
expensive for them to pay for a repair at a dealership. Insist on the repair at the dealership. But, if the dealership bodges the job you have no comeback because you insisted on the dealer doing the job. Also, you may not be entitled to a courtesy car during the repair. Do not get involved with any 'accident management company'. They may put you into an expensive credit hire car and delay the repair as long as possible with the cost of the hire car coming back to you of the other party’s insurer quite reasonably refuses to pay.
expensive for them to pay for a repair at a dealership. Insist on the repair at the dealership. But, if the dealership bodges the job you have no comeback because you insisted on the dealer doing the job. Also, you may not be entitled to a courtesy car during the repair. Do not get involved with any 'accident management company'. They may put you into an expensive credit hire car and delay the repair as long as possible with the cost of the hire car coming back to you of the other party’s insurer quite reasonably refuses to pay.
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