I would welcome a little advice, please.
My car was rear-ended at the weekend, the other driver was OK about it and contacted his insurer. Due to the holiday weekend and pressure of work I have not yet had my car looked at or contacted my insurer.
Today the other guy's insurer contacted me and offered to take care of everything - arranging to have the work done by one of their repairers and supply a courtesy car. This would save me having to make a claim and initially forking out for the excess.
My only worry is that having a body repair done other than by an official agent may invalidate the warranty. The car is a 2 year old Alfa 156, the damage appears to be superficial scuffing of the (plastic) rear bumper. Obviously, there may be other damage underneath.
Worth taking up their kind offer, or should I go to the local Alfa agent (not that I think much of them)? I'd be glad of any suggestions.
Mr. T.
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As a matter of principle I would always want to choose the repairer, and I would always want them to be within easy travelling distance of my house. If you leave it to an insurance company to choose you could end up with your car being taken away on a trailer to an unknown repairer at the other end of the country. I've only ever once had accident damage repaired somewhere that was not near to my house, and it was a nightmare. From the length of time it took (11 weeks!) I'm sure it spent many days (or even weeks) stuck in a corner while the repairer fitted in quicker and more lucrative repair jobs. Because of the distance they knew I wouldn't be dropping in unannounced to check up on progress. A quick turnover on small jobs is what gives the best profit margin.
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L\'escargot.
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No you should inform your insurer and let them deal with it. That's what they are paid for.
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Had a similar incident before Christmas. Whilst recognising comments made about quality of work, having checked out the proposed repairers and been happy with them I was pleased with their quality and the job done. We also needed a new bumper and, as it had built in parking sensors and they had stopped working, a new set of them. Whilst recognising the point about informing your own insurer, it does seem as though the other party's insurer has clearly accepted liability. I found it to be the most hassle free experience I'd had of dealing with insurance companies..
Tim{P}
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Today the other guy's insurer contacted me and offered to take care of everything - arranging to have the work done by one of their repairers and supply a courtesy car. This would save me having to make a claim and initially forking out for the excess.
I had the same thing happen to me about 5 years ago. I had phoned my insurer, but before the forms came through, the other party's insurer phoned me and offered to do the work as a 'goodwill gesture'. I told my insurance company and they were happy with this, in the circumstances. You need to tell your insurer or they may have a good moan at you for not disclosing it, even though it was not your fault. If you dont tell your insurance company, I don't know where you stand legally if you have to reject the work as unsatisfactory?
In my case the chosen repair shop was an ADR place on my normal route to work, so very convenient and got a courtesy car too. Rear bumper had a minor crack so they had to replace it and spray it to body colour; got my car back in 3 days with no faults or hassles.
With regard to warranty, dont know about that, my car was about 6 years old so didn't have one.
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Claim through the other party's insurer and get quotes from local alfa garages and insist the car is repaired at a decent place. The insurance approved body shops are often paid peanuts and their standard of work is not always fantastic. I did this when some twit ran into me. It is the most painless way. If the other insurer admits liability then it gets complicated if you refuse their offer of a repair. The other insurance company will probably want to send out an assessor but if you get a fair quote (I only ended up needing one) then they are likely to agree it on the spot and pay the garage directly. Mine took a couple of weeks as getting a new front wing proved to be tricky. Luckily I knew the garage I took it to well so they lent me a car for all the time at no cost to me.
Also if you do this you do not have to pay out your excess. If you go via your insurance you have to pay your excess out and then go through the rigmarole of getting it back. That can take months. It also means there is a cloud over your ncd until it has been returned.
teabelly
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Worth taking up their kind offer
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they are doing their duty. saves them money (in not having to go via your insurer, saves your insurer money in not having to act as middleman, saves you having to claim back your excess, etc.)
take up their offer, but tell them you want to choose your own alfa-approved body repair ship.
you must tell your insurer that the incident has happened, and that other party is taking responsibility for repairs; making sure that you emphasise that at this stage "it is not a claim, but for information only". should the other party fail to repair your car, then you may need to upgrade that to a claim.
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It certainly saves having to pay your excess and going through the trouble of getting it back if the 3rd party insurers pick up the bill.
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I was offered this, but I asked them if I would be able to agree the plan of works before agreeing, and they said no. I was worried about not being happy with the scope of the repair once completed and having to argue with them. My insurance co. wouldn't be interested, I would be dealing with a company to whom I have no relationship.
After thinking about it, I informed my insurer, and sent the repair-offer letter from the third party, as this said it was their fault. Didn't have to pay the excess, as they claimed it directly. I was with Budget/BellDirect/Postoffice and they were with Direct Line.
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Would this not be "a suitable case for treatment" by Helphire or equivalent?
Jack
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Re teabellys reply, I'm currently arguing with my wife's insurer who in their policy say for a payment of £50 above your excess, the repairs can be done at your choice of repairer. Not so easy in reality, so be warned - they wont do this unless your repairer does it at their low repair rates, and with warranty implications etc I don't fancy the apprentice working unsupervised on our £12K worth of 2 year old car. Annoysing that if they weren't prepared to repiar it properly, then they should have declined to insure me. Beware! Very awkward staff they have to deal with as well.
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