It acts as a claims management company, which of course it charges for.

So the insurance company ends up paying more and our premiums go up to cover the cost.

What a bargain.

Why not just insist that your car is repaired by the main dealer, its your right and the insurance company cannot refuse. The downside is the excess can be higher but if its not your fault you will get that back.

I agree with your objection to that principle - but that's how insurance works at the moment.

***Why not just insist that your car is repaired by the main dealer, its your right and the insurance company cannot refuse.***

I understand what you mean. But let me tell you how bad it can be.

The third party insurer was pressing for using their body shop and saying if I go to the main dealer I have to get the hire car myself which could be a hassle. Rubbish as it maybe, the easiest way for me to go to Mazda as they only use approved bodyshop, which I did and I got a hire car without much hassle.

It gets even better. My car was a perfect example of well maintained, low mileage, sought after car bought as Mazda authorized used car an year ago, and I was hoping to keep it for another five years. They wrote off the car and offer me 4200 without any consideration about how much I need to spend to get a similiar car. I rejected the offer and send them the mazda used car webite link with the search parameters. They hiked the offer by 150 pounds which is still way below what I am going to spend. Going by the website prices, I need to spend 6000 pounds to get a similiar car from the dealer.

What they say now is, if I reject the offer they are going to take the hire car back and I have to get a hire car through my insurer. So, now I have to invoke my legal support from my insurer! Again, more money wastage which will eventually passed to the customers. I don't like it, but thats how it works. I could keep silent and get the money they offer, top up the remaining amount from my pocket and get a new car. Is that right considering someone just smashed my parked car? You see the problem.

Edited by JimmyV on 19/11/2012 at 17:43

Just curiuos, how did you know they are a claims management company?

"They" all are !

Each new car I've bought in the last 15 years has included the "manufacturers" leaflet/promotion to use them for any accident repairs - I'm anorak enough to read everything in the documentation pack but sceptical enough to see through the blurb.

Having been involved in a recent accident/claim I'm even more sceptical about who I've been dealing with so even with my hard-nosed approach it's not straightforward.

Edited by RT on 23/11/2012 at 21:51