Car hit me - my decision where it's repaired?

MarkN

Hi all - quick query for some of you who might be experienced in this situation.

Hit from behind by another car the other day, some cosmetic damage done to rear bumper and pending the bumper being removed, no other damage has occurred.

I got two quotes from the same place, one is going through insurance and other is for cash. The cash price is €300 approx to spray the section of the bumper. Driver who hit me is now querying this price and wants a few quotes (fair enough). However, I'm not prepared for my car to be repaired by someone I'm not happy with or have no experience of. I also think €300 odd is fairly reasonable for a well regarded repair place to charge.

Am I in a position where I can tell the driver who hit me that I want my car done at a particular place and to be glad that's all they have to pay out?

Jesus Shaves

It's your choice at the end of the day, get another quote from another garage and tell the other driver which one you want to use, either that or say you'll be going through their insurance

Mech1

Am I in a position where I can tell the driver who hit me that I want my car done at a particular place and to be glad that's all they have to pay out?

yes

gavin77

Same thing happened to me a few years back I was a hit from behind the chap that hit my car was a right b....x I was only driving a few years and this was my first involvement in a tap.
Any way he told ME to get 3 quotes I rang my insurance and they told me nonsense get my car fixed in TOYOTA or Billy's back street garage my car my decision.
Dont waste yur time with the guy who hit u tell him €300 or the insurance company will deal with it.
He's at fault and expects u to do the leg work on going around to garages getting quotes also some garages now charge just to give u an estimated.
(1) coughs up the €300
(2) ring yur insurance and let them deal with his insurance.
Yur not at fault so don't be put out over it.

Toyotafanboi

Jaysis, if I rear ended someone and all they wanted was €300 to settle, I wouldn't be asking them to shop around!

noel100

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Jaysis, if I rear ended someone and all they wanted was €300 to settle, I wouldn't be asking them to shop around!

My mother inlaw rolled into another car at traffic lights no damage not even a scratch on the colour coded bumper and the insurance paid out 16k for whiplash to the person driving the other car.
Lost her no claims bonus which was more than 300euro.
He should be lucky 300euro to repair the bumper.

Nody

OP run a mile and go the insurance route; if he's complaining about 300 EUR quote (which he should be bloody tap dancing over seeing how much a claim would raise his insurance) you'll likely end up with a very slow, long and painful process of actually getting the money with the driver stalling every step of the way and coming up with excuses why he can't pay it all.

mickdw

feck him.
From old threads on here, I guess you were driving a decent car. To be complaining about 300 means he is a dick.
I wouldn't be dealing with him cause you will never get your money.

bazz26

OP, it sounds like you're dealing with a right gob****e who will only be happy if the quote you give him is practically zero. You are entitled to have the car repaired at the place of your choice, not the place that is the cheapest on the other driver's pocket.

I'd give them an ultimatum, I'd give them 7 days to either pay the garage the €300 directly to have the car repaired or you claim directly through their insurance. I've a feeling someone stalling over having to pay €300 is going to mess you about and not pay up so that's why I'd put a time limit on what they want to do otherwise you will just continue to get excuses and messed around.

amcalester

Do you have to pay an excess on a third party claim?

If so surely that'd be more than the €300 anyway.

MarkN

Thanks all. Yes I'd assume the excess is in and around €300-400 not to mention the insurance company picking her premium out of the sky at renewal. Considering I'd my two year old in the car and the lady who hit us saw that, again I'm surprised she isn't dropping the cash to my front door. She said she's waiting on quotes so I went back tonight and said feel free to wait for your quotes but just to be clear, use the quotes as a comparison for the price I've given but due to the nature of the incident i.e. you hit me(!) it will be my decision as to where the car is repaired. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt for the few days but after that if I'm not happy I'll bring in the insurance route and go back to the guards (rang Clontarf just after it happened).

mickdw

The excess won't come into this claim unless the other party also claim for own damage against their own policy.
Insurance has the cover the damaged party in full.

MarkN

Just received this...

"First quote came through just while ago and based on the photos I sent to them they estimated the job to be at 230€.

 

Can you please explain to me the logic behind the insurance quote vs cash as I still dont comprehend while this should be any different and the difference being so high? And also what the 350€ price at _____ contains that is 120€ over the one I just received?

 

I will wait for the 2nd quote and let you know once received."

looksee

I thought the idea of modern bumpers was that if you were hit the bumper took the shock and saved the rest of the car? And that therefore, even after a small bump you were supposed to get the bumper replaced because the clips that are designed to take the shock would have broken, and a future bump would mean the car could be damaged.

dashoonage

Ya tell him feck off its your choice...

i got hit last year. no damage bar my hitch being bent. The other driver tried to replace it with a cheap amazon hitch for 80 bucks...i was like erm no....you will be replacing it with the same hitch from the same installer thanks very much or ill be letting the insurance handle it.

Let it off to the insurance company and don't waste your time worrying about this fool.

Atlantic Dawn

From photos a €230 quote could easily go to twice that when they see the full actual damage.

MarkN

I've since had a further reply... (I foolishly on the day looked at the damage and was fairly confident it wouldn't be thousands so I said "I'm sure we can sort this out without insurance" TRYING TO BE DECENT ABOUT IT and conscious of my two year old balling in the car as she knew something was up)!


"Also I forgot to add - that on the day of the incident we both agreed and especially it was your proposal that we did not need to go through insurance and therfore I am eve more surpsired that the qoute was prepared based on the insurance.

 

Looking forward to hearing the details on the prices though (insurance vs cash) and happy to proceed."

CSSE09

You're doing them the favour not going through the insurance and getting nothing but grief, report to insurance get your car fixed and be done with that idiot.

Jimmy Bottlehead

With the replies she's sent, I'd say fukkit and go through insurance. She had her chance to cough up and get off light. She's messed that up.

Save yourself a load of hassle and heartache OP and go through her insurance.

Red Kev

MarkN wrote: »

Hi all - quick query for some of you who might be experienced in this situation.

Hit from behind by another car the other day, some cosmetic damage done to rear bumper and pending the bumper being removed, no other damage has occurred.

I got two quotes from the same place, one is going through insurance and other is for cash. The cash price is €300 approx to spray the section of the bumper. Driver who hit me is now querying this price and wants a few quotes (fair enough). However, I'm not prepared for my car to be repaired by someone I'm not happy with or have no experience of. I also think €300 odd is fairly reasonable for a well regarded repair place to charge.

Am I in a position where I can tell the driver who hit me that I want my car done at a particular place and to be glad that's all they have to pay out?

Get the bumper removed and get a full quote on any damage before you agree anything with her. Bumpers can hide an amount of expensive damage, so get it looked at properly (bumper off) before you do anything else.

If she doesn't agree ring your insurance company up and let them deal with it.

MarkN

Was thinking of sending this?
"
Hi X - a couple of points if I may.
From my perspective, you have questioned where I have my car repaired (through no fault of my own), you have given an opinion that it is a “rip off”, you have asked me to explain why an insurance quote versus a cash price is different (this is the same in any business transaction where cash can be paid for a job). I can’t say why the company gave an insurance based price on the first quote, perhaps he didn’t hear me saying to do it for a cash price. They have also included the price of a hire car for 24 hours as I have to be able to get to work and pick up my daughter from crèche whilst my car is repaired. I specifically asked for them to quote for the smallest car possible to keep costs down for you. Same reason I mentioned that I assumed we would be able to avoid using your insurance company, to make things easier.
Nobody can accurately quote for a repair with photographic evidence alone. The car would need to be viewed in person and it’s not practical for me to drive around Dublin getting quotes. I think €350 (pending the bumper being removed to check for any other damage) is very reasonable, bearing in mind you could’ve hit the type of person who would be willing to make a large claim, I merely want my car returned to the condition it was in before the accident.  
If you are not happy with where I have the car repaired or the cost, I suggest I refer the accident to my insurance company who will be in touch with yours.

amcalester

MarkN wrote: »

Was thinking of sending this?
"
Hi X - a couple of points if I may.
From my perspective, you have questioned where I have my car repaired (through no fault of my own), you have given an opinion that it is a “rip off”, you have asked me to explain why an insurance quote versus a cash price is different (this is the same in any business transaction where cash can be paid for a job). I can’t say why the company gave an insurance based price on the first quote, perhaps he didn’t hear me saying to do it for a cash price. They have also included the price of a hire car for 24 hours as I have to be able to get to work and pick up my daughter from crèche whilst my car is repaired. I specifically asked for them to quote for the smallest car possible to keep costs down for you. Same reason I mentioned that I assumed we would be able to avoid using your insurance company, to make things easier.
Nobody can accurately quote for a repair with photographic evidence alone. The car would need to be viewed in person and it’s not practical for me to drive around Dublin getting quotes. I think €350 (pending the bumper being removed to check for any other damage) is very reasonable, bearing in mind you could’ve hit the type of person who would be willing to make a large claim, I merely want my car returned to the condition it was in before the accident.  
If you are not happy with where I have the car repaired or the cost, I suggest I refer the accident to my insurance company who will be in touch with yours.

I wouldnt bother with an explanation she'll just argue the toss with you.

Tell her to either pay for the repair at a place of your choice or you'll go through her insurance. And leave it at that.

She hit you and you get to chose who does the repair, not her.

irelandrover

amcalester wrote: »

I wouldnt bother with an explanation she'll just argue the toss with you.

Tell her to either pay for the repair at a place of your choice or you'll go through her insurance. And leave it at that.

She hit you and you get to chose who does the repair, not her.

Id say just go through insurance. I wouldnt trust her to actually pay the money even if she agrees to.

dashoonage

MarkN wrote: »

Was thinking of sending this?
"
Hi X - a couple of points if I may.
From my perspective, you have questioned where I have my car repaired (through no fault of my own), you have given an opinion that it is a “rip off”, you have asked me to explain why an insurance quote versus a cash price is different (this is the same in any business transaction where cash can be paid for a job). I can’t say why the company gave an insurance based price on the first quote, perhaps he didn’t hear me saying to do it for a cash price. They have also included the price of a hire car for 24 hours as I have to be able to get to work and pick up my daughter from crèche whilst my car is repaired. I specifically asked for them to quote for the smallest car possible to keep costs down for you. Same reason I mentioned that I assumed we would be able to avoid using your insurance company, to make things easier.
Nobody can accurately quote for a repair with photographic evidence alone. The car would need to be viewed in person and it’s not practical for me to drive around Dublin getting quotes. I think €350 (pending the bumper being removed to check for any other damage) is very reasonable, bearing in mind you could’ve hit the type of person who would be willing to make a large claim, I merely want my car returned to the condition it was in before the accident.  
If you are not happy with where I have the car repaired or the cost, I suggest I refer the accident to my insurance company who will be in touch with yours.

eh no. stop talking only to inform her that its with the insurance and any more communication can be with them.

fook this **** its monday and people dont need it :P

amcalester

irelandrover wrote: »

Id say just go through insurance. I wouldnt trust her to actually pay the money even if she agrees to.

And if she did agree to pay she'd ask for a "cash discount".

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Yeah insurance all the way op. Presume your car is still driveable so there isn't a mad rush on getting it fixed. People are so ****ing stupid. Same happened to me a year ago, I hit someone in a car park, really minor damage. He got a quote of 300 to fix it and I couldn't get the money into his hand fast enough. I think some people really underestimate how much body work and paint costs.

MarkN

Thanks for the advice lads, just snipped off most of that mail and sent "this is getting too complicated, the cash route was to be easy for yourself but it sounds like going through the insurance companies is the best option".

jacko

OP, the more you think about this and try to reason the more hassle it is going to be.

Get onto your insurance asap, tell them the story, give them the other partys details and this will be resolved pretty quickly.

The other insurance company will contact person that hit u and then they will know you mean business. The fact that u inform the insurance of the accident doesn't not mean you have to go through with the claim. But make sure you inform them of the incident

mickdw

Dont send that. It sounds like you are trying to justify the bill and it also sounds like you are trying to back track on the reason for a higher bill through insurance.
Id be inclined to turn the screw alittle. Id email saying you have decided to process this through her insurance as you have been advised that the car requires a professional inspection to ensure no further hidden damage from the incident.

Red Kev

MarkN wrote: »

Thanks for the advice lads, just snipped off most of that mail and sent "this is getting too complicated, the cash route was to be easy for yourself but it sounds like going through the insurance companies is the best option".

Take it to a garage first, have the bumper removed and have a proper look to see if there's any damage underneath before you do anything else.

MarkN

Went to the guards in Clontarf earlier to report it properly. Got a decent Garda, I'm sure the paperwork involved in tips like this are a pain in the arse for them to have to deal with but he said you're doing the right thing especially if she's arguing over the difference of 100-150 quid. Rang her insurance company afterwards and even they were a bit miffed at her not being happy with the price. Garda rang me within the hour of being down with him to say he's left a message for her to produce her documents.

I can't help but feel guilty for 'shopping' someone in but it was going around in circles.

mickdw

That's not shopping someone. Normal process following an accident.
You cannot be too careful. I got caught for damage to my car after a dog ran out in front of me. farmer said he would pay. spoke directly to Garda on my phone at the scene and said he was going to pay for the damage.
Did he pay? Not a penny.

MarkN

3rd email of the day now to ask if I'm willing to accept an offer of 230 quid. So in essence, after being hit from behind I'd be out of pocket by 120 quid! I take back my feeling of guilt as above now

2Mad2BeMad

MarkN wrote: »

3rd email of the day now to ask if I'm willing to accept an offer of 230 quid. So in essence, after being hit from behind I'd be out of pocket by 120 quid! I take back my feeling of guilt as above now

Screw her, she had her chance.
Taken the piss now,
can't believe shes turning down the chance to not let it affect her insurance, all for just an extra 120quid like. What a gobsh*te

amcalester

MarkN wrote: »

3rd email of the day now to ask if I'm willing to accept an offer of 230 quid. So in essence, after being hit from behind I'd be out of pocket by 120 quid! I take back my feeling of guilt as above now

Does she know you've spoken to her insurance company? I'd love to be there when she gets her renewal letter and it's a hell of a lot more than €350 more expensive.

MarkN

So to the offer of a few hundred, remember, this car hasn't even had the bumper off yet, I just said I can't accept the offer, I've notified the gardaí and her insurance company.

I THEN receive this;

"As you know police will have no interest in this.

It's between us and the insurance if you want, but please bear in mind that I also have an evidence of how you handled the situation, proposing 600 euro and after only few hours the price went down to 300 euro and you were not willing to even look at other options.

I never claimed I was not at fault and provided you with my details and was more than open to have your car repaired but you were only choosing and willing to go with the most expensive option which was the **** garage.

I only wanted a fair price the car to be repaired at."

I don't think she can comprehend that places will quote for a through the insurance price and for a cash price. She seems to think I was trying to rip her off by the through the books price being €250 dearer.

Anyway, I'm done replying now, I've sent her chain of emails to the person representing her in the insurance company.

I wish I'd thought of it before I hit send but I'd love to have said my daughter is fine by the way - she didn't ask once if she needed a doctor visit or anything.

ironclaw

Playing devils advocate for a moment, you're probably dealing with someone who really has no idea how the world works, let alone the car world. I doubt many people realize that the price of a crash repair greatly differs if you go down the cash route versus through insurance. And to be fair to them, and bless their cotton socks, it kinda makes sense. Its a repair, so why is the price different? Going further, I doubt many would even factor in the rise in their insurance when they have a claim against them, sure its only €600... Which you pay off for years.

Looks like you dodged a bullet anyway!

pippip

I wouldn't consider it even cash versus insurance. Garage versus garage can vary greatly. Especially when they can't see whats inside the bumper as they are really just guessing what in their experience its going to take.

bazz26

She's a dope trying to be clever. I bet if the shoe was on the other foot and you hit her, she would be claiming for whiplash and post accident emotional distress.

Best let the insurance company deal with it now and not engage with this idot any further.

amcalester

ironclaw wrote: »

Playing devils advocate for a moment, you're probably dealing with someone who really has no idea how the world works, let alone the car world. I doubt many people realize that the price of a crash repair greatly differs if you go down the cash route versus through insurance. And to be fair to them, and bless their cotton socks, it kinda makes sense. Its a repair, so why is the price different? Going further, I doubt many would even factor in the rise in their insurance when they have a claim against them, sure its only €600... Which you pay off for years.

Looks like you dodged a bullet anyway!

Unless you've been living under a rock you are well aware that insurance premiums are rising and you should do all you can to avoid putting a €350 claim through your insurance.

Owryan

Any chance she is sat at home posting to another forum about how some fellow is trying to con her!!!!!!

Best off letting the insurance company handle her, sounds like a head wrecker

Voodoomelon

ironclaw wrote: »

Playing devils advocate for a moment, you're probably dealing with someone who really has no idea how the world works, let alone the car world. I doubt many people realize that the price of a crash repair greatly differs if you go down the cash route versus through insurance. And to be fair to them, and bless their cotton socks, it kinda makes sense. Its a repair, so why is the price different? Going further, I doubt many would even factor in the rise in their insurance when they have a claim against them, sure its only €600... Which you pay off for years.

Looks like you dodged a bullet anyway!

amcalester wrote: »

Unless you've been living under a rock you are well aware that insurance premiums are rising and you should do all you can to avoid putting a €350 claim through your insurance.

I agree with Ironclaw, some people literally have no clue and think a bit of paint and a polish is all that's needed, €150 please. And when I say some people, I mean A LOT of people.

ml100

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I agree with Ironclaw, some people literally have no clue and think a bit of paint and a polish is all that's needed, €150 please. And when I say some people, I mean A LOT of people.

I had a dump a few years ago, took the car to an insurance approved repairer, guy recommended going through the insurance as they had fixed rates with the insurance company which were less than he would charge me, the other person then had the option of paying my insurance company directly or letting their insurance company pay mine!

CianDon

People get very funny about repairs after an accident these days. Last year, the girl across the road left the handbrake off when parked and it rolled into the side of the Fathers Mondeo. Wasnt overly bad but caught the bumper, arch and door. First reaction from the girl was to send us up to recommended garage for a quote. I know full well from a few incidents myself that theres a few garages running a cartell here in Cork absolutely riding the insurance repair market. I got a quote once for a bumper repair in one of these larger insurance garages not long ago, had the value approved, and for the same price got nearly a third of the car resprayed with my local trusted indie garage!! Anyway, the insurance garage here were quoting for brand new bumpers, arch repair panels etc running close to nearly €2000, yet it actually took almost pleading on our part for the woman to see sense that our local fella would have the job done for €420 and she wasnt gonna have a skyrocket on her insurance!! Some people eh

Nekarsulm

OP, she had her chance and didn't take it.
You are obviously a decent person, as some would screw her Insurance Company to the hilt in such a situation.

I bumped the rear of a people carrier once, and the lady driving claimed off my insurance.
She couldn't claim for any repairs for the car because the dust on her rear bumper wasn't even rubbed off. But she claimed that one of her children was suffering from anxiety, poor sleeping, difficulty concentrating at school and so on.
She even admitted in the claim letter that the child was unrestrained on the rear seat at the time.
My insurance company paid out 13,000 euro without question, and without even letting me know.
A year later she tried the same again with the other child. I told my insurance company that there was no way I would agree to such a settlement again, and to fight it. She never took it any further.

Muckie

Nekarsulm wrote: »

OP, she had her chance and didn't take it.
You are obviously a decent person, as some would screw her Insurance Company to the hilt in such a situation.

I bumped the rear of a people carrier once, and the lady driving claimed off my insurance.
She couldn't claim for any repairs for the car because the dust on her rear bumper wasn't even rubbed off. But she claimed that one of her children was suffering from anxiety, poor sleeping, difficulty concentrating at school and so on.
She even admitted in the claim letter that the child was unrestrained on the rear seat at the time.
My insurance company paid out 13,000 euro without question, and without even letting me know.
A year later she tried the same again with the other child. I told my insurance company that there was no way I would agree to such a settlement again, and to fight it. She never took it any further.

Same thing happened to my brother, when he barely rubbed the front bumper of her parked people carrier .

This woman, along with the "keen help" of her doctor and solicitor managed to get €12,000 for herself and her "badly injured child".

Really hope karma exists for people like this!

Voodoomelon

A week ago, both of the above scenarios would make my blood boil, but you have to understand how the system works, something that was I was only made aware of a few days ago.

A friend was in an accident with a van. He was stopped and the van ploughed into the back of him. Friends car needed a new back door and paint etc, a sizeable job. But he was also injured and is still in pain 3 months later with constant physio bills.

He, like most people (I would still like to believe) only wanted his bills covered. But the other parties insurance has been giving him the run around for MONTHS, offering him a tiny portion of his bills, not to mention any further bills. Essentially, an insulting offer.

He's basically at a deadlock with them and has been forced to go with a solicitor. Now he hasn't said it in as many words, but because he's now on board with a solicitor, the claim is likely going to be way higher and he hasn't pushed for ANY of this.

So now the other party in the van, he feels horrible for as this is going to drag out for another 6 months, the claim is likely to be a multiple of what he wanted originally, all because a solicitor is now involved and the insurance company are acting the arse.

It's not always the victims fault claims are so high.

iwillhtfu

OP Speaking from experience as the at fault party in a similar situation I'd have rounded it up to €400 and shook your hand to be honest.

I had a bump at an off ramp stopped at the round about behind a car which pulled out on to the roundabout and stopped I pulled off into their rear bumper as I was looking right for oncoming traffic Stupid me to assume it was clear. Anyway no damage to my own car perhaps a scuff on the bumper but nothing serious. BTW my car was a few years old and not a mark on it. The other car was a heap of a 3 series which in fairness might have been the world to them.

Exchanged details and asked to be sent a cash option as the damage to their car was a scuffed bumper which was clear to see but no more than paint rub to the eye.

Low and behold 3 days later. That'll be €2500 cash please apparently I'd destroyed the sub frame boot etc. Now keep in mind I was driving a small town car which wouldn't even reach the boot lid to damage it and this "crash" was 1st gear moving off job. I told him to go jump I'd be contesting the claim. Difficult given I'd admitted liability but I wasn't going to be taken for a complete muppet.

Got onto Insurance company gardaí weren't involved at any time. Told insurance company about cash offer and my suspicions. Turns out they had since been to a doctor claiming whiplash and all sorts and how now submitted a claim for 10's of thousands.

Long and short of it claimant had a pre existing back injury and had doctored scans and reports she had previously received at a consultants. In fairness to the insurance company they uncovered all of this and along with my information they accepted the liability claim and then the insurance company took them to court for a fraudulent claim.

At that point I was taken out of the loop but from updates I received it didn't turn out well for them.

ofcork

I had a situation came to a t junction car in front a 96 micra stopped and went to move I was looking right and micra stopped.Dent in bumper said I'd pay cash phone call few days later just under 2500!!

Black_Knight

Christ this is all sickening stuff! People love a 'victimless crime' like insurance fraud.

I had a lady give me a bit of a bang the other week. Stop start traffic, and I suspect she was texting or something stupid. I guestimated €200 to her there and then (to which she said she expects it to be more) but that Monday I got a quote for €200, happy days. Got cash off her, gave her a handwritten receipt and we were away.

Bit of a pain having to be carless and dropping my car down to the garage for a day, but i'd have a tough time charging her for that.

iwillhtfu

Black_Knight wrote: »

Christ this is all sickening stuff! People love a 'victimless crime' like insurance fraud.

I had a lady give me a bit of a bang the other week. Stop start traffic, and I suspect she was texting or something stupid. I guestimated €200 to her there and then (to which she said she expects it to be more) but that Monday I got a quote for €200, happy days. Got cash off her, gave her a handwritten receipt and we were away.

Bit of a pain having to be carless and dropping my car down to the garage for a day, but i'd have a tough time charging her for that.

Where as I would have had no problem paying the extra €100 to cover your costs (even if only partially) for the day.

Some people are scum and see nothing in screwing another to get ahead.