Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer

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Sun 3 Aug 2014 19:16
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - halmereincarnated
I've been the victim of a hit and run which has caused damage to my vehicle. Police are involved and there is evidence which is being examined. My insurer is pressuring me into using their approved garage to repair rather than me using my preference which is main dealer.

They are threatening to charge me for any excessive labour rates for example. Can anyone advise me how I stand please. I'm hopeful that this will be paid for via the third party's insurance not mine but am not certain at the moment. Car is still under manufacturer's warranty but I am advised that using non main dealer won't affect this. My experience of 'approved' repairers is dire with previous examples of poor fit and finish.

Thanks.

Edited by halmereincarnated on 03/08/2014 at 19:18

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Sun 3 Aug 2014 19:23
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - Falkirk Bairn

>> I'm hopeful that this will be paid for via the third party's insurance

Hit & Run? You must know /have a good idea of the car and/or driver and that they are insured! If you think the 3rd party insurer will pay

Look at your policy - my policy says higher excess when ANOther repair shop is used rather than their nominated. Unless this is stated you can take it anywhere you like!

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Sun 3 Aug 2014 19:39
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - TedCrilly

What makes you think a main dealer will make a better job of it than the approved repairer?

Insurance approved repairers dealing with numerous insurance companies have far more to lose by cutting corners and damaging reputations than main dealers do.

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Sun 3 Aug 2014 20:50
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - galileo

What makes you think a main dealer will make a better job of it than the approved repairer?

Insurance approved repairers dealing with numerous insurance companies have far more to lose by cutting corners and damaging reputations than main dealers do.

And probably far more experience. Many main dealers send damaged cars to their manufacturer's approved body shop any way instead of doing repairs in-house. Straightening jigs and paint booths would be a major expense, unlikely to justify this.

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Sun 3 Aug 2014 20:57
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - halmereincarnated
I can only make judgement based on my experience and in my experience main dealers have done a better job.
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Mon 4 Aug 2014 14:06
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - Happy Blue!

I have a client who is an insurer approved repairer - a large company in Manchester. Having used him twice now for privately paid for work, I would not use him again. Better to use a small bodyshop or manufacturer approved only.

Edited by Happy Blue! on 04/08/2014 at 14:06

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Mon 4 Aug 2014 14:41
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - TedCrilly

So the belief is that main dealers turn out a better job??

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4821907

Hmmmmm.

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Mon 4 Aug 2014 14:44
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - Wackyracer

In my experience 'insurance approved repairer' is a posh term for cheap bodge job. In the last 20 years I've used them a few times and the job has always been to a very poor standard. The last time they left bare metal on the bottom of the boot floor, A rear bumper that was not secured properly and they scratched the front wing which they refused to accept responsibility for.

I now only use a small accident repair centre where the owner does alot of the work himself.

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Mon 4 Aug 2014 14:57
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - skidpan

Fortunately not had much need for accident rapairs but my experience was interesting.

Golf: Wife damaged front wing, local main dealer (where we purchased the car) did the repair, insurance company happy with that. Went to collect it and before we went into reception we gave it the once over, smashing job but the arial was loose. Before I even got chance to comment about the repair or arial the Body Shop Manager accused me of damaging the car while it was on the forcourt. Total muppet, had to apologise evntually after VW became involved.

Golf again: White van drive ran into back at traffic lights whilst on his mobile. His words to my wife were "sorry luv, i was on my fekin phone". His employers arranged for the car to be repaired at a local body shop which I knew had a good reputation. Repair was spot on.

Ford Mondeo: Paint warranty work. The Ford main dealer did the work but on collection there was the imprint of a tyre on one of the doors. Mentioned it to the body shop manageress who went wild and accused me of doing it. Whilst we were waiting for the car to be cleaned (the imprint was only dust) another customer mentioned a problem to her and got the same reaction. Obviously just her nature but I am happy to report she did not work there much longer.

Dad quite badly damaged his Micra. Taken to insurers approved repairers who made a smashing job with no delays or problems on delivery or since.

Guess which 2 I would use again.

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Mon 4 Aug 2014 16:55
Audi A4 - Accident damage - main dealer or approved repairer - Andrew-T

I have a client who is an insurer approved repairer - a large company in Manchester. Having used him twice now for privately paid for work, I would not use him again. Better to use a small bodyshop or manufacturer approved only.

Totally agree, HB. That may have been the firm I was offered about 10 years ago - I declined in favour of a local bodyshop recommended by my regular indie, mainly because it was a lot nearer and I could discuss the job more conveniently. No regrets.

I suspect many 'main dealers' subcontract insurance repairs to specialists anyway, adding their own surcharge of course.

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