I got an estimate to repair my car after a third party ran into it. They agreed they would pay the repair costs themselves rather than taking it through insurance companies. Now they have the estimate (£520 because the car needs a new wing @ nearly £300) they are balking at the cost. The chap's mother has been ringing me up at work firstly to make sure it wasn't going through the insurance and secondly to try and persuade me to take my car to some dodgy back street garage that a relative of theirs owns to get it fixed more cheaply! I think I may have been stupid in agreeing (albeit only verbally) to getting a deposit and then sending them the rest of the bill as I asked for the money all up front when I wrote to them with the estimate.
Can I legally ask for all the money for the repair cost up front or do I have to risk them not coughing up? Alternatively can I insist that the car is repaired at my place of choice (my regular specialist) if I do end up taking it via my insurance company?
Why do people agree to pay for repairs then change their mind????
teabelly
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Because they think that "Well, a new wing for my fiesta is only a tenner, a bit of paint won't cost much, £5 a tin from halfords - that'll be much better than losing my NCB".
Then they see a quote for a proper job, and they can't afford it. Give them an ultimatum - either they pay for the job done where and as you want it, or you'll just go straight to the insurance company.
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I wouldn't even bother giving them the ultimatum. They have offered to pay for the repair, so admitting liability. Take it straight to their insurers without delay.
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Agree with ND - you've been nice and shown willing to do them a favour: now they're taking the michael. Contact their insurer and sort it all officially - you don't need or deserve this kind of tedium.
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They pay the body shop directly upfront in cash within 7 days or you go to your insurance company. Any doubt go to the insurance company. Regards Peter
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You're all right of course. I'll tell her I have changed my mind and I definitely want the whole amount upfront.
Can I just write to their insurers and ask for the money enclosing the estimate or does it involve more than that?
teabelly
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Watch the titles on the simpsons tonight. take note of the bit where bart is on detention after school writing lines on the board.
"I will never let someone offer to pay again"
"I will never let someone offer to pay again"
"I will never let someone offer to pay again"
It goes like this. If someone offers to pay for damage, get it writing. After you have this, tell them you have changed your mind, get the damage fixed via insurance, and sue the other party for all your costs (not covered by insurance)using the letter as an admission of guilt.
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At least this case is not as bad as my uncle who was in a similar situation.
When asked for the money the other driver claimed it was't him: he had never seen my uncle before in his life and had not driven his car on the day in question. Unforunately he got away with it.
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Teabelly, you are legally obliged to report this to your insurer. It's in the contract.
Be very careful. I've been caught out the other way round. I clipped a car with my bike leaving a very small scratch on the rear wing. The impact was so slight I didn't even fall off. I offered to pay if he wanted to get it repaired - it really wasn't worth repairing tbh, just half-inch long scratch as if a pin had been gently dragged over the paint. We swapped names and addresses and I heard nothing for 4 months.
Then I received a claim from his insurer for over 600 quid for damage to the boot, rear wing, rear door etc! He'd obviously done a deal with a body shop to put in a false claim. My insurer would not believe me and paid out. I lost my ncb and my insurance tripled.
It is not wise to avoid your insurer. If I had reported it right away they could have inspected his car. As it was he had it repaired before claiming and they just coughed up.
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I have reported the incident to my insurer. I did it same day and was told as I wasn't claiming there and then I could ring the normal customer services on the Monday and report the full details of the incident. I was only avoiding claiming via my insurer as my excess is £350 which is a lot to pay out up front.
I took pictures with a film camera of the damage to my car and of his car including the number plate and the damage just after it happened so that should be enough proof. The whole incident could have been captured on CCTV but the local council weren't very helpful when I enquired about this.I also emailed their insurance company with details to check that they were insured so they should have a record of that too. If they do try any silly business I'll report them to the police without hesitation.
teabelly
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Their insurers have saved me the decision as I had a letter when I got home saying they were happy to pay for all the damage and any losses incurred :-)
Hopefully I won't be starting a 'loss adjustor trying to ruin my car with cheap repair' thread!
teabelly
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