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Wife has had slight prang with bus (well the other way round actually!) damaging headlight front bumper and drivers wing. Insurance co. want to use "nationwide crash repair centre", the vehicle is a BMW 528 and I want a decent repair. Am I being unnecessarily picky thinking that they may be a bit of a volume rather than quality place. I can take it to a place the local sytner bmw place use for their repairs which I assume should be a better indicator of quality but there is more aggro (estimates, engineers, replacement vehicle) this way, however the vehicle is still driveable so don't mind a few delays delay. Any views on these captive repair centre vs still approved but more independent places. Thanks
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The gut feeling is that insurance companies will have set up an arrangement with such repair centres to get the work done more cheaply, thanks to a regular volume of work, than if you chose your own repair outlet.
If you feel that you will get a better repair from your own source then I would insist on it.
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My neighbour has just had his 6 month old X type Jaguar repaired by a well known insurance companies own repair facility.He now has a two tone silver car with a very badly fitted front wing.
Every time i see the car,it annoys me,my neighbour thinks its ok.
For my money i would want the car repaired at the very least by a brand approved repairer,they maybe have higher standards to maintain.
Really depends how fussy you are.
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Had a problem with an insurance recommended garage several years ago.
Repair to my Carlton after a bump in London. Long story but the repair was awful. Took it to a main dealer who wrote a damming report. Insurance co. had to pay for the repair a second time.
Was told by Main Dealer and an independent assessor that approved garages work down to a price and not up to a standard.
Avoid like the plague
--
Alyn Beattie
I'm sane, it's the rest of the world that's mad.
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Similar experiences to the above posters. I'd want the proper main agent to do the job, and would insist this happened.
Unless you like odd differently shaded panels, paint faults and badly fitted bits of trim, of course...
You might also find that the car's corrosion warranty is affected by non-franchised bodywork. Crash repair centres definitely don't seem to restore this aspect to "as new", and you'll only notice a year or two down the line when rust starts in the seams!
You pay a lot of money for car insurance these days: you should get the best possible service.
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I went collecting quotes for some "minor body damage" repairs.
One bodyshop was not slow to offer me a brochure from a legal company. It said we will act on your behalf so you get it done where you want it done plus a temp car etc etc.
The bodyshop said " we will call said company and let them know you may call them".
I was a little surprised at this approach.
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It is your choice. The insurer CANNOT insist otherwise. Several approved repairers here in north Devon would not be let loose on my pushbike. I have been the recipient of their efforts.
Regards.
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Nationwide did a repair on my 330d estate. THe colour match was excellent, but I could see a slight ripple under the paint.
My wife's car had a repair done through her insurance-approved bodyshop, and they were excellent. Indeed, we were so pleased we started using their mechanical division for our car servicing - no cheaper than the dealer but a much higher standard of work.
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No, avoid the insurance companys repair centre at all costs!
The last time I used one, It took them 6 weeks to fix my car, they said they where waiting for spares, little did they know, a mate of mine worked in the main dealer where they sourced the spares from & they had all the spares they ordered in 3 days.
I got my car back after 6 weeks, They didnt bother re gassing the air con they had disconnected, or aligning the headlamps up after fitting a new one, It was a really bad job.
Half the bolts where not done up at all & they didnt fit a new o ring to the radiator connection so it leaked the first day I got it back.
Find a propper body shop to fix your car that has a good record, ask around, & avoid the main dealers too.
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Do a quick search for a thread started by me, called 'think I've seen the last of my car' volumes 1 and 2.... and if the place is in Walsall and uses red micras as courtesy cars, run away as fast as you can!
Seriously though, if you go there, and it looks like a good place, people who've used it are happy with the work (stop a few customers in the carpark - I try and tell everyone I see driving a courtesy car from the place I went to what a bad job they did), and you're comfortable leaving your car in their hands, then use the insurance place.
Bottom line though is that you don't HAVE to use the insurance place, and as I found out to my cost, the extra hassle of arranging your own quotes for the work to be done etc can actually be less hassle than having to reject a car numerous times for it not being right.... and remember you can reject it as many times as you like if you're not happy!
Good luck!
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Do a quick search for a thread started by me, called \'think I\'ve seen the last of my car\' volumes 1 and 2.... and if the place is in Walsall and uses red micras as courtesy cars, run away as fast as you can!
Ta-da!
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=15487
&
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=16...4
No Dosh - Backroom Moderator
mailto:moderators@honestjohn.co.uk
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>>It is your choice. The insurer CANNOT insist otherwise.
Not entirely true. For example if you wanted to use somewhere which was more expensive you would have to justify it and even then they may refuse the additional cost.
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Would agree with PG.Well said.Had a similar prob.Mine sent back 4 times complained to insurance co.I gather they now dont do work for them.
--
Was mech1
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