Respray 2 Questions

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Sat 18 Nov 2006 18:36
Respray 2 Questions - jammods
Today a scumbag has 'keyed' the full length of my newly aquired 02 VW Passat, driver side. And put 2 large dents in the drivers door.

Obviously this an insurance claim as the whole side of the car needs repainting.

Is there anything I should look out for/demand from my insurers about who should complete the work?

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Sat 18 Nov 2006 18:52
Respray 2 Questions - Hamsafar
Well, you can go to any VBRA approved repairer.
But they may try and pursuade you to go to one of their own who may be rubbish.
They may pursuade you by not allowing courtesy car, higher premium, or making you pay up front and claim the cost back from them.
Who is the insurer?
Is it metallic?
A good repairer should make it so you can't tell.
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Sat 18 Nov 2006 18:56
Respray 2 Questions - jammods
thanks .............yes its metallic and insurers are frizzel
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Sat 18 Nov 2006 19:12
Respray 2 Questions - Hamsafar
I meant higher excess, not higher premium.
The problem is, even dealers can be rubbish, my sister insisted on going to the iat dealer, and you've never seen such a mess of a repair, The paint on front and rear bumpers was scuffed and cracked and they just sprayed over the top! and the new paint went all crazed too. They had also badly masked black plastic inserts which then had paint on yet these could easily have been unclipped out,, after a lot of hassle they replaced the bumpers.

Maybe you ask freinds and colleagues if they recommend somewhere?
I prefer independants where the owners work there, and when you go you think to yourself 'if I owned a bodyshop it would be pretty much like this.
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Sat 18 Nov 2006 20:00
Respray 2 Questions - Vansboy
The independent route is the best option, if your insurers will let you, BUT...

Before you claim, do get an idea of the cost first - if you've a hefty eacess, you'll maybe better off paying for it yourself & NOT claiming. This is again where the smaller repaier might be even more able to help with a sensible price. £500 wouldn't be unreasonable.

& as you say it's a key damage repair, in the main, see if whoever does the job will blend in the body colour, rather than simply masking off the edges & painting up to the panel edges. This way you'll get a better match & less obvious signs of anything being painted.

VB
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Sun 19 Nov 2006 18:29
Respray 2 Questions - jammods
Thanks again.

I think my excess is £150

So gonna claim I have 11 years protected no claims.
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Sun 19 Nov 2006 19:09
Respray 2 Questions - Mapmaker
>protected no claims

That won't stop your premium from going up next year, though.

What about somebody like chipsaway, or dentsaway, or whatever they're called - some people have used them to great effect on here, and they seem to be implausibly cheap compared to a body shop.
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Sun 19 Nov 2006 19:16
Respray 2 Questions - jammods
Re chipsaway etc.......I'll check but I think its beyond their scope.

2 horizontal key marks extending from rear panel across both doors and to end of front wing.

Also 1 or 2 dents in the door.
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