Sh*t start to my holiday

[A.J.]

Sadly I don’t Alistair and in this case it would not have been able to get the moment of impact in shot even if it had been a rearward facing unit, however, I will be investing in one as it would have confirmed and proven that the op was indeed indicating for a right turn prior to going onto the roundabout, explaining my course of action in going around him on the near side lane.
If I’m honest, and if we have to go through the insurance companies I’m really worried that they will right off my car due to its age. I know it’s repairable but I don’t expect it to be cheap. The op may not be in a position to pay for it and be forced to use the insurance which will open up a whole new can of worms.


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From the pictures you provided of the damaged area, unless there is something sinister lurking underneath I would say that it is far from being a write-off situation. I seem to have in the back of my head that the repair has to be 60% of the cars value to qualify for writing off ?. That would have to be a very expensive repair FFS.

 

[Jimbo1959]

From the pictures you provided of the damaged area, unless there is something sinister lurking underneath I would say that it is far from being a write-off situation. I seem to have in the back of my head that the repair has to be 60% of the cars value to qualify for writing off ?. That would have to be a very expensive repair FFS.

If my Bodyshop guy does the repair I’m confident of a reasonable price, mainly as he will pull the dent out and spend time getting it right.
The alloy doesn’t seem to be cracked or have any substantial damage so, I think a refurb will sort it out.
I don’t think there are any underlying issues as I’ve had no other problems and everything works as it should.
BUT, the recommended repairers that the insurance companies use are all about profit, rather than purely customer satisfaction as my guy is, and consequently, their prices are top retail rather than trade.
I was only offered £6500 on my car on a trade in recently despite it potentially selling retail at £8.5 to £9.5k. That’s why I was worried.
The bodywork, I’m hoping will be approx, £500 trade and the refurb for the alloy around £75 trade. Retail that price could easily be doubled and then some, as most repairers, as soon as they see a Merc roll in, seem to think it’s a license to print money.
Fear is my big issue here, as I’ve spent, from my POV, a small fortune on the car recently and consequently don’t want to loose it.


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[John Laidlaw]

Sadly I don’t Alistair and in this case it would not have been able to get the moment of impact in shot even if it had been a rearward facing unit, however, I will be investing in one as it would have confirmed and proven that the op was indeed indicating for a right turn prior to going onto the roundabout, explaining my course of action in going around him on the near side lane.
If I’m honest, and if we have to go through the insurance companies I’m really worried that they will right off my car due to its age. I know it’s repairable but I don’t expect it to be cheap. The op may not be in a position to pay for it and be forced to use the insurance which will open up a whole new can of worms.


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Where you off to by the way Jim?

 

[Jimbo1959]

Where you off to by the way Jim?

Fleetwood John, we visited on a day trip there a couple of years ago while staying in Lytham St Annes and thought it worthwhile for a better look later. Plus, it’s handy for Clevely and Blackpool.


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[A.J.]

If my Bodyshop guy does the repair I’m confident of a reasonable price, mainly as he will pull the dent out and spend time getting it right.
The alloy doesn’t seem to be cracked or have any substantial damage so, I think a refurb will sort it out.
I don’t think there are any underlying issues as I’ve had no other problems and everything works as it should.
BUT, the recommended repairers that the insurance companies use are all about profit, rather than purely customer satisfaction as my guy is, and consequently, their prices are top retail rather than trade.
I was only offered £6500 on my car on a trade in recently despite it potentially selling retail at £8.5 to £9.5k. That’s why I was worried.
The bodywork, I’m hoping will be approx, £500 trade and the refurb for the alloy around £75 trade. Retail that price could easily be doubled and then some, as most repairers, as soon as they see a Merc roll in, seem to think it’s a license to print money.
Fear is my big issue here, as I’ve spent, from my POV, a small fortune on the car recently and consequently don’t want to loose it.


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Having never been personally involved in Insurance repairs for quite a few years, do they specify a repair shop or do they just say that is their prefered repair shop ?. Although I do suspect it has a lot to do with Insurers accounts set ups.

 

[Jimbo1959]

Having never been personally involved in Insurance repairs for quite a few years, do they specify a repair shop or do they just say that is their prefered repair shop ?. Although I do suspect it has a lot to do with Insurers accounts set ups.

They tell you where to take the car, their preferred bodyshop. If you take it to your own preferred they punish you by not paying for your a courtesy car or an increase in excess or something else to “encourage” you to “keep with the program” as you mentioned,their account and more importantly discount set ups Andy.


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[John Laidlaw]

Fleetwood John, we visited on a day trip there a couple of years ago while staying in Lytham St Annes and thought it worthwhile for a better look later. Plus, it’s handy for Clevely and Blackpool.


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I like Fleetwood and up the Fylde coast....Blackpool on the other hand , anyways enjoy...we're heading up to Colintraive mid August, can't wait (and yes I've bought gallons of smidge)

 

[Jimbo1959]

we're heading up to Colintraive mid August, can't wait (and yes I've bought gallons of smidge)

Yes, you’ll probably need it to John.
Enjoy!


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[LostKiwi]

They tell you where to take the car, their preferred bodyshop. If you take it to your own preferred they punish you by not paying for your a courtesy car or an increase in excess or something else to “encourage” you to “keep with the program” as you mentioned,their account and more importantly discount set ups Andy.


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I'd be inclined to suck up the penalty and use my own body shop.
I priced up some work on the 129 and went to three body shops. One was a preferred body shop for a number of insurance companies.
Two quotes were within £100 of each other. The third was nearly triple the cheapest. Guess which was the 'preferred' body shop....

Needless to say they didn't get the work.

 

[Jimbo1959]

I'd be inclined to suck up the penalty and use my own body shop.
I priced up some work on the 129 and went to three body shops. One was a preferred body shop for a number of insurance companies.
Two quotes were within £100 of each other. The third was nearly triple the cheapest. Guess which was the 'preferred' body shop....

Needless to say they didn't get the work.

My point exactly Alistair, I will just need to wait and see when we get home.


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[peterws1957]

I'd be inclined to suck up the penalty and use my own body shop.
I priced up some work on the 129 and went to three body shops. One was a preferred body shop for a number of insurance companies.
Two quotes were within £100 of each other. The third was nearly triple the cheapest. Guess which was the 'preferred' body shop....

Needless to say they didn't get the work.

I've seen some terrible work from Insurers' 'preferred' bodyshops, building contractors, suppliers and the like. Almost all are worth avoiding, if at all possible.

 

[s5tuart]

Worst case and they do write it off, maybe you can buy it back?

 

[A.J.]

Worst case and they do write it off, maybe you can buy it back?

That has worked out well for many, certainly makes financial sense

 

[Jimbo1959]

Worst case and they do write it off, maybe you can buy it back?

I certainly would Stuart as working in the motor trade means I would be able to get it done at a sensible price.
I hope not as I really don’t want to lose my private plate. I hear it can be a pita to recover it. In fact I’ve heard of folk loosing their plates due to the car being written off.


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[grahamcol]

I was very sorry to hear about the accident. My view is that it’s the op’s car and l think he should be able to take it where he likes to have it fixed. These insurance companies want everything their own way and try it on in just about every situation. Good luck and do post as to how it all goes.

 

[s5tuart]

I certainly would Stuart as working in the motor trade means I would be able to get it done at a sensible price.
I hope not as I really don’t want to lose my private plate. I hear it can be a pita to recover it. In fact I’ve heard of folk loosing their plates due to the car being written off.


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Cripes!
I wouldn’t want to lose my plate either. Put it on retention quickly?

 

[Jimbo1959]

Cripes!
I wouldn’t want to lose my plate either. Put it on retention quickly?

At the moment I’m still using the car but, as soon as it is to be put in the garage for repairs the plate will go on retention just in case.
With my luck I’d loose it and my boys only got it for me last November for my sixtieth, being a tight assed Scotsman I’d say it wasn’t cheap and I don’t want to loose it as it is perfect for me.
1st two letters my Christian and middle names, two numbers my year of birth, last three letters equate with the first three letters of my surname, as I said my lads bought it for me so it’s important to me. I won’t take any chances with it at all.


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[peterws1957]

At the moment I’m still using the car but, as soon as it is to be put in the garage for repairs the plate will go on retention just in case.
With my luck I’d loose it and my boys only got it for me last November for my sixtieth, being a tight assed Scotsman I’d say it wasn’t cheap and I don’t want to loose it as it is perfect for me.
1st two letters my Christian and middle names, two numbers my year of birth, last three letters equate with the first three letters of my surname, as I said my lads bought it for me so it’s important to me. I won’t take any chances with it at all.


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There's no reason why you should lose a private plate. The car only becomes the Insurers property if the car is written off and the claim settled. Ample opportunity to put the plate on retention online - takes 2 minutes. Nothing Insurers can do to prevent you doing this.
Hope everything goes ok with the claim- fingers crossed.

 

[John Laidlaw]

To be honest the repairers our insurers used for the Ovlov after its 2 troubles have been spot on- no complaints at all and they were different ones too

 

[Jimbo1959]

Well as I had come to expect, the other party has decided to go down the insurance co's road. I've been kind of expecting it, he thinks I'm in the wrong and at fault and I know he's at fault, so, the Ins Co's can fight it out.

I went to my bodyshop guy and got a quote of £620 for the repair and refurb of the alloy. Just out of curiousity I also got a seperate quote from another customer with whom I've not had any work done before and, his quote was £250 more expensive.

Wow! makes me wonder how much the job will actually cost now that it's been taken out of my hands by the Ins Co's,.
I've found out it will be repaired at Mitchell Inglis in Glasgow who funnily enough are another one of my customers, they have a reputation for very good work. Any time you look in their car park there's Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghni, Aston Martin and other high end marques like Jaguar and Mercedes spread around their car park.

Apparently they will get in touch Monday or Tuesday to arrange delivery of the courtesy car and collect the Coupé. Even if their bill is another £1 to £1.5K more, the car will not be written off as, that still won't have reached 60% of the cars value, whew!

I asked about the possibility and explained that I didn't want to loose my private plate and was told not to worry as they would be in touch with me and report back if any problems or issues cropped up. I was reassured that I would be able to put the plate on retention and have time to buy back the car if it was written off for whatever reason. The insurance co. advisor I was speaking to seemed to be very knowledgable and very sympathetic to my concerns. I must admit to being pleasantly surprised tbh.

Oh well, roll on Monday/Tuesday so that things get moving and I get the car back all in one piece and looking it's best again.