Pls Advise: How can I get car fixed & not written-off

[slkgus]

I have been shunted from behind at speed after stopping in tailback on A40 out of London Friday evening and the a car came up behind and did not stop and I am concerned my 2001 SLK320 could be written off due to it's age (mileage is 26,000) and I will be much worse off due to someone else's lackof concentration.
I am insured with Elephant who have supplied a courtesy car BUT they are waiting for me to decide what garage I would like it taken to for work/to be assessed and they are mentioning approved garages -none are MERCEDES Dealers.

The garages are

1) A B Dyne Moters NW6

2) ABBEY COACHWORKS Wembley

3) Rainbow Bodyshop SLOUGH

or Insurers said I can use own but my mechanic suggested Main agents for best results but my out-prce and car can be written off.
Please any informatin Urgently needed

 

[Blobcat]

Your entitled to be put back in the position you were prior to the accident. What that means can be a long drawn out battle with the insurance company. Whilst you cannot insist on where it goes for repair you could find out if any of them are MB approved as a lot of MB dealerships don't have their own bodyshops.
Don't take the first offer unless it is to repair it to the condition it was.

 

[jibcl500]

Wrong you can insist where your car goes for repair, I did and they ok'd it. I wouldnt use the repair center the insurance company suggested, when it comes to MB you need someone that works on them on a day in day out basis otherwise things dont get put back together properly.


jib

 

[jberks]

2 issues. Firstly, as Jib says, you can insist on the repairer. I had this with Audi ins who wanted my Audi to go to a non Audi workshop. A couple of calls later and they agreed to send it to the dealer. They will only pay ins rates but you can decide where it goes. The loan car is a bit of an issue though as the bodyshop often provides the car (saving the ins co money) and when the dealer didn't have anything to lend, the ins co wasn't interested. but in our case we pointed out that a loaner was included in the deal and the relented and rented us an astra.

All that said, you have the write off issue. You need to get it to the dealer first and discuss the damage and cost. They'll have a pretty good idea if its going to be a write off. Being an slk, a rear end shunt may be worse than other cars. If the roof mechanism is even slightly out of kilter, it may be a pain forever and you may be better off letting it go now. Failing that, if you can find someone to do it, take the write off, buy it back and get it repaired for cash. I've had 2 cars sorted this way over the years - its a normal process provided the car is mechanically safe and just a financial write off.

 

[RichardSmith]

Rear end shunts on an SLK are expensive repairs owing to the roof mechanism.

Some dick-ed ran into the back of mine (a 2006 350) 2 weeks ago. He was only going about 20-ish and the damage does not look too great - his Peugeot 406 was totally wrecked though - but Hughes MB Beaconsfield have estimated the repair costs at £10k. Although Hughes told me they always replace (most of) the roof mechanism as a matter of course.

I'm insured with Admiral - who also own Elephant - and they OK'd the repairs a couple of days later and gave me a nice new E320 CDi for the next month. As it was clearly the other driver's fault (just like in your case by the sound of it) Admiral won't be too bothered about the cost as they will recover it from the twat who crashed into me.

Good luck mate,

Richard

 

[Xtractorfan]

As said your car you decide who fixes it..you are entitled to a courtesy car of similar status to your damaged car..so you can hire an slk if you wish.. tho most people are happy with a mondeo or vectra for a week or two.. Course of action If the guy who hit you has insurance,, claim direct from his company, and inform them where you want the car repaired and that you wish to have a replacement vehicle whilst yours is being repaired.. next step choose a repair shop and get recommendations from the local garages...get an estimate and be there when the engineer calls. if he wants to write the car off ask for his figures.. he must give you reasonable cause for his decision..and let us know how you get on ..there is more.....

 

[oldcro]

Saying you can insist on where your car is to be repaired is subject to reasonable conditions surely. How about distance from the cars location? Could a person from Inverness on holiday in Cornwall insist after an accident demand his car is fixed by the Mercedes dealer in Inverness? Then the price the repairer quotes must be close to that charged by the insurers choice of repairer. So, no you cannot insist only ask if you can use your chosen repairer.

 

[jberks]

Saying you can insist on where your car is to be repaired is subject to reasonable conditions surely. How about distance from the cars location? Could a person from Inverness on holiday in Cornwall insist after an accident demand his car is fixed by the Mercedes dealer in Inverness? Then the price the repairer quotes must be close to that charged by the insurers choice of repairer. So, no you cannot insist only ask if you can use your chosen repairer.

in a word - yes you can insist. They may not agree to an unreasonable transportation charge but at the end of the day they will pay a set amount for the repair whoever does it so they're not that bothered who does it. It's just administratively cheaper and easier if it goes to an approved shop.

On the subject of claiming directly from the other person's ins co.

I don't think this is possible. I believe, perhaps wrongly, that it doesn't matter whose fault it is, your insurance co always pays for your damage. This is an agreement between the companies. The reason for this is that if you have an old cheap car, it follows that your preimuims will be small. If your car smacks into a new roller, the rolls's insurer will have charged a much greater (more proportionate) premium for that value of car which more sensibly reflects the cost of repair. They also knew up front what their risk was wheras the small car's insurance co could not reasonably have expected to have to pay out on a 200k motor. So, they agree that everyone pays for their own and over a period it averages out.

 

[RichardSmith]

.................... I believe, perhaps wrongly, that it doesn't matter whose fault it is, your insurance co always pays for your damage. This is an agreement between the companies. The reason for this is that if you have an old cheap car, it follows that your preimuims will be small. If your car smacks into a new roller, the rolls's insurer will have charged a much greater (more proportionate) premium for that value of car which more sensibly reflects the cost of repair. They also knew up front what their risk was wheras the small car's insurance co could not reasonably have expected to have to pay out on a 200k motor. So, they agree that everyone pays for their own and over a period it averages out.

If you have comprehensive cover then your own insurance company pays out; but where the accident is not your fault, they recover the costs from the other party's insurer. The very reason that every car must be insured for 3rd party risk is so that in the event of an accident, you are indemnified against any losses that you may cause.

You can claim directly from the other party's insurers but it is quicker and easier to go via your own. Once the other party's insurers have accepted liability, your insurers get their money back and you get your NCB reinstated as you have not had a claim against your own policy.

Richard

 

[Xtractorfan]

Believe it or not it is actually quicker and much easier to claim from the at fault ins company and they will go out of their way to accomodate you..30 years in the business and my first responsibility is to my customers.. in fact if you find the correct repair shop they will do all the donkey work for you..and dont let the garage talk you into claiming from your own insurance..it may be handier for them.. and you can insist on having your car repaired at the garage of your choice... can you imagine your employer paying you your wages and then stipulating where you must spend 'his' money.. same thing with insurance companies...when they pay out the money is yours not theirs..

 

[RichardSmith]

Believe it or not it is actually quicker and much easier to claim from the at fault ins company and they will go out of their way to accomodate you...............

That's interesting mate!!

Plus, I suppose, you you have the advantage of not having to wait for your NCB to be reinstated later!

Wish I'd known that 2 weeks ago - still, I can't complain. My claim is progressing well and the car is being safely repaired my an MB dealer.

Richard