Oh my god - neighbours builder has damaged my car???

skysky69

Next door are having some building works done at the moment and they had put up some of that mesh fencing to surround the site where they are digging and building. This morning as they were moving it all away, there was a huge gust of wind and the two guys that were carrying it got blown into my car!!! Just as I walked out of the house I saw it happen (which was lucky, I wonder if they would have told me had I not saw it!). They are a small family business, father, son and one labourer. He is trying to suggest that someone like chips away come and fix it on the drive. This is definitely not what I want to do! My car is only 2 years old, and the big scratch on the bonnet has a dent underneath it as well. I want to take it to the VW approved bodyshop. I asked him if he had liability insurance and he said he does, but he doesn't want to have to use it as the excess is £250.00. I think there is no way that the damage to my car is going to be less than £250.00 in value. Surely if he damaged it, he cannot tell me that I have to have the work done at some dodgy repair shop???

And annoyingly - I FEEL BAD :mad: I have done absolutely nothing wrong at all but I feel bad for wanting to have my car put back to the way it was this morning.

Chippy_Minton_2

First off chips away isn't a "dodge repair shop".

colino

You'll be surprised what a good SMART repairer can do. Get one out for an estimate, make sure he knows someone else is paying and if the finished job isn't up to scratch (sorry) it's going in to the body shop.

skysky69

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

First off chips away isn't a "dodge repair shop".

I am sorry, but I didn't say that it was, I wasn't bad mouthing chips away, just wanted advice really as to whether he can stipulate to me where I have to get it put right when he caused the damage. The reference to dodgy repair shop was not meant against an exact company and I only referred to a company "like" chips away.

Zazen999

Get quotes from 3 places, include chips away; and discuss with him with the options.

Chippy_Minton_2

OK back to you.

Your car wasn't on a road or public place so it's not a collsion. Was the damage willfull, reckless or intentional? No it was an accident.

If you don't keep the builder onside and he refuses to pay, then what will you do?

hartcjhart

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

OK back to you.

Your car wasn't on a road or public place so it's not a collsion. Was the damage willfull, reckless or intentional? No it was an accident.

If you don't keep the builder onside and he refuses to pay, then what will you do?

simple, the OP gets the repair done then takes it to the small claims court

this scenario is exactly why a business should have 'public liability' insurance,

Back to the OP, NO he cannot dictate where you get the damage repaired,take it where you want

cyclonebri1

If there is a dent under the bonnet, chips a way, however good they maybe is not the answer.


Ignore the rest and take your car to any recognised repair shop of preference. No compromise shoild be neded or expected with a 2 year old car:money::money:

olly300

First thing you need to remember is that you have to live next door to your neighbour for years to come so starting a dispute with their builder may cause problems with them later on.

Secondly while the builder has public liability insurance you have car insurance. Comprehensive car insurance covers damage like this so you would claim of your car insurance who would claim of the builder's insurance increasing costs for both of you.

Get 3 quotes and have a good look at the work done by places like Chips Away as one day you or someone in your family may scratch the car yourselves.

There is no point paying more than you have to even if you are not paying.

And as others have indicated no he can't stipulate that you use any place but it's worth having a look...........

olly300

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

If there is a dent under the bonnet, chips a way, however good they maybe is not the answer.

SMART repairers will tell you what they can and can't repair, and the likely outcome. They don't want to be dragged through the courts.

C_Mababejive

One thing you do need to consider if your car is only 2 years old,is the VW anti corrosion warranty. If you do not have the repair done as required on the warranty,you will invalidate it.