forced to go a certain garage for car repairs?

Flyboy152

Tilt wrote: »

I thought Alfa's had an 8 year anti-perforation warranty? This would probably be voided if any bodywork repair is carried out outside of the dealer network.

As for the insurance side of things, you could write directly to the TP holding him responsible for the damage. Include a copy of your estimate and request that he pays the amount in full within 14 days otherwise you will not rule out taking the matter to the small claims court. End the letter by suggestiong that he forwards the letter on to his insures who may wish to deal with this matter on his behalf.

Alternatively, pass it over to your own insurers as already been suggestend in which caes you will still have to persue the TP for your uninsured losses unless you have legal protection.

As long as the bodyshop carries out the repairs according to Alfa Romeo's specifications, it would be okay.

Tilt

Flyboy152 wrote: »

As long as the bodyshop carries out the repairs according to Alfa Romeo's specifications, it would be okay.

It would still have to be inspected by an Alfa agent to ensure that it does.

Flyboy152

Tilt wrote: »

It would still have to be inspected by an Alfa agent to ensure that it does.

Not a problem; just pop along to an Alfa Romeo dealership and get it inspected.

mchale

Flyboy152 wrote: »

But then, the insurance company will insist on using their approved repairer as well.

They can't force you to use their "approved repairer"

Wig

As liability is not clear cut, I recommend you use your insurer to repair, and see if the insurer will recover the excess, if they don't, then you will have to try to recover your excess yourself.

Questions.
Was it parked on private land or the highway?
AIUI the land it was parked on does not belong to (or rented by) the garage.
Who parked it there, you or the garage?
Who instructed you to park there?
Did you have permission from the landowner to park there?


If it was an "act of god" or "inevetiable accident" there is no liability at all (unless it was business premises) and that would include if reasonable maintenance had occurred but the accident happened anyway.

As far as getting quotes goes. To win costs in court, you would have to show your costs were reasonable, getting a single quote from a dealership IMHO is unreasonable. There is no need to go to arguably the most expensive repairer in town. If a cheaper but no less professional bodyshop can do the job cheaper then that is who you should use. You have no need to go to his preferred repairer but you do IMHO have a duty to get a number of quotes from other non dealer outfits - the dealer would just outsource to these independents anyway.