Help - Had a car accident - tiny scratch on the bumper

rajinder

Dear All,

I had an accident 2 weeks back on a busy roundabout where there the traffic lights weren't working.

We were all stationary as and waiting for the cars on the right of the round about to clear in order to move on. I can't remember if she rolled back or I left my foot off the brakes and moved forward and bumped on the car ahead. It caused a tiny scratch / dent hardly visible on the rare bumper of the car ahead. It was a young lady driver and an elderly woman with her on the co-driver seat.

I took pictures and gave her my details - name and number to contact me before making any insurance claims and said that if she wanted to get the dent fixed - i'd be happy to get it done at my local garage.

She was - like dont worry it's a small scratch and nothing to worry about. She called me last Thurday saying that it's going to cost her £800 to £1000 to get it repaired. I was shocked and told her that it seemed too high for a small dent repair. She then went on to add that the booth was having trouble and she was finding it difficult to open it.

The scratch was well below the booth and I am certain that it has not caused any such damage to the booth apart from the bumper.

I told her that the quote didn’t sound right and that I'd like to get it checked with my local garage to which her answer was that she'll consult her brother and get back to me in the new year.

Today I get a text from her - saying that she's been around more body work garages and the cheapest quote she's got is £400 and that I can give her the cash and she'll sort it out herself and save more of her time.

I think she's trying to pull a fast one from me! Should I tell her to get it checked with my local garage?

I have a full comprehensive insurance with 2 years of no claims bonus and a very careful driver and have never had any accidents over the 2 years of my owning a car and prior to that I used to rent cars on long road trips and have never had any issues.

Any advice would be much appreciated

Many thanks
Raj

DUTR

You may feel she is pulling a fast one, you know if that were me in the car in front, I would tell my insurers and if the 3rd party wanted to resolve it without their own insurers, then that is for them to decide, you should be thankful they are not putting in a personal injury claim too
Get her off your back quickly, the days of a £50 car repair are long gone, £400 would cover the most basic of repair and is probably more than your excess.
That said she herslef may not wish to persue it through her insurers

Quentin

As this has already dropped from £1000 to £400, and the boot either does or doesn't open it all looks fishy.

So tell her you want it done through insurance - the insurers will decide on liability (if she puts this into your insurer), and if it turns out to be a small amount you can reimburse your insurer and get your NCD reinstated.

rajinder

Quentin wrote: »

As this has already dropped from £1000 to £400, and the boot either does or doesn't open it all looks fishy.

So tell her you want it done through insurance - the insurers will decide on liability (if she puts this into your insurer), and if it turns out to be a small amount you can reimburse your insurer and get your NCD reinstated.

Can she then go ahead and add personal injury claim? I have evidence that the scratch it barely visible. Took loads of pics as well. the scratch is well towards to lower end of her reg plate.

Many thanks once again.

rajinder

DUTR wrote: »

You may feel she is pulling a fast one, you know if that were me in the car in front, I would tell my insurers and if the 3rd party wanted to resolve it without their own insurers, then that is for them to decide, you should be thankful they are not putting in a personal injury claim too
Get her off your back quickly, the days of a £50 car repair are long gone, £400 would cover the most basic of repair and is probably more than your excess.
That said she herslef may not wish to persue it through her insurers

spoke to my local garage who that I and including family service our cars / MOTs with and emailed the pics to them. Was told that the repair would not cost more than £60.

My access on insurance is £150

Thanks once again

Quentin

rajinder wrote: »

Can she then go ahead and add personal injury claim? ....

Yes, that is the worry - once you have admitted responsibility by paying her cash/paying for her repairs she has you by the short and curlies.

Much better to make her deal with the insurers (who would ensure there was no comeback).

Quentin

rajinder wrote: »

My access on insurance is £150.....

You don't pay any excess over third party claims.

rajinder

Is it worth me informing my insurers of the event? Just reading and doing some online research where I see scams or stage accidents happen mostly at round abouts.

ACG

Why not say ive explained the issues to my local garage they have said closed to £60, with the boot issue it may be slightly more but they are prepared to do it for you. Id be happy to pay what they say and give you an extra £50 for the inconvenience otherwise for £400 id rather put it through the insurance.

DUTR

rajinder wrote: »

spoke to my local garage who that I and including family service our cars / MOTs with and emailed the pics to them. Was told that the repair would not cost more than £60.

My access on insurance is £150

Thanks once again

I canot see how any professional can complete bodywork for £60, the overheads alone is going to cost that

Earlier in the year, a guy came off a drive and bumped into the side of my car (he was texting at time or so it seemed) anyways he offered to pay for the damage to him it was just a scratch, but I could see the doorskin was creased and the wing too, any bodyshop worth it's salt is not going to repair the dents without replacing the panels, agreed the damage did not look like much and if i was not so proud of my car and it was just a beat up runaround I would have forgotten about it, however he offered to pay for the damage and I said he can accompany me to the bodyshop where I would have the work completed, so that he does not think I am pulling a fast one, I was as shocked when the assesor said it was going to cost £2k :eek:, , I could not even tell the guy it was that price I just told him it is not a £200 fix, long story short as I had pictures of the road car collision the driver etc, the police encouraged him to furnish his insurance details and his insurers paid up, good as I am I did have neck ache for a couple of weeks, but did not persue an injury claim .

olly300

Raj -

Sorry if you slam into me then I get it repaired at the garage of my choice.

If I'm working and don't have time you are welcome to see the quote and have a copy of the paperwork. As any reputable garage should be giving out proper quotation paperwork if they know it's a car accident.

If I do have time then you are welcome to come to the garage with me and talk to the owner then negotiate with them for my car to be repaired at your expense.