Is Aviva bodging up my previously mint car?

adamc260

If your really unhappy ask Aviva to instruct an Indepdent Engineer to cast their opinion over the work and see if it is 'reasonable'.

caterhamsuper7

Thanks adamc260, It's worth a try. Aviva will probably want me to pay though.

vaio

Email Mazda, describe the damage with pictures if you have them and ask "is a repair the mounting bracket area going to adversely affect the safety/structural integrity of the bumper?"

My money will be on there not being any approved method of repair

caterhamsuper7

Thanks vaio, I have some good pictures. Since Aviva told me they wanted to repair rather than replace I contacted the Mazda dealership that I bought the car from and they are horrified at the thought of a repair. The authorised Mazda bodyshop wants to replace the bumper as standard practice on MX5 sports car with a hole punched through by the bracket.I am sure the structural integrity must be compromised , and I will get something in writing from Mazda. The sticking point is that Aviva will not pay for a replacement as their engineers report says the damage can be mended, 1, I will not trust a bumper cobbled together with staples and filler. and 2, I don't care about their engineers report, common decency tells me I had a mint, unblemmished bumper with no hidden defects last week, and that is what I expect next week.

caterhamsuper7

I see vaio, if there is no Mazda approved method of repair to the bumper/bracket join, then Aviva will have to replace the bumper. Thanks again.

C_Mababejive

Why is your car at Avivas choice of workshop? simply take it to your approved repairer,have them quote and send Aviva the quote. If they do not play ball,tell them you will take legal action in the civil courts.

The golden rule is...almost always,never use the insurers approved company.

caterhamsuper7

Thanks C_Mababcjive, The car went to the Aviva workshop because they told me they would look after everthing professionally. I want to pull it out and take it to a Mazda approved workshop but Aviva say they will not pay to replace the bumper. I could pay for the everything and return the Aviva hire car, and then take them to (hopefully) the small claims court. I have a very limited amount of free time and cash and would like to avoid a big spend and a court case, but it may be the only way. We have access to Union backed solicitors at work and I can get some advice there. Thanks again, the legal route was something I hadn't thought of before.

adamc260

Ask them how much extra it would cost to have a replacement rather than a repair. If it's not a huge amount you may need to bite the bullet and just pay the extra yourself =/!

mikey72

adamc260 wrote: »

Ask them how much extra it would cost to have a replacement rather than a repair. If it's not a huge amount you may need to bite the bullet and just pay the extra yourself =/!

I'd see them in court first.

If an insurer thinks it should cost me to put my car right, when their customer has damaged it, they'd have a fight.

hcb42

I would use my own insurer, and let them chase it up...