Insurance claim - insurance co want me to use cowboys

Clowpow

I've been in involved in an accident with a hit and run driver. (Got their registration, however policyholder who is a motor trader claiming vehicle was sold which is a lie) Anyway I've got to go through my own insurance co and the MIB to reclaim the eventual losses...

I've got to pay my excess and the insurance co is taking the car to a bodyshop which is crap based on the reviews posted online. I want to take it to Audi to get it repaired if it's repairable (touchwood the costs are too high and they write it off)

However my insurance co are stating if I take it elsewhere of my choice then the max they'll pay per hour is £27 and anything above that, I would be liable for the amount. Is that right, are they allowed to say this? The dozen other decent bodyshops i contacted who charged 45+ an hour stated that the bodyshop will do a rubbish substandard job and it will come out looking like previous damage has been inflicted on the car which I don't want as when I come to sell if panels look out of place and places look like it's been painted over then it's going to be difficult if prospective buyers notice these areas..

I've told them that i'm not happy and if the car had to go to the bodyshop of their choice and it was a crap job, I will give them a chance to rectify the problem, and if it's crap again I will demand that the work is taken elsewhere and stripped and done again,

Also, it's likely the bodyshop will use pattern parts, can i demand that they use genuine oem parts, the car isn't a banger, It's a 16k car and I don't want corners to be cut.

Lastly, i'm wating on the engineers report and the cost of the repair if it's repairable, can I ask my insurance co for cash in lieu payment of damages - I know people have mentioned that asking this could raise suspicions but the claim is 100% genuine, police were involved, the policy of third party was traced back to a motor trader who claims the car was sold when the accident happened.. They did tell me though when i asked them that usually a cash in lieu payment is usually only made if parts are hard to obtain for repair.

huckster

You don't have to use an Insurers approved repair centre, but if you don't then you have to supply at least 2 other estimates from other garages. The Insurers then will compare these with their own repair centre cost and they won't pay more than the cheapest repair option. Of course you can ask to see a full copy of the Insurers repair centres estimate.

You can't insist on a garage of your choice, on the expectation Insurers will pay a higher cost. If you want a more expensive option, you will have pay the extra.

Some major brands garages don't do their own bodywork repairs. They outsource the work to some of the same repair centres and then charge their higher costs, because they inspect the repairs and offer a quiality guarantee.

Insurers don't normally pay cash settlements, unless it is a write off. If you believe you can source a cheaper repair option, then you can buy the salvage if the car can be repaired safely and the Insurers will pay towards repair, provided it fits within the overall write off value they would have offered.

forgotmyname

They have already decided its repairable and not a write off though, no matter what quotes you get.

Im sure you can find someone who does everything by hand and will take months to get the perfect paint finish and charges more than the car was worth when new. There are people that charge £1000 + to wash your car never mind paint and bodywork repairs.

£16k car and your wanting a write off? Thats going to be a lot of damage.

IF its a crap job then make a complaint, and make it known that the repairer in question gets terrible reviews and unlikely to do a better job.

FutureGirl

You can ask your insurer for the money instead of them repairing the vehicle.

Although this is no different to using your own garage as you'd still have to make up the shortfall.