First time car insurance claim - how long should the repairs process take?

elouber

Hi!

Silly me managed to scrap the side of by Vauxhall Corsa (15 reg) alongside a metal fence post at the weekend. Damages the rear passenger wheel arch and also the rear passenger door.

Reported straight away to Admiral who said no problem, gave me the choice of two of their approved garages and said the garage would be in touch, which they did the next day. I drove the car over the garage 3 days ago, where the car was looked over and the bloke said it’s just bodywork repair needed and that he would send over his estimate to Admiral to get them to approve and then be in touch.

Not heard anything since (very aware that I am probably jumping the gun a bit!) Spoke with Admiral today just to double check they’ve at least received the quote but they say they haven’t. Rung the garage to chase and just got told yeah I’ll remind the bloke to send it.

How long should I expect for the garage to send their estimate back to Admiral? Also how long is reasonable to wait for Admiral to give the okay for works to go ahead? Never done this before, first time claim, so just want to make sure I’m not being unrealistic with time scales!

Thanks!

AdrianC

The garage COULD have sent it through half an hour after they'd seen the car.
Anything much longer than a day or so is simple prevarication and uselessness on their part.


If they can't even sort an estimate, what are they going to be like for the repairs?

missile

Admiral "approve" repair centres based on who gives them the lowest price. You have the option to take it to repair centre of your choice. I would exercise that right.

facade

missile wrote: »

Admiral "approve" repair centres based on who gives them the lowest price. You have the option to take it to repair centre of your choice. I would exercise that right.

Absolutely.
If the repair centre actually wanted the work, they'd have the estimate sent through the same day, and as Adrian says, if they can't even be bothered to send an estimate in a reasonable time.......



Be warned though, that Admiral will punish you in some way for insisting on using a decent repairer, as they cost more. Usually there is an extra excess for using someone half decent, that you didn't notice.

elouber

So, after looking at reviews for the garage online I wasn’t happy to continue with works with the approved garage Admiral sent me to. I took the car over to a local trusted garage and they agreed to do the works through my insurance.

Called Admiral to advise this and Admiral we’re fine about it but have now said that if the other garage have already ordered parts to do the work then I’m liable for the cost. I called the garage to see if parts had already been ordered and they said they weren’t sure, the parts man isn’t in for another two days and he’ll be the only one who knows. I asked if parts have been ordered whether they can be cancelled, to which the guy said yes probably but there may then be a handling charge to do this.

Is this all normal procedure? Panicking now that I’ve not done the right thing!

AdrianC

You've done the right thing.


Why would they order parts in when they hadn't even given the insurer an estimate? The car may have been written off.