Car Repair - Finding own repairer

Joanna2023

Hi
my son had a car accident 5 weeks ago, thankfully he was fine but the car looked in a bad way.
Direct Line are now saying they can’t find a repairer in either area, (we live in Merseyside & he works in Middlesbrough, where the accident happened) & that he has to source a repairer - is this usual? 

We wouldn’t know where to start, how the hell would we get the car to them, it was undriveable
TIA

Ectophile

No, it's not usual.  I wonder why the don't write the car off.

The car would go to the repairer on the back of a tow truck.  There are plenty of independent operators around the country.  Their cost would, of course, be included in the bill to the insurers.

diystarter7

Joanna2023 said:

Hi
my son had a car accident 5 weeks ago, thankfully he was fine but the car looked in a bad way.
Direct Line are now saying they can’t find a repairer in either area, (we live in Merseyside & he works in Middlesbrough, where the accident happened) & that he has to source a repairer - is this usual? 

We wouldn’t know where to start, how the hell would we get the car to them, it was undriveable
TIA

Hi

I would have thought you could tell the ins co to find you one as you dont want to take repsoisblity
for a bad repair etc.  What did they exactly say - I feel it may have been an option when someone is not happy with the waiting times but I could be wrong

Good luck

Joanna2023

That’s what we were assuming would happen, written off. It was taken away on a tow truck, Im assuming wherever it was taken to have said they can’t fix it. I’m confused as to how we’re supposed to get it to a garage for them to assess. My son is only 20 & I’m wondering if they’re trying to fob him off  

Joanna2023

diystarter7 said:

Joanna2023 said:

Hi
my son had a car accident 5 weeks ago, thankfully he was fine but the car looked in a bad way.
Direct Line are now saying they can’t find a repairer in either area, (we live in Merseyside & he works in Middlesbrough, where the accident happened) & that he has to source a repairer - is this usual? 

We wouldn’t know where to start, how the hell would we get the car to them, it was undriveable
TIA

Hi

I would have thought you could tell the ins co to find you one as you dont want to take repsoisblity
for a bad repair etc.  What did they exactly say - I feel it may have been an option when someone is not happy with the waiting times but I could be wrong

Good luck

We write regarding the above incident.

We can confirm that we do not have a repairer available in the areas requested, for both your home and work locations. 

We require you to source a repairer and have them do an estimate on your

vehicle,
 Please call us on 0345 600 21 36 when you have this information so that we can update the daim and our engineers can liaise with the repairer to authorise the work costs.

Should you have any quenes or require any additional information, please contact Damage Fulfilment

directly on 03452468811.

diystarter7

Thnaks

Give them a call and say you can't and dot have the time

Would you e willing it to be taken to someone outside your area and then collect

I'm guessing its not legal/safe to drive?

Thnaks

diystarter7

Joanna2023 said:

diystarter7 said:

Joanna2023 said:

Hi
my son had a car accident 5 weeks ago, thankfully he was fine but the car looked in a bad way.
Direct Line are now saying they can’t find a repairer in either area, (we live in Merseyside & he works in Middlesbrough, where the accident happened) & that he has to source a repairer - is this usual? 

We wouldn’t know where to start, how the hell would we get the car to them, it was undriveable
TIA

Hi

I would have thought you could tell the ins co to find you one as you dont want to take repsoisblity
for a bad repair etc.  What did they exactly say - I feel it may have been an option when someone is not happy with the waiting times but I could be wrong

Good luck

We write regarding the above incident.

We can confirm that we do not have a repairer available in the areas requested, for both your home and work locations. 

We require you to source a repairer and have them do an estimate on your

vehicle,
 Please call us on 0345 600 21 36 when you have this information so that we can update the daim and our engineers can liaise with the repairer to authorise the work costs.

Should you have any quenes or require any additional information, please contact Damage Fulfilment

directly on 03452468811.

call them

this is what they say on their website and they are a good ins co

Let us do the legwork

Our first priority is to get your car repaired – or if it’s a total loss and you have the right cover, arrange a settlement. Any claims against you will be dealt with through us.

Help avoiding disputes

Joanna2023

diystarter7 said:

Thnaks

Give them a call and say you can't and dot have the time

Would you e willing it to be taken to someone outside your area and then collect

I'm guessing its not legal/safe to drive?

Thnaks

No, undriveable, front passenger wheel buckled. He’s contacted a local Ford repairer in Hartlepool who’ve said they’ll see if they can accommodate it
Thanks for your advice

chrisw

Someone hit my car 2 weeks ago and my insurers are also finding it difficult to find a repairer in Merseyside / Cheshire. Fortunately mine is still drivable despite the drivers door and wing being crumpled.

diystarter7

Hi

Judging by the situatio in the Liverpool/Merseyside area - I thik its bee a usual thing around winter time especially up north when you do get more accidents in the winter.

A quick look on mr Goole, last few years around march time stories i the press about waiting times of 4/5 months for car reapirs

Thnaks

Mrmitko_77

There surely are people able to repair your car within that area. The company I think simply wasn't looking hard enough. Tough situation for sure.