Car Repairs (or not)

Smidda

Hi all,

Just lookiing for a bit of advice really

I had an accident about a month ago in my 206cc where someone went into the back of me and so they were fully to blame and have accepted liability.

My insurance company (admiral) said if i go through their own repairers then their would be no excess to pay...great i thought

So having had my car repaired (rear bumper, exhaust etc) i ask the garage involved for a record of what had been fixed, and they told me to speak to my insurance (strange i thought, but contacted them anyway).

Anyway i received the repair sheet and saw they had fitted an Exhaust Silencer (or back box), which was to be expected as the old one was half hanign off and bent to a 45 degree angle, as well as several other things. Me not knowing too much about cars, i looked at it and thought it looked brand new so all was fine.

However i have had my MOT today to be told there is a hole in my back and middle box - i said impossible as a new one had only just been fitted by the garage a month ago. He said they are having you on mate, all they have done is welded it and proceeded to show me, they had welded it and just sprayed it to appear new ( they even sprayed it while on the car as they have managed to spray the bottom of my car with the same silver paint as well).

Now having checked the repair list again it clearly says Rear Silencer £180 and also a few other things i hadnt spotted (number plate and badges which having checked havnt been changed either)

To be honest im fuming - iv already spoken to the insurance company a week ago about another issue as i wasnt happy with the bumper and they said speak to the garage involved - however im unsure what to do now. I dont really want to deal with the garage as they are obviously blatant liars and getting paid for things they havnt done.

Just looking for ideas of what people think i should do - i will be speaking to Admiral tomorrow first thing, but is there anything else that i can do. Would it be unreasonable to demand that i have a Peugeot garage asses it ?

Anyone else had the same kinda thing happen??

Benny24

Trading Standards i'm sure would love to hear about it....and so too should Admiral be told that you are speaking to TS about the repairs that 'haven't' been carried out at their authorised garage. No harm in asking Peugeot to look at the car either......

Sssssss

i would get your insurance company to arrange an independent experts report, they have an obligation to ensure their recommended garages are trust worthy.

pinkshoes

I'd speak to Admiral, and ask them if they're aware that the garage they're using is charging them for new parts when they're just doing a shoddy job or repairing the old. They might not actually be aware this is happening... (unless they're in on it, and getting a 50/50 split of the profit from the garage, but that is unlikely!).

Tell them that you're not happy, and if something isn't done within 7 working days, you'll be contacting Trading Standards over their illegal dealings.

custardy

as said i would put the ball in Admirals court in the 1st instance and see what they produce.
TBH i would refuse any remedial work at the same garage as well if thats their solution

Smidda

thanks for the replies guys

I called the garage today at about half 11 and was told i would need to speak to a repair guy and he would call me back in half an hour... i left my contact details and again and its now half 7 and still no reply.

When i spoke to admiral directly yesterday they put me through to albany assistance, who admiral use to sort out their claims, and who took all my details in the first place - they called me this morning and said i need to speak to the garage direct - feel like im being given the runaround here a little bit

Looks like trading standards then i take it . . . .

redrabbit29

Smidda wrote: »

thanks for the replies guys

I called the garage today at about half 11 and was told i would need to speak to a repair guy and he would call me back in half an hour... i left my contact details and again and its now half 7 and still no reply.

When i spoke to admiral directly yesterday they put me through to albany assistance, who admiral use to sort out their claims, and who took all my details in the first place - they called me this morning and said i need to speak to the garage direct - feel like im being given the runaround here a little bit

Looks like trading standards then i take it . . . .

That's terrible.

I would flatly refuse to speak to them. You pay your insurance premium for them to sort this stuff out for you, and they clearly haven't done. IT may be not be their fault directly, but the person they are contracting to do the work is not up to standard - that is their problem - not yours.

Ring them back and tell them to sort it out for you.

Good luck.

Blacksheep1979

I'd start hinting to admiral that you're going to be getting the work done and claiming from them - they should be chasing up the cowboys

sarahg1969

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

I'd start hinting to admiral that you're going to be getting the work done and claiming from them - they should be chasing up the cowboys

I suggest you also hint to Admiral that you will be warning the other driver's insurers that the work has not been done to standard - as Admiral will be expecting them to pay it (assuming it is a company from a different group, of course). That should get them up off their bums.

Smidda

Now i dont know an awful lot about cars but i take it an exhaust silencer definitley means the back box of an exhaust??? - i cant see what else it would be, especially as it was down at £180 on the fix sheet. I just dont wanna go all guns blazing and then it turns out im wrong

sarahg1969

Smidda wrote: »

Now i dont know an awful lot about cars but i take it an exhaust silencer definitley means the back box of an exhaust??? - i cant see what else it would be, especially as it was down at £180 on the fix sheet. I just dont wanna go all guns blazing and then it turns out im wrong

Ask the garage that did the MOT. They will be able to advise you what's been done and what's not.