Off Topic Crashed

[SG123]

Picked up my new chillout purple last night & on the way home someone crashed into me damaging all the drivers side & wheels.. Totally gutted... Anyway it turns out he manages a big car bodyshop who is recommended by insurers so he's gonna fix her up with all new parts free & without insurers getting involved... Bad luck yet good luck at the same time!!!

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Ouch. Sorry to hear that

Make sure that they use genuine Fiat parts

 

[SG123]

Yep they have ordered them from fiat .. ?

 

[RobinPJ]

Wow that is yingy and yangy. Or something.

Anyway, I would be sure that you take it to your dealer once repaired and get them to crawl all over it and make sure thee job has been done properly. Body shops are not exactly like Methodist churches when it comes to integrity....

 

[ahmett]

Wow that is yingy and yangy. Or something.

Anyway, I would be sure that you take it to your dealer once repaired and get them to crawl all over it and make sure thee job has been done properly. Body shops are not exactly like Methodist churches when it comes to integrity....

Who said Methodist churches have integrity?

Anyway to the OP, sorry to hear about the crash, glad that you seem to be ok, and wishing you a quick fix so you are back on the road with the 500!

 

[hippycinq]

Sorry to hear that, but, WOW you seem incredibly calm about the whole thing...! A much better person than me, clearly!!

 

[bgunn]

I should like to say - you have a legal duty to notify the insurers, even if you don't make a claim. You *have* to tell them if you're involved in any accident on a public road.

I personally would run a mile from a situation like this, and would want everything in writing before anyone touches a damaged car!

 

[306maxi]

same here. I don't like the sound of it at all

 

[catnash]

I would only get it done by the book, I'd also ring the Fiat assistance thing on the card. I have had two repairs all legit. At least if things go wrong with the repair or your not satisfied.

 

[Spinnerdcc]

I would only get it done by the book, I'd also ring the Fiat assistance thing on the card. I have had two repairs all legit. At least if things go wrong with the repair or your not satisfied.

Or the panel starts to rust a year later down the line.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I should like to say - you have a legal duty to notify the insurers, even if you don't make a claim. You *have* to tell them if you're involved in any accident on a public road.

ONLY if its setout and states that in your policy wording. Its not a legal duty, unless its setout in your contract of insurance

 

[babbo_umbro]

same here. I don't like the sound of it at all

Nor me - someone so anxious to make amends must surely have a reason for it. Sorry if that sounds cynical, but it sounds as though the other party is too relieved that you're not taking the matter further.

 

[Ralf S.]

I'd be a bit concerned too..

If you're not happy with the repair then you may have problems getting it resolved. The guy might just not agree that something needs to be done again or done properly (for instance. let's say you have a small dent on the nose.. You want it fixed, the guy says it was already like that. Who makes the final decision?).

You'll have a job going through his insurers later if you accept that he has offered to repair the car for you in the meantime. They'll say that they're only liable to repair your damage caused by the accident.. but meanwhile you've essentially already had it repaired... so it becomes a bit of a guessing game what they're actually liable for.

On the other hand, the fella could be genuine. If he fixes the car for free, he just has to pay a few parts and one of his lads can supply labour for "free". It could save him quids in his trade insurance (which I imagine is a bit tasty).

Get a written schedule of work so that you both know what is included and what isn't. Also get a guarantee on the work (whatever is the going rate .. 2 years?) The guy isn't necessarily out to rip you off.. but it saves arguments later.

If the bodyshop is Approved then I doubt they'll bodge anything... those guys see bodges all the time and really don't like it... but even so, get someone knowledgable to give it a once over afterwards (RAC or a friendly mechanic) in case they stuck the wheels on with masking tape or something.. you never know.

Ralf S.

 

[oldcutter]

Yep they have ordered them from fiat .. ?

Its a personal thing,but I feel same as others -wouldn't touch it with a barge pole!

My advise? -DON'T!

 

[SG123]

Fiat have heard of the bodyshop doing it & said they're a reputable firm who insurers would recommend doing your car in such circumstances.. The man who caused it knew he was in the wrong as he had strayed across into my lane... I'm happy that they aren't gonna do a botch job it's not like he manages some little dodgy garage it's a reputable firm.. I am calm about it now but I certainly wasn't at the time especially when we got home & fiat said the 7 day insurance they give expired at 10am even though I collected the car at 4pm & the dealer insured us it was ok to drive home as it was insured.. I'm less than happy with fiat at the mo as thanks to them & their incompetence my car was only covered for 3rd party which means I couldn't claim to get my car fixed only the other party's car!!.. Fiat are now trying to wriggle out of it by saying I should have rang my insurers to say I had a new car but I told the salesman I'd be dong it once home with car as we had the fiat insurance to get us there but turns out we didn't!!...

 

[bgunn]

ONLY if its setout and states that in your policy wording. Its not a legal duty, unless its setout in your contract of insurance

And you'll probably find 99.9999999% of policies are worded in this way.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

And you'll probably find 99.9999999% of policies are worded in this way.

But it is not law in the sense origionally advised, worst case scenario its contract law

 

[StevenRB45]

Well my employers use the wording have you suffered any claims accidents or losses regardless of blame in the last 5 years...not a huge amount of wiggle room in that also its playing with fire not fulfilling your contractual obligations to something you expect to cover you for 1000s of pounds but will in reality look very closely at your end of things before paying out.

 

[dave]

the body shop i used was fiat approved and do a massive 60 cars a week from insurance company referrals, they still did a crap job even with "call fiat first" and the third party insurance watching over them. imo you would be mad to use the same person who crashed into you who will be trying to do the job as cheap as he can and no warranty.

 

[Bondgirl]

Sounds a bit rubbish to get hit on the way home, and not many choices even with all the good advice. But saying that there are some sound tips to get your back covered. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Why on earth did the garage start your weeks free insurance a week before you collected, and then not even tell you! Did this body shop guy give you a courtesy car?