A local builder has hit my car :(

[jbaker]

My pride and joy had been hit by a local builder (i think). I am waiting for them to call me back, but otherwise it will be an expensive insurance claim.

images of my car (https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BwUWTJiwVLpOc3JQQXZRcFV0Y1U&usp=sharing)

Anyone have any idea on what this may cost to fix?

[Whippy53]

Ouch. I sympathise, I really do. Any witnesses? Might be an idea to get a quote first before going to insurance and see how it works out. Sorry mate, not a good way to start the weekend. Let us know how you get on. Might be lucky, builder might fess up.

[Doctle Odd]

Door and back quarter respray, ouch indeed!

[jbaker]

The builder came back to me. They said it was not them.....they did however (and a neighbour confirmed this) that a large Tuffnels lorry was there at the same time. I have emailed the company, but I expect to be told to sod off.

My insurance excess is 450..better than last years 650.

[Whippy53]

Yeah well, they would say that wouldn't they. I once had a builder speckle the front of my car with white paint, then decides to clean it off, using a scotchbrite pad. Denied all knowledge when confronted.

[jbaker]

This has come at the worst time. My wife is getting a new A4 2L SE TEK Quattro next weekend. We are sorting out her insurance, and this claim will put the cost of the insurance up quite a bit.

My insurance was purchased via Chris Knott. Just registered the claim. :(

At least no one was hurt

[Jim Walker]

Not good I feel for you some git ran into the side step of our Q7 & we are still waiting to find out if the company next door caught it on their CCTV.

[johnsimcox]

I recently had a repair to my car done by Autorestore, organised and paid for by the other party's insurer (Aviva). They are a mobile unit and essentially set up a full on paint shop at the location of your choosing. They did a really good job and the upside was I was only without the car for the few hours they were doing the work. Might be worth seeing what they would charge compared with the more traditional route. Also worth speaking to your dealer to see who they use for work on cars. Again a non-insurance deal may be a lot cheaper

[Chesterfield313]

I certainly wouldn't be claiming on insurance for this. There are usually a few people who have set up on their own doing resprays and repairs wherever you live. On my company cars I used a local guy who had his own place, did a perfect job on 3 occasions over the years. Having already used him I'd definitely trust him on my own car. Had bigger repairs than this done by him for less than £250.

[jbaker]

What the image does not show very well is that there is a dent on the rear door pillar. This is on the edge just on the crease line. It's about 2 mm.

I took it to a garage and they could not give me an accurate estimate, but said it would be well over a grand.

I will have to wait until Tuesday, when I will be able to pop it in to Newbury audi and then see what the local approved repairers say.

[johnsimcox]

What the image does not show very well is that there is a dent on the rear door pillar. This is on the edge just on the crease line. It's about 2 mm.

I took it to a garage and they could not give me an accurate estimate, but said it would be well over a grand.

I will have to wait until Tuesday, when I will be able to pop it in to Newbury audi and then see what the local approved repairers say.
Such a small dent is likely to be filled as part of the painting process regardless of who repairs it, certainly not a new wing. Still think there are cheaper non-insurance options to explore before committing yourself to a claim and all the baggage that goes with that. Wonder how long before you get a personal injury law firm on the phone telling you that you are "entitled to £3600" for the injury you suffered in the accident!

[jbaker]

Too late now. Insurance company involved. I am traveling on business on and off for the next few weeks. I have enough to focus on with out having to get someone to fix my car. plus its still under finance and I don't want any issues when I trade in/up.

Hmmm......personal injury companies......I would like to cause them an injury. They are probably the only people who sharks would not eat. I had one call me last year telling me that they were a claim management company and that I had been in an accident. I told them in very clear and un-disputable language that I had not and to go away.

As long at the repair is a good job, then I will chalk it up to experience.

[daycartes]

I don't blame you going through insurance. The same happened to me. The car was collected from my place of work, repaired and I received a loan car till mine was ready. It took all the hassle away from, what is, a stressful event. I once went through the local chap repairing route only to find rust in my boot a year later. Too late to do anything about it then. At least if you go through the approved route the repair is guaranteed

[jbaker]

Is been a while, but I went to collect my A6 today. What a bunch of incompetent numpties!

They did not fix the passenger mirror, and the repair job was very poor. Plus it looks like there are some chips/marks on the car that were not there before. Not very happy with the dealers repair shop. I refused the to take the car.

There was a funny ide to this, I have a roadhawk camera fitted. Some of the footage it recorded is funny. Several of their engineers messed around and looked at the camera. Now immortalised on my Google account.

It will be interesting to hear what they say tomorrow..... Along with what my insurance company are going to do about it.