Garage destroyed car!
Discussion
Hi
I'm writing to get some thoughts on the best way of dealing with a large independant garage that destroyed my Mothers car whilst in their care.
The car, a one owner 02/52 Fiat Seicento 1.1SX with 60,000 miles was taken to the garage for a repair but unfortunately before any work commenced there was an accident when one of their employees attempted to move it which resulted in extensive damage front & rear (write off in their opinion) and also damaged two other customers cars. It sounds from what I'm told that it was started in gear & took off when it was started.
They have admitted liability and offered to either give her £500 in cash or £1000 off any car on their forecourt. I have advised her not to accept either as I believe that a car of this age is worth far more. She put this to them but they simply keep referring to the 'book price'. I have had a browse on Pistonheads & Autotrader & similiar cars are being offered for between £1000-£2000.
The bottom line is that they have destroyed her car & they are now trying to rip her off by offering peanuts for something which is entirely their fault. At the end of the day she simply wants her car back but this in reality may not be possible due to the amount of damage but why should she be out of pocket through no fault of her own.
I'm guessing she could probably claim off her insurance but do garages have any kind of insurance for instances such as this? If so, it would appear that they are attempting to avoid this & keep the matter quiet.
Any suggestions on how to approach the matter would be greatly appreciated. It has crossed my mind to get some pictures & contact the local press but I think this may be a bargaining tool as a last resort.
Many thanks for your help & I look forward to your replies.
Kind regards
Joey.
I'm writing to get some thoughts on the best way of dealing with a large independant garage that destroyed my Mothers car whilst in their care.
The car, a one owner 02/52 Fiat Seicento 1.1SX with 60,000 miles was taken to the garage for a repair but unfortunately before any work commenced there was an accident when one of their employees attempted to move it which resulted in extensive damage front & rear (write off in their opinion) and also damaged two other customers cars. It sounds from what I'm told that it was started in gear & took off when it was started.
They have admitted liability and offered to either give her £500 in cash or £1000 off any car on their forecourt. I have advised her not to accept either as I believe that a car of this age is worth far more. She put this to them but they simply keep referring to the 'book price'. I have had a browse on Pistonheads & Autotrader & similiar cars are being offered for between £1000-£2000.
The bottom line is that they have destroyed her car & they are now trying to rip her off by offering peanuts for something which is entirely their fault. At the end of the day she simply wants her car back but this in reality may not be possible due to the amount of damage but why should she be out of pocket through no fault of her own.
I'm guessing she could probably claim off her insurance but do garages have any kind of insurance for instances such as this? If so, it would appear that they are attempting to avoid this & keep the matter quiet.
Any suggestions on how to approach the matter would be greatly appreciated. It has crossed my mind to get some pictures & contact the local press but I think this may be a bargaining tool as a last resort.
Many thanks for your help & I look forward to your replies.
Kind regards
Joey.
Edited by joey0027 on Wednesday 5th January 20:44
Don't accept anything they say as gospel.
The garage has insurance, or rather should have. If I was you I'd call your mother's insurance company and have them deal with it if the garage isn't prepared to replace it.
Their price isn't taking the P too much though, TBH. Bump them up to a grand for the inconvenience and I reckon you've done well out of it.
The garage has insurance, or rather should have. If I was you I'd call your mother's insurance company and have them deal with it if the garage isn't prepared to replace it.
Their price isn't taking the P too much though, TBH. Bump them up to a grand for the inconvenience and I reckon you've done well out of it.
Edited by Stu R on Wednesday 5th January 20:34
odyssey2200 said:
Parkers says
Original Price £6,214
Independent Dealer £670
Private Good £565
Private Poor £415
Part Exchange £470
I think their offer is fair TBH
No, their offer would be fair if they said, We will give you that in cash.Original Price £6,214
Independent Dealer £670
Private Good £565
Private Poor £415
Part Exchange £470
I think their offer is fair TBH
offering to knock it off a car, which you would prob get anyway, is taking the piss
Print off some examples of similar age /mileage cars for sale. Ask the garage owner to pay the average asking price. If he refuses ask for a copy of his public liability insurance / traders policy ( whichever is most applicable ) and start to pursue a claim yourself. I'd have thought he'll give in before then , to be fair £2000 is a bit optimistic but anything in excess of £1000 should buy a similar car
They might be offered higher, but they aren't particularly selling.
I'm seeing a lot around the £1300 mark, (look at ebay completed listing to see what they have sold at) and I wouldn't want to be tied to one of their forecourt cars as that will still be saving them money as they just write off the profit they were planning to make.
£1300 cash settlement and no strings.
They should have some form of insurance too, maybe say you aren't interested in anything they have, and look for their insurance details.
They have insurance, and the insurance would like to know if they have mechanics who kangaroo cars around the yard causing damage.
I'm seeing a lot around the £1300 mark, (look at ebay completed listing to see what they have sold at) and I wouldn't want to be tied to one of their forecourt cars as that will still be saving them money as they just write off the profit they were planning to make.
£1300 cash settlement and no strings.
They should have some form of insurance too, maybe say you aren't interested in anything they have, and look for their insurance details.
They have insurance, and the insurance would like to know if they have mechanics who kangaroo cars around the yard causing damage.
Many thanks for all your comments guys.
If a cash deal were able to be stuck should part of the deal be to retain ownership or sign it over to them as there are many new parts fitted which I could remove & sell on Ebay.
I'm still of the opinion that £500 is way too low irrespective of what the book says. In the real world that figure would simply not be sufficient to fund a car of the same year & mileage.
I am in agreement with you guys, £1000 - £1300 with the use of a car.
Thanks again.
If a cash deal were able to be stuck should part of the deal be to retain ownership or sign it over to them as there are many new parts fitted which I could remove & sell on Ebay.
I'm still of the opinion that £500 is way too low irrespective of what the book says. In the real world that figure would simply not be sufficient to fund a car of the same year & mileage.
I am in agreement with you guys, £1000 - £1300 with the use of a car.
Thanks again.
Edited by joey0027 on Wednesday 5th January 21:18
I agree with what has already been said, and I think you can present them with three options-
1. They hand over £1200 cash
2. They fix it irrespective of cost/time/effort
3. They provide you with their insurance details so that you can start a claim
If you give them those options, and state that they are not up for negotiation, I actually think their preference of those options will be in that order too.
1. They hand over £1200 cash
2. They fix it irrespective of cost/time/effort
3. They provide you with their insurance details so that you can start a claim
If you give them those options, and state that they are not up for negotiation, I actually think their preference of those options will be in that order too.
Why not just tell them to get you an exact same car, same colour, spec, miles and condition, (wihtout the repair needed however!!)
They are a garage, abd they sell cars. If they can get one for £500, you've lost nowt. If it costs them £1300, you've lost nowt.
Also means you dont have to mess about trying to buy a car, travel about for it etc. You could easily spend £150 doing so!
They are a garage, abd they sell cars. If they can get one for £500, you've lost nowt. If it costs them £1300, you've lost nowt.
Also means you dont have to mess about trying to buy a car, travel about for it etc. You could easily spend £150 doing so!
EDLT said:
Just go through her insurance, whats the point of paying for it if you aren't going to use it?
because at renewal time you will get shafted for having a claim even tho' it is a no blame
If you can get more off the garage by showing them the real life price e.g. autotrader adverts etc. ask for cash in pocket noy money off
I'd take the money and not claim off insurance
s3fella said:
Why not just tell them to get you an exact same car, same colour, spec, miles and condition, (wihtout the repair needed however!!)
They are a garage, abd they sell cars. If they can get one for £500, you've lost nowt. If it costs them £1300, you've lost nowt.
Also means you dont have to mess about trying to buy a car, travel about for it etc. You could easily spend £150 doing so!
Wouldn't they just try and find the cheapest they can find? I wouldn't trust them in this situation.They are a garage, abd they sell cars. If they can get one for £500, you've lost nowt. If it costs them £1300, you've lost nowt.
Also means you dont have to mess about trying to buy a car, travel about for it etc. You could easily spend £150 doing so!
s3fella said:
Why not just tell them to get you an exact same car, same colour, spec, miles and condition, (wihtout the repair needed however!!)
They are a garage, abd they sell cars. If they can get one for £500, you've lost nowt. If it costs them £1300, you've lost nowt.
Also means you dont have to mess about trying to buy a car, travel about for it etc. You could easily spend £150 doing so!
^^^ This.They are a garage, abd they sell cars. If they can get one for £500, you've lost nowt. If it costs them £1300, you've lost nowt.
Also means you dont have to mess about trying to buy a car, travel about for it etc. You could easily spend £150 doing so!
This is what I do whenever I get a stupidly low offer from insurers.
IE "Your car is worth £2k"
"OK I'll give you £10k, go and get me 5"
"We can't do that sir"
"EXACTLY"
IMO any settlement should be enough that you can walk into the nearest dealer and get a replacement. NOT that if you look on Ebay for 6 months and have to drive to Scotland.
You weren't trying to sell it to a garage so book price is irrelevant
redgriff500 said:
s3fella said:
Why not just tell them to get you an exact same car, same colour, spec, miles and condition, (wihtout the repair needed however!!)
They are a garage, abd they sell cars. If they can get one for £500, you've lost nowt. If it costs them £1300, you've lost nowt.
Also means you dont have to mess about trying to buy a car, travel about for it etc. You could easily spend £150 doing so!
^^^ This.They are a garage, abd they sell cars. If they can get one for £500, you've lost nowt. If it costs them £1300, you've lost nowt.
Also means you dont have to mess about trying to buy a car, travel about for it etc. You could easily spend £150 doing so!
This is what I do whenever I get a stupidly low offer from insurers.
IE "Your car is worth £2k"
"OK I'll give you £10k, go and get me 5"
"We can't do that sir"
"EXACTLY"
IMO any settlement should be enough that you can walk into the nearest dealer and get a replacement. NOT that if you look on Ebay for 6 months and have to drive to Scotland.
You weren't trying to sell it to a garage so book price is irrelevant
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