None-fault accident minefield
Discussion
I’ve experienced how much hard work it is just to get your car fixed after a non-fault accident before but it seems to now be such shark infested waters!
Last night a water company’s van slipped off its handbrake and rolled into my car, caving the drivers and rear doors in, and now they won’t open. Guy was apologetic gave me His details etc and his boss advised me to contact my own insurance to get the ball rolling (mistake 1)
Mistake 2, I did this last night and got punted into auxillis who wanted me to take my car to some random fleet workshop that isn’t bmw approved and and they no bmw approved on their books. They also wanted to set up a credit hire which I’m sure is scandalous etc etc. So I said no thanks but it was past the closing of the ins. claims department.
Call bmw recovery as the car is under warranty who are great. They arrange to pick up the car the next morning to take to a bmw dealer famed for Alpinas, as it’s round the corner from work so the best for me. They ring me this morning about their own accident management who after a bit of digging appear to be run by auxillis! So since auxillis don’t have bmw approved repairers in their books I assume the dealer farm it out to unknown fleet repairer (as the dealer said it could be repaired quicker this way - I assume to stop own body shop being clogged).
Enterprise dropped of my free 48h courtesy from BMW recovery who informed me BMW have their own accident management who is, guess who auxillis! But it’s ok they have their own credit hire system (so I arrange repair via insurance and enterprise let me keep the bmw)
The insurance company also don’t have bmw approved repairers on their books so I don’t get a courtesy car via them!
Just waiting for the water company’s transport team to call me to see if they offer something more straightforward.
Why is is such hard work when it’s not your fault?!
Last night a water company’s van slipped off its handbrake and rolled into my car, caving the drivers and rear doors in, and now they won’t open. Guy was apologetic gave me His details etc and his boss advised me to contact my own insurance to get the ball rolling (mistake 1)
Mistake 2, I did this last night and got punted into auxillis who wanted me to take my car to some random fleet workshop that isn’t bmw approved and and they no bmw approved on their books. They also wanted to set up a credit hire which I’m sure is scandalous etc etc. So I said no thanks but it was past the closing of the ins. claims department.
Call bmw recovery as the car is under warranty who are great. They arrange to pick up the car the next morning to take to a bmw dealer famed for Alpinas, as it’s round the corner from work so the best for me. They ring me this morning about their own accident management who after a bit of digging appear to be run by auxillis! So since auxillis don’t have bmw approved repairers in their books I assume the dealer farm it out to unknown fleet repairer (as the dealer said it could be repaired quicker this way - I assume to stop own body shop being clogged).
Enterprise dropped of my free 48h courtesy from BMW recovery who informed me BMW have their own accident management who is, guess who auxillis! But it’s ok they have their own credit hire system (so I arrange repair via insurance and enterprise let me keep the bmw)
The insurance company also don’t have bmw approved repairers on their books so I don’t get a courtesy car via them!
Just waiting for the water company’s transport team to call me to see if they offer something more straightforward.
Why is is such hard work when it’s not your fault?!
Avoid accident management companies altogether unless they are providing you with some tangible benefit which you actually need, for example like-for-like hire car instead of a little Fiesta or something.
They will grossly inflate the cost of the claim. Unnecessarily instructing AMCs can only mean another party taking a piece of the pie.
Contact the third party insurer if possible, tell them that your insurance company will instruct an AMC unless they expedite the delivery of a courtesy car and the proper repair of your car via an approved repairer (of your choice if you prefer).
As you have already observed, BMW don't tend to have on site bodywork repair facilities but will sub this work out to an approved network of repairers. This is not a cause for concern provided they will use new OEM parts and execute the repair to the proper standard.
They will grossly inflate the cost of the claim. Unnecessarily instructing AMCs can only mean another party taking a piece of the pie.
Contact the third party insurer if possible, tell them that your insurance company will instruct an AMC unless they expedite the delivery of a courtesy car and the proper repair of your car via an approved repairer (of your choice if you prefer).
As you have already observed, BMW don't tend to have on site bodywork repair facilities but will sub this work out to an approved network of repairers. This is not a cause for concern provided they will use new OEM parts and execute the repair to the proper standard.
I’m aware AMCs are a nightmare, but the water company guy couldn’t get me those details yesterday so if I hear from them today (which their CS team said their transport team would call) hopefully I can deal directly with the 3rd party. When it’s evening and you need a car ASAP it’s not ideal (the bmw 48 hour agreement was a good perk to get you going.
I’m a simple person I just want the repair done to a BMW warranted standard in good time with some kind of vehicle to keep me moving in the interim!
I’m a simple person I just want the repair done to a BMW warranted standard in good time with some kind of vehicle to keep me moving in the interim!
WonkeyDonkey said:
Skip your own insurers and contact the 3rd party.
Your insurers will do nothing but try and inflate the claim. In my experience third party are willing to use your own repairer of choosing and supply a rental car from a standard car rental company. None of this credit hire b
ks.
This is exactly what I have just done - but I do have sympathy with how difficult it is. I also have been plagued with phone calls from various firms promising me free money for my inconvenience. Despite all fault (now) admitted, it's been a long(ish) process and generally a bit of a nightmare. I can't believe how many phone calls I've had with so many different parties (my insurer, their insurer, enterprise rent-a-car, bodyshop 1, bodyshop 2 etc etc)Your insurers will do nothing but try and inflate the claim. In my experience third party are willing to use your own repairer of choosing and supply a rental car from a standard car rental company. None of this credit hire b
ks.I hope you get it sorted as easily and quickly as possible.
M
Water company basically don’t have contact details for their insurer so I did askmid on the van and got the company and they are (hopefully) handling everything. Happy to get a quote from the dealer and say they will organise a car.
Looks like he water company use a broker which explains the vagueness.
Looks like he water company use a broker which explains the vagueness.
I had a non-fault accident in September, and it wasn't too bad.
Informed my insurers - initially intending to use them - but the third party insurers called me that evening admitting liability.
Used a repairer of my choice, and all fairly painless. We had a disagreement about them transporting the (fully driveable) car to the to bodyshop - but I insisted that they did (didn't want to waste half a Saturday doing it myself).
They also initially told me that they would not need to send an engineer out to inspect the damage as long as I uploaded photos and videos - which I did - and then they decided they did need to send an engineer out anyway. Wasted a few weeks, but no big deal in the end.
I didn't take a courtesy car, but they did offer like for like.
Informed my insurers - initially intending to use them - but the third party insurers called me that evening admitting liability.
Used a repairer of my choice, and all fairly painless. We had a disagreement about them transporting the (fully driveable) car to the to bodyshop - but I insisted that they did (didn't want to waste half a Saturday doing it myself).
They also initially told me that they would not need to send an engineer out to inspect the damage as long as I uploaded photos and videos - which I did - and then they decided they did need to send an engineer out anyway. Wasted a few weeks, but no big deal in the end.
I didn't take a courtesy car, but they did offer like for like.
WonkeyDonkey said:
Skip your own insurers and contact the 3rd party.
Your insurers will do nothing but try and inflate the claim. In my experience third party are willing to use your own repairer of choosing and supply a rental car from a standard car rental company. None of this credit hire bks.
I agree with that. I had problems with my own insurance (Hastings) after I had been run into from behined. After days of problems I just telephoned the 3rd party insurance and sorted it out that way. They were very quick and efficient because they don't want costs and solicitors involved.Your insurers will do nothing but try and inflate the claim. In my experience third party are willing to use your own repairer of choosing and supply a rental car from a standard car rental company. None of this credit hire b
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