Mother Nature is against us

[y.k]

So I parked beside a car in a parking lot as you do and the second me and my friend open the door at the same time, a strong gust of wind sends his door flying into another car denting it and my door opening straight into a pole . Really unlucky timing as earlier, the wind wasn't strong enough for us to consider when opening our doors. But hey-ho, it happened.

Went into the building to ask for the owner of the car and admitted our mistake to him. Told him everything will be paid for, just give me a call when you've received a quote for the repair. Chap was very friendly and understanding however, his mother wasn't at all too pleased which is understandable. He said his father owns a repair shop and said he'll get a quote from him.

I get a call later that day from his mother with a quote of £360 and demanded it straight away. Was a bit shocked by the quote and asked if she could get email me it from the mechanics as it seemed very expensive but is yet to still send it. She's sticking with that quote and wont get a second opinion from a different garage.


This is where I seek for your advice, is it worth paying the £360 or should i just take it through insurance?

I would rather not go through insurance but with a quote of £360 for a dent that size, im not sure if its worth it

Imagination might be running wild here but my assumption is that they are trying to fork out more money than needed from me considering the quote is by her husband. But that's just my imagination.

Edited by y.k on Wednesday 24th July 03:14

BTW, the photo might look like both doors are damaged but it's only the front passenger door that's damaged.

Edited by y.k on Wednesday 24th July 03:52

[Evolved]

Wasn’t shocked at the price she sent.

You’ll pay more in the long run going through insurance.

[y.k]

Evolved said:

Wasn’t shocked at the price she sent.

You’ll pay more in the long run going through insurance.

Would I need to call my insurance or should I wait till I get a call from his? I don't plan on claiming on my insurance for my door.

[Evolved]

I’d suggest just paying for the repairs. Leave the insurance out of it.

Didn’t acknowledge you admitting the fault either. Nicely done, not something most people would do nowadays.

[WJNB]

As the mother seemed to have 'an attitude' she may well be trying to take fiscal advantage of the situation.
Can an alternative quote be obtained?
Could you pay 50% now & the balance upon completion of the work or 100% only when the work has been done which is the norm in any case.

[fat80b]

WJNB said:

As the mother seemed to have 'an attitude' she may well be trying to take fiscal advantage of the situation.
Can an alternative quote be obtained?
Could you pay 50% now & the balance upon completion of the work or 100% only when the work has been done which is the norm in any case.

No, you damaged their car, they are decent enough to sort it out outside of insurance and they have a quote (however genuine) for a small amount of money to make the problem go away.

I'd be as friendly as possible, pay the money and be very thankful that they didn't push you to go through insurance.

If you start making it awkward by asking for other quotes and the like, then don't be surprised if they make it more awkward for you too.

[oakdale]

If you pay the £360 that'll be the last you hear of it but if you organise the repair yourself, it could become an ongoing saga if they're not happy with the repair.

[Torquey]

I'd guess at a new door skin and a painted door? £360 sounds very reasonable to me.

Edit to add - that's probably too cheap. I wonder if they are planning to smart repair it somehow.

If you wanted to be awkward you could ask to pay the garage directly, by debit card.

Edited by Torquey on Wednesday 24th July 09:34

[x9wfm]

They're having you on.

I'd be getting a second and third opinion and going with the cheapest - that seems to be the norm for most other things. Or allow the family member to match the cheapest quote. Realistically it's going to cost them a lot less and it's quite sad that they're trying to make a profit out of you, considering you did the right thing and it was a genuine accident.

[chow pan toon]

x9wfm said:

They're having you on.

I'd be getting a second and third opinion and going with the cheapest - that seems to be the norm for most other things. Or allow the family member to match the cheapest quote. Realistically it's going to cost them a lot less and it's quite sad that they're trying to make a profit out of you, considering you did the right thing and it was a genuine accident.

When someone damaged my car recently they asked to sort it outside of insurance. I got one quote from a bodyshop that I would use, the other party wasn't happy with it and asked for 2 more quotes. I'm not sure about you, but I have better things to do than traipse round bodyshops getting quotes when I'm doing someone a favour.

The incident is now going through insurance.

[designforlife]

£360 seems too cheap to me, pay up and run.

[anonymous-user]

Torquey said:

I'd guess at a new door skin and a painted door? £360 sounds very reasonable to me.

Edit to add - that's probably too cheap. I wonder if they are planning to smart repair it somehow.

If you wanted to be awkward you could ask to pay the garage directly, by debit card.

Few years ago the neighbour backed off the drive into the late wife's car and dented the driver's door big time. I thought it would pull out or something as paint not broken ended up at nearly £1k for new skins and spraying at Ford via insurance eventually.

[Tankrizzo]

Bravo for owning up and going to find whose car it was. There are a lot of people who would have just done a runner.

[catso]

designforlife said:

£360 seems too cheap to me, pay up and run.

Agreed but get something in writing from them stating that the £360 is full and final payment...

[Jasandjules]

360 sounds like a good price all things considered - presumably the father is running it at cost. Take it and run, making sure they sign a document noting this payment is full an final settlement of all claims they have against you.

[carboy2017]

This seems reasonable as last dec I had not engaged the handbrake on fully and my car rolled and slightly touched a Peugoet 3008 and slightly scrapped it and the when I told the owner who was my colleague she got a quote for 300 mind you it was just a scratch on the rear buffer so I guess this is ok

Dont go via insurance is my advice

[elanfan]

Leaving aside your obligation to advise your insurers (material fact), I’d suggest you offer £300 and see what they say. As it’s an in-house repair I think it likely they’ll accept. Get in writing that they accept the money in full and final settlement.

[MB140]

What’s your excess on your policy. If you take the 360 and minus your excess that’s the extra your paying to stay out of involving an insurance company. Mines 200 quid so in this example I am paying 160 quid not to have to declare it to insurance, not to have to fk about in comparison sites for the next five years filling in there thousand questions about every detail. It’s angarage of their choice not yours so there is no comeback if there not happy.

I would be running to the bank to pay them. I would though be looking for some sort of receipt obsolving you if any further claims. Paying the garage direct via credit card would be my advice. You wouldn’t want to send them 360 quid by bank transfer and then find them reporting you to their insurance after you have paid (double dipping in effect).

[Integroo]

MB140 said:

What’s your excess on your policy. If you take the 360 and minus your excess that’s the extra your paying to stay out of involving an insurance company. Mines 200 quid so in this example I am paying 160 quid not to have to declare it to insurance, not to have to fk about in comparison sites for the next five years filling in there thousand questions about every detail. It’s angarage of their choice not yours so there is no comeback if there not happy.

I would be running to the bank to pay them. I would though be looking for some sort of receipt obsolving you if any further claims. Paying the garage direct via credit card would be my advice. You wouldn’t want to send them 360 quid by bank transfer and then find them reporting you to their insurance after you have paid (double dipping in effect).

You still technically have to declare it.

[Donbot]

MB140 said:

What’s your excess on your policy. If you take the 360 and minus your excess that’s the extra your paying to stay out of involving an insurance company. Mines 200 quid so in this example I am paying 160 quid not to have to declare it to insurance, not to have to fk about in comparison sites for the next five years filling in there thousand questions about every detail. It’s angarage of their choice not yours so there is no comeback if there not happy.

I would be running to the bank to pay them. I would though be looking for some sort of receipt obsolving you if any further claims. Paying the garage direct via credit card would be my advice. You wouldn’t want to send them 360 quid by bank transfer and then find them reporting you to their insurance after you have paid (double dipping in effect).

You don't pay the excess on a third party claim.