Insurance Companies using aftermarket substandard parts!!!!
Discussion
About 8 months ago a Volvo S40 rolled down a hill (Handbrake failed) and hit the front of my Jeep.
The damage to my Jeep was a slight impression in the front bumper, no bigger than a 10p piece. The volvo had a broken headlight, dented bonnet, broken grill and smashed bumper.
Being a perfectionist I got the insurance to sort out my car which they did.
When the car was returned all looked good. Until the otherday when a pigeon hit my car at under 40mph.
The pigeon has gone clean through my bumper which has not only cracked the full length of the off side but has also left a tear type hole in my bumper. On closer inspection the bumper appears to be made of fibreglass...wtf!!!
I questioned the insurance company and the garage, who claim they fixed my old bumper. I told them it was impossible as the old bumper flexed like bumpers were supposed to and was definately not rigid like this one was. They have asked me to put a complaint in which I have.
The Jeep went to the body shop at Jeep and they have confirmed the bumper is not original and is a cheap fibreglass copy. They inspected where the original repair was supposed to have been made and there is no sign of a repair. In my mind this shows that they have replaced my original bumper.
The car is booked in under my insurance with the Jeep bodyshop this time. According to the Bodyshop guy insurance companies are allowed to replace parts with non genuine parts. My concern is how safe are these especially knowing that if a genuine bumper had been used i'd not be going through the expense of having it repaired for a low speed bird strike.
Your thoughts would be welcome especially if any of you have had similar incidents with insurance repairs.
The damage to my Jeep was a slight impression in the front bumper, no bigger than a 10p piece. The volvo had a broken headlight, dented bonnet, broken grill and smashed bumper.
Being a perfectionist I got the insurance to sort out my car which they did.
When the car was returned all looked good. Until the otherday when a pigeon hit my car at under 40mph.
The pigeon has gone clean through my bumper which has not only cracked the full length of the off side but has also left a tear type hole in my bumper. On closer inspection the bumper appears to be made of fibreglass...wtf!!!
I questioned the insurance company and the garage, who claim they fixed my old bumper. I told them it was impossible as the old bumper flexed like bumpers were supposed to and was definately not rigid like this one was. They have asked me to put a complaint in which I have.
The Jeep went to the body shop at Jeep and they have confirmed the bumper is not original and is a cheap fibreglass copy. They inspected where the original repair was supposed to have been made and there is no sign of a repair. In my mind this shows that they have replaced my original bumper.
The car is booked in under my insurance with the Jeep bodyshop this time. According to the Bodyshop guy insurance companies are allowed to replace parts with non genuine parts. My concern is how safe are these especially knowing that if a genuine bumper had been used i'd not be going through the expense of having it repaired for a low speed bird strike.
Your thoughts would be welcome especially if any of you have had similar incidents with insurance repairs.
^^Thinking the same actually.
Maybe to bodyshop fits cheaper inferior parts but still charges for genuine parts?
Most people wouldn't realise the difference and clearly weren't expecting someone knowledgeable to start kicking up a fuss.
I'd be looking at replacing with proper parts with no expense to yourself.
Maybe to bodyshop fits cheaper inferior parts but still charges for genuine parts?
Most people wouldn't realise the difference and clearly weren't expecting someone knowledgeable to start kicking up a fuss.
I'd be looking at replacing with proper parts with no expense to yourself.
I used to work for a manufacturer that is well known for high euro NCAP scores, they are asked to look at serious accidents/ deaths involving their vehicles and there are a high number that are "repaired" but not to original spec. Insurers will get cars repaired as cheaply as possible so I'm not sure if they do actually price the jobs up with genuine parts and repair methods or not.
We used to hype up using our approved repairers due to the fact they definitely used genuine parts and repair methods. Whether this is marketing hype or not Im not sure but I believe it.
We used to hype up using our approved repairers due to the fact they definitely used genuine parts and repair methods. Whether this is marketing hype or not Im not sure but I believe it.
S4waynef said:
About 8 months ago a Volvo S40 rolled down a hill (Handbrake failed) and hit the front of my Jeep.
The damage to my Jeep was a slight impression in the front bumper, no bigger than a 10p piece. The volvo had a broken headlight, dented bonnet, broken grill and smashed bumper.
Being a perfectionist I got the insurance to sort out my car which they did.
When the car was returned all looked good. Until the otherday when a pigeon hit my car at under 40mph.
The pigeon has gone clean through my bumper which has not only cracked the full length of the off side but has also left a tear type hole in my bumper. On closer inspection the bumper appears to be made of fibreglass...wtf!!!
I questioned the insurance company and the garage, who claim they fixed my old bumper. I told them it was impossible as the old bumper flexed like bumpers were supposed to and was definately not rigid like this one was. They have asked me to put a complaint in which I have.
The Jeep went to the body shop at Jeep and they have confirmed the bumper is not original and is a cheap fibreglass copy. They inspected where the original repair was supposed to have been made and there is no sign of a repair. In my mind this shows that they have replaced my original bumper.
The car is booked in under my insurance with the Jeep bodyshop this time. According to the Bodyshop guy insurance companies are allowed to replace parts with non genuine parts. My concern is how safe are these especially knowing that if a genuine bumper had been used i'd not be going through the expense of having it repaired for a low speed bird strike.
Your thoughts would be welcome especially if any of you have had similar incidents with insurance repairs.
Check your policy. A lot of the so-called "good value" insurers put in their contracts that they can use refurbed or non original parts.The damage to my Jeep was a slight impression in the front bumper, no bigger than a 10p piece. The volvo had a broken headlight, dented bonnet, broken grill and smashed bumper.
Being a perfectionist I got the insurance to sort out my car which they did.
When the car was returned all looked good. Until the otherday when a pigeon hit my car at under 40mph.
The pigeon has gone clean through my bumper which has not only cracked the full length of the off side but has also left a tear type hole in my bumper. On closer inspection the bumper appears to be made of fibreglass...wtf!!!
I questioned the insurance company and the garage, who claim they fixed my old bumper. I told them it was impossible as the old bumper flexed like bumpers were supposed to and was definately not rigid like this one was. They have asked me to put a complaint in which I have.
The Jeep went to the body shop at Jeep and they have confirmed the bumper is not original and is a cheap fibreglass copy. They inspected where the original repair was supposed to have been made and there is no sign of a repair. In my mind this shows that they have replaced my original bumper.
The car is booked in under my insurance with the Jeep bodyshop this time. According to the Bodyshop guy insurance companies are allowed to replace parts with non genuine parts. My concern is how safe are these especially knowing that if a genuine bumper had been used i'd not be going through the expense of having it repaired for a low speed bird strike.
Your thoughts would be welcome especially if any of you have had similar incidents with insurance repairs.
"Looking for cheaper car insurance?"
Soovy said:
S4waynef said:
About 8 months ago a Volvo S40 rolled down a hill (Handbrake failed) and hit the front of my Jeep.
The damage to my Jeep was a slight impression in the front bumper, no bigger than a 10p piece. The volvo had a broken headlight, dented bonnet, broken grill and smashed bumper.
Being a perfectionist I got the insurance to sort out my car which they did.
When the car was returned all looked good. Until the otherday when a pigeon hit my car at under 40mph.
The pigeon has gone clean through my bumper which has not only cracked the full length of the off side but has also left a tear type hole in my bumper. On closer inspection the bumper appears to be made of fibreglass...wtf!!!
I questioned the insurance company and the garage, who claim they fixed my old bumper. I told them it was impossible as the old bumper flexed like bumpers were supposed to and was definately not rigid like this one was. They have asked me to put a complaint in which I have.
The Jeep went to the body shop at Jeep and they have confirmed the bumper is not original and is a cheap fibreglass copy. They inspected where the original repair was supposed to have been made and there is no sign of a repair. In my mind this shows that they have replaced my original bumper.
The car is booked in under my insurance with the Jeep bodyshop this time. According to the Bodyshop guy insurance companies are allowed to replace parts with non genuine parts. My concern is how safe are these especially knowing that if a genuine bumper had been used i'd not be going through the expense of having it repaired for a low speed bird strike.
Your thoughts would be welcome especially if any of you have had similar incidents with insurance repairs.
Check your policy. A lot of the so-called "good value" insurers put in their contracts that they can use refurbed or non original parts.The damage to my Jeep was a slight impression in the front bumper, no bigger than a 10p piece. The volvo had a broken headlight, dented bonnet, broken grill and smashed bumper.
Being a perfectionist I got the insurance to sort out my car which they did.
When the car was returned all looked good. Until the otherday when a pigeon hit my car at under 40mph.
The pigeon has gone clean through my bumper which has not only cracked the full length of the off side but has also left a tear type hole in my bumper. On closer inspection the bumper appears to be made of fibreglass...wtf!!!
I questioned the insurance company and the garage, who claim they fixed my old bumper. I told them it was impossible as the old bumper flexed like bumpers were supposed to and was definately not rigid like this one was. They have asked me to put a complaint in which I have.
The Jeep went to the body shop at Jeep and they have confirmed the bumper is not original and is a cheap fibreglass copy. They inspected where the original repair was supposed to have been made and there is no sign of a repair. In my mind this shows that they have replaced my original bumper.
The car is booked in under my insurance with the Jeep bodyshop this time. According to the Bodyshop guy insurance companies are allowed to replace parts with non genuine parts. My concern is how safe are these especially knowing that if a genuine bumper had been used i'd not be going through the expense of having it repaired for a low speed bird strike.
Your thoughts would be welcome especially if any of you have had similar incidents with insurance repairs.
"Looking for cheaper car insurance?"
they are cheap for a reason.....
S3_Graham said:
Soovy said:
S4waynef said:
About 8 months ago a Volvo S40 rolled down a hill (Handbrake failed) and hit the front of my Jeep.
The damage to my Jeep was a slight impression in the front bumper, no bigger than a 10p piece. The volvo had a broken headlight, dented bonnet, broken grill and smashed bumper.
Being a perfectionist I got the insurance to sort out my car which they did.
When the car was returned all looked good. Until the otherday when a pigeon hit my car at under 40mph.
The pigeon has gone clean through my bumper which has not only cracked the full length of the off side but has also left a tear type hole in my bumper. On closer inspection the bumper appears to be made of fibreglass...wtf!!!
I questioned the insurance company and the garage, who claim they fixed my old bumper. I told them it was impossible as the old bumper flexed like bumpers were supposed to and was definately not rigid like this one was. They have asked me to put a complaint in which I have.
The Jeep went to the body shop at Jeep and they have confirmed the bumper is not original and is a cheap fibreglass copy. They inspected where the original repair was supposed to have been made and there is no sign of a repair. In my mind this shows that they have replaced my original bumper.
The car is booked in under my insurance with the Jeep bodyshop this time. According to the Bodyshop guy insurance companies are allowed to replace parts with non genuine parts. My concern is how safe are these especially knowing that if a genuine bumper had been used i'd not be going through the expense of having it repaired for a low speed bird strike.
Your thoughts would be welcome especially if any of you have had similar incidents with insurance repairs.
Check your policy. A lot of the so-called "good value" insurers put in their contracts that they can use refurbed or non original parts.The damage to my Jeep was a slight impression in the front bumper, no bigger than a 10p piece. The volvo had a broken headlight, dented bonnet, broken grill and smashed bumper.
Being a perfectionist I got the insurance to sort out my car which they did.
When the car was returned all looked good. Until the otherday when a pigeon hit my car at under 40mph.
The pigeon has gone clean through my bumper which has not only cracked the full length of the off side but has also left a tear type hole in my bumper. On closer inspection the bumper appears to be made of fibreglass...wtf!!!
I questioned the insurance company and the garage, who claim they fixed my old bumper. I told them it was impossible as the old bumper flexed like bumpers were supposed to and was definately not rigid like this one was. They have asked me to put a complaint in which I have.
The Jeep went to the body shop at Jeep and they have confirmed the bumper is not original and is a cheap fibreglass copy. They inspected where the original repair was supposed to have been made and there is no sign of a repair. In my mind this shows that they have replaced my original bumper.
The car is booked in under my insurance with the Jeep bodyshop this time. According to the Bodyshop guy insurance companies are allowed to replace parts with non genuine parts. My concern is how safe are these especially knowing that if a genuine bumper had been used i'd not be going through the expense of having it repaired for a low speed bird strike.
Your thoughts would be welcome especially if any of you have had similar incidents with insurance repairs.
"Looking for cheaper car insurance?"
they are cheap for a reason.....
S3_Graham said:
exactly.
im with admiral and i know full well they will f
k my car up if they repair it... but what can i do?? they were £400 cheaper than the nearest quote....
I am with elephant, same company. I managed to get them to accept my local guys. however I was hit by another guy insured with admiral, so in house. im with admiral and i know full well they will f
k my car up if they repair it... but what can i do?? they were £400 cheaper than the nearest quote.... My sentiments exactly.
I don't ever go for cheapest as I believe you get what you pay for and my insurance is probably medium to verging on the high side. Costs not an issue or i'd not be driving a Hemi lol
I'm not bothered if they use recycled parts as at least they are genuine. What gets on my nerves is the fact they have used fibreglass which is brittle.
I'll definately fight them on this once my car is repaired as I feel I should not have to pay my excess.
Forgot to say the pigeon unfortunately is deceased and kindly left its leg sticking out og the bumper, probably a good job it did die otherwise i'd be expecting a call from one of those no win no fee dodgy lawer firms....;) On a serious note though a pigeon under 40mph should not cause a split 60+ cm in length and punch a whole approx 15cm dia in a modern cars bumper.
Cheers guys
I don't ever go for cheapest as I believe you get what you pay for and my insurance is probably medium to verging on the high side. Costs not an issue or i'd not be driving a Hemi lol
I'm not bothered if they use recycled parts as at least they are genuine. What gets on my nerves is the fact they have used fibreglass which is brittle.
I'll definately fight them on this once my car is repaired as I feel I should not have to pay my excess.
Forgot to say the pigeon unfortunately is deceased and kindly left its leg sticking out og the bumper, probably a good job it did die otherwise i'd be expecting a call from one of those no win no fee dodgy lawer firms....;) On a serious note though a pigeon under 40mph should not cause a split 60+ cm in length and punch a whole approx 15cm dia in a modern cars bumper.
Cheers guys
Edited by S4waynef on Tuesday 11th October 16:58
S4waynef said:
My sentiments exactly.
I don't ever go for cheapest as I believe you get what you pay for and my insurance is probably medium to verging on the high side. Costs not an issue or i'd not be driving a Hemi lol
I'm not bothered if they use recycled parts as at least they are genuine. What gets on my nerves is the fact they have used fibreglass which is brittle.
I'll definately fight them on this once my car is repaired as I feel I should not have to pay my excess.
Cheers guys
Don't waste your time.I don't ever go for cheapest as I believe you get what you pay for and my insurance is probably medium to verging on the high side. Costs not an issue or i'd not be driving a Hemi lol
I'm not bothered if they use recycled parts as at least they are genuine. What gets on my nerves is the fact they have used fibreglass which is brittle.
I'll definately fight them on this once my car is repaired as I feel I should not have to pay my excess.
Cheers guys
Haribo Man said:
I would imagine that this is an issue with the bodyshop as opposed to the insurers. Insurers calculate repair costs based on original parts at the going rate for labour.
Is the body shop one of the insurers own repairers out of interest?
i had a claim with Churchill a few years ago and their policy then was to use OEM parts for cars up 5 years old and then on 'approved' pattern parts. The new bonnet I had was replaced by Churchill a couple of years later under their five year repair warranty because it went rusty. Excellent cost saving there then!Is the body shop one of the insurers own repairers out of interest?
I have also worked in the trade for a German prestige mark supplying parts. When out of body panels some pattern parts were purchased from Euro car parts and the stickering removed then supplied to bodyshops. Once insurers have approved costs they are unable to stop practise such as this from happening
If it was a non-fault accident, the insurer makes no difference, surely? The Volvo owner's insurer should have paid out third party and they have to use original parts.
I didn't have a problem with Elephant when they did the front end of my Elise, but then I doubt anyone makes third-party Elise bits.
I didn't have a problem with Elephant when they did the front end of my Elise, but then I doubt anyone makes third-party Elise bits.
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