Insurance question about using preferred garage
Discussion
Hi All,
Just a quick question: not concentrating properly, I clipped my Jeep on the corner of my garage's door mechanism last night and it dented the passenger-side front wing/fender.
It is bad enough that Jeep advised a new wing is required and will be offering a quote next week and suggested using insurance to cover the bill.
My insurance is with AXA and they have said they have no problem whatsoever with me using Jeep - especially given my car is only 3 months old - but told me that if they cannot negotiate the same rates for labour as they can get with their own garage network, then I would have to pay the difference.
Is that normal? It is a significant loophole to avoiding using people's preferred garages if it is as they only have to present a large cost difference to put people off.
I'm not too fussed who to use really for the actual work - it is the speed at which the repair will be completed that interests me most and the AXA garage can't even look at it until next Friday which suggest the Dealership I bought the car from would be quicker.
Just a quick question: not concentrating properly, I clipped my Jeep on the corner of my garage's door mechanism last night and it dented the passenger-side front wing/fender.
It is bad enough that Jeep advised a new wing is required and will be offering a quote next week and suggested using insurance to cover the bill.
My insurance is with AXA and they have said they have no problem whatsoever with me using Jeep - especially given my car is only 3 months old - but told me that if they cannot negotiate the same rates for labour as they can get with their own garage network, then I would have to pay the difference.
Is that normal? It is a significant loophole to avoiding using people's preferred garages if it is as they only have to present a large cost difference to put people off.
I'm not too fussed who to use really for the actual work - it is the speed at which the repair will be completed that interests me most and the AXA garage can't even look at it until next Friday which suggest the Dealership I bought the car from would be quicker.
Dracoro said:
If JEEP do not do the work, will that potentially invalidate the bodywork (or any other parts for that matter)! warranty?
I would be checking that with JEEP and the insurance company.
That I would agree with...I would be checking that with JEEP and the insurance company.
It is normal that insurance companies try to force you to use the bodyshop they want - but it is your right to use the one YOU want...
They will normally charge you for the honour in one way or another - after all, they have lost out on a backhander....
Coolbanana said:
Is that normal? It is a significant loophole to avoiding using people's preferred garages if it is as they only have to present a large cost difference to put people off.
It's commonplace. See oldie thread here http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...Lost out on a backhander... People really talk some crap. A company negotiating rates with companies based on volume and preferred supplies lists is not a backhander, it's called business.
Main dealers rarely do bodyshop work themselves and use local independents. For all you know it could end up being the same people.
The work will come with a guarantee irrespective.
Your insurance policy will determine what you can do, it's not uncommon to charge extra to use the garage of choice but in the few cases I've asked to do this (as the innocent party) they've not charged as it was matched.
Main dealers rarely do bodyshop work themselves and use local independents. For all you know it could end up being the same people.
The work will come with a guarantee irrespective.
Your insurance policy will determine what you can do, it's not uncommon to charge extra to use the garage of choice but in the few cases I've asked to do this (as the innocent party) they've not charged as it was matched.
Cheers for all the advice, much appreciated.
The Jeep Dealer is part of the Hughes Group with a main Mercedes/Peugeot/Jeep specialist bodyshop on site too so a dedicated repair centre where I can be assured that genuine parts are used - it is also within 2 miles of a construction project I'm working on so ideally located.
They are providing a quote long before AXA's preferred garage is able to look at my car so there is a few days for AXA and the Bodyshop to come to mutual terms before I give the green light to either; having purchased the car from their Dealership, I'll push for matching rates if I can too as I will be happier seeing the car repaired there.
The Jeep is only damaged cosmetically so all this is not really a big deal, I can still use it while all this is sorted out thankfully.
The Jeep Dealer is part of the Hughes Group with a main Mercedes/Peugeot/Jeep specialist bodyshop on site too so a dedicated repair centre where I can be assured that genuine parts are used - it is also within 2 miles of a construction project I'm working on so ideally located.
They are providing a quote long before AXA's preferred garage is able to look at my car so there is a few days for AXA and the Bodyshop to come to mutual terms before I give the green light to either; having purchased the car from their Dealership, I'll push for matching rates if I can too as I will be happier seeing the car repaired there.
The Jeep is only damaged cosmetically so all this is not really a big deal, I can still use it while all this is sorted out thankfully.
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