Accident repair - what are the rules?

[Mostly Grouchy]

Some idiot scraped the front right corner of my new A3 when it was parked at the side of the road. Can anyone point me to where it actually says that repairs must be done by Audi to maintain the warranty, please? Direct Line Insurance swear blind they are an approved repair centre and warranty will not be affected, Audi's body shop (Pentagon, Hatfield) say that's not true. What should I do? The Pentagon quote is enormous and it's going to affect next year's insurance cost, is it worth it?

Thanks!

 

[h5djr]

Contact Audi Ensurance. This is a service that comes free with every new Audi that 'ensures' that you can have you car repaired by an Audi approved repaired. This is their website: https://audi-ensurance.co.uk/getcover/

 

[Ryanytchan]

Is there a list of all UK approved repairers somewhere?

 

[voorhees]

My missus was hit totally not her fault,Seat had an accident thing in place which said it'll sort it all,the courtesy car is nearly 60 quid a day for a Corsa and the repair has been delayed,a cynic would say they are fleecing insurance company

 

[Mostly Grouchy]

Is there a list of all UK approved repairers somewhere?

This seems to do the job: http://www.vwgroup-paintandbody.co.uk/googleCentreLocator.asp?serviceId=

This clearly shows that Direct Line's own bodyshop (UK Assistance in Hatfield) is not VAG approved. The Audi warranty information says that only an Audi-approved repair centre can issue a certificate that the repair work is covered by and does not affect the original paint and corrosion warranties. This was directly contradicted by the DL telephone operator, who insisted quite aggressively that my warranties would not be affected. It's a mess and leaves me asking is this all legal?

Are Audi allowed to restrict repairs to their own chosen centres if customers want to retain their warranty? They can't do this with servicing any more, I believe, but can they with accident repairs?
Are insurers allowed to tell customers that using their own repair shops won't affect the original warranty, when apparently it will?

I am inclined to suspect the insurers of being the more villainous of the two parties, but neither look good. I definitely feel insurers should be obliged to declare that they have a financial interest in the repair centre they are proposing to use, and that the insured has a legal right to use somewhere else if they want to.

 

[Dtwm1]

If you've got the third party details then you can nominate a repairer.

If you don't you'll be pretty much forced to use their appointed bodyshop as they have agreements regarding labour rates and repair times etc. try speaking to a manager and explain the warranty issue. They might have another authorised repairer thats further away than you can use but it would normally mean you dropping the car off there yourself if it's driveable. If you have guaranteed hire car then they should deliver/pick you up from there making it a bit easier.

Personally, my previous car was rear ended at no point was I asked where the repair was done, they basically said if it passes inspection when it's returned to the lease company there not bothered.

Audi ensurance is nothing more than an accident management company, they charge insurance companies ridiculous rates for car hire and admin hence why it's free. It's well known that non-fault business is very lucrative and everyone wants it.

How do I know? I work for do biggest car hire company in the UK and specialise in insurance replacements.

 

[veeeight]

I chose DL, because I was able to specify my own choice of repairer.

 

[Flibble]

My missus was hit totally not her fault,Seat had an accident thing in place which said it'll sort it all,the courtesy car is nearly 60 quid a day for a Corsa and the repair has been delayed,a cynic would say they are fleecing insurance company

£60 a day for a Corsa?! How do they justify that?

 

[voorhees]

£60 a day for a Corsa?! How do they justify that?

I think thats the beauty of it they don't have to,hire prices vary but thats taking the mick

 

[HawkeyeS3]

It is your right to say where you want the repair done. Insurance companies will always lean on you to use their own 'approved' centres as they have negotiated rates.

Insist on using a VAG approved body shop or dealer for the repair. It is your right, and then there can be no dispute in the event of any warranty claim.

 

[steeve]

It is your right to say where you want the repair done. Insurance companies will always lean on you to use their own 'approved' centres as they have negotiated rates.

Insist on using a VAG approved body shop or dealer for the repair. It is your right, and then there can be no dispute in the event of any warranty claim.

Agree completely..............

 

[jasonc]

My missus was hit totally not her fault,Seat had an accident thing in place which said it'll sort it all,the courtesy car is nearly 60 quid a day for a Corsa and the repair has been delayed,a cynic would say they are fleecing insurance company

The whole "no fault" insurance system that is currently in place is crazy and is full of companies that inflate the amounts claimed to 5 times what they should be.

I've had somebody run into the back of my last two cars. The first time I went through my insurance who used an accident management firm - they loaned me a Peugeot RCZ and billed it to the insurance at £200 per day (it took them a month to return my car, do the maths!). The second time round (only a few weeks ago) I went straight to the Audi dealer and used their accident claims firm - they loaned me a convertible BMW 320D and billed the insurance £350 per day! In the second case the damage was very minor and I was quoted about £600 to put it right - after the claims firm has been involved the insurance claim would have been about £4000 - nuts!

 

[Dtwm1]

It really is a joke, I recall reading an article that said accident management companies add between £60-100 a year onto everyone's premium, looking in other insurance forums that's 20% of the premium.

I personally would call the at fault insurer straight away and sort it. By going direct you can still chose who does the repair, no excess to pay and wait to be refunded, you'll get a like for like car or better from a reputable hire car company that won't start charging for stone chips once you return it and insurance companies aren't being ripped off.

Using rates agreed with the association of British insurers a corsa would be £30ish a day and a 320d about £80/100. Claims managements companies have had their day now just like the crack down on personal injury.

Forgive the article being daily mail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ers-thats-sending-YOUR-premiums-sky-high.html

 

[Dtwm1]

Also, if you have a bump and the insurer offers you a car and you decline and go to an accident management company and get a 320d for £350 a day as @jasonc did because you've rejected the initial offer the insurers won't cough up for the bill meaning the claims management company will be after you for it.

 

[h5djr]

Audi ensurance is nothing more than an accident management company, they charge insurance companies ridiculous rates for car hire and admin hence why it's free. It's well known that non-fault business is very lucrative and everyone wants it.

Audi Ensurance is more than just an accident management company. In their cover document are the clauses:

We guarantee that if your Audi is damaged in an accident, it will be repaired in an Audi Insurance approved repairer by Audi trained technicians who will only use genuine Audi parts and paints, and if costs any more we'll pay.

We will pay any repair costs not covered by your motor insurance policy incurred because you have chosen to have your vehicle repaired at an Audi Insurance approved repairer using Audi approved parts and paints

It sounds to me that this would cover the problem the OP is having. All you have to do is register your Audi with them over the internet and it's free to you.

In the past I have told my insurance company that my Audi is covered by a bodywork warranty and I will arrange for it to be repaired by an Audi Approved bodyshop. They have tried to make me take my car to one of their own approved repairers but I have just said no.

 

[Dtwm1]

An insurance company won't invalidate your warranty through parts. It wouldn't be worth the hassle if you ever got a warranty claim rejected.

I have known it to be common practice for the body shop to provide you with a list of parts and part numbers used. Also the difference they cover is £2,500.

I simply don't agree in ripping off insurance companies that ultimately affects us all.

 

[jasonc]

Also, if you have a bump and the insurer offers you a car and you decline and go to an accident management company and get a 320d for £350 a day as @jasonc did because you've rejected the initial offer the insurers won't cough up for the bill meaning the claims management company will be after you for it.

I didn't decline a car and I didn't make any special demands about the replacement car, I just took what I was given. It was all handled by the scheme operated by my local Audi dealer - they deal with the 3rd party insurers and they guarantee that you won't be liable for any cost, even if the insurer didn't pay out in full. From my point of view (as the "not at fault" driver) it is a good scheme - I take the car straight to Audi and they look at the damage, an hour later I get a phone call and I give the details of the accident, the next day I drop the car in to Audi and they hand me a decent car to use while it's being fixed, no hassle (although I am aware that using these schemes is not helping any of our insurance premiums!).

 

[Dtwm1]

I wasn't saying you declined just an example of the prices charged. Charges for hire cars months after the accident are big problem in the industry.

I agree it sounds easy but normally it's just as easy to arrange yourself, normally one phone call to the insurance company the you recieve a call from the hire car provider and the body shop.

 

[jasonc]

I wasn't saying you declined just an example of the prices charged. Charges for hire cars months after the accident are big problem in the industry.

I agree it sounds easy but normally it's just as easy to arrange yourself, normally one phone call to the insurance company the you recieve a call from the hire car provider and the body shop.

The problem with letting your insurance company handle the claim is you have no idea where your car will be repaired. I used this approach when my last Audi got hit - my car got sent to a body shop 100 miles away and when it came back there was a big chip in the new paintwork which they had tried to hide by sticking the S3 badge back on in completely the wrong place!

I know that you can try to insist that the car is repaired by a specific bodyshop (some insurers definitely don't allow this) or you can negotiate direct with the 3rd party insurer (I was hit by a hire car and still don't know who this is) but its all a lot more hassle and carries more risk than just using the scheme at the Audi dealer.