Has anyone used an insurance approved repairer, and would anyone recommend using one? I have had big problems in the past with repairers that insurance companies have sent me to, so am very wary about them. I don't know whether to use one, or go to someone of my choice ie: a 300zx specialist??

Problem is, at the moment they have put me in the hands of their Legal Assistance people, they handle "no fault" claims directly through the 3rd parties insurance, so that I don't have to go through my own insurance. These people have approved repairers and provide a courtesy car etc, and say that ONLY "genuine" Nissan parts will be used, and repairs have a 3 year warranty! If I want to go to say "Zedworld" or some other specialist of my choice, then I can, but then it will go through my own insurance.

Any advice will be very gratefully received, thanks in advance.

ive done both routes for separate reasons....

Had my Pug estate repaied "locally" cos I wanted a guy I knew to do it. Just simple drivers door screwdrivered.

If I had gone approved route the chances are I would have had a reskinned door which I didnt want.

I just told the local guy to mig in the half inch crack and dont disturb the door skin.

On a previous occasion I let an approved repairer have my virtually new Sapphire Cosworth in Moonstone pearl paint. I really wanted an RS Ford dealer to do it but insurance advised on a non RS ford dealer.. So I took it and asked to see the bodyshop manager. I handed him a written note. It said.. "If I can see which panels you have painted and which you havent I will not accept this car back. But Im not in a hurry."

He read it, looked up and said" Ill need three weeks"

He called in three weeks and I picked it up... perfect, I couldnt tell, so I thanked him and then asked what he had painted.

His reply was a classic.

"Ive done it all" he said Both sides front to rear.

It only went in for a pair of damaged front doors. LOL

They are trying to right my Zed off!!!

I took her for an estimate, was told to take car in today and collect courtesy car. Got courtesy car, left mine, when I got home, they rang & told me I would have to give their car back (I am returning it tomorrow & collecting mine again) as an engineer had decided my car was a roadgoing right off, as it was too expensive to repair!!!!! I asked what the estimate had been, and was told £2,500 (where the hell does he get THAT price from)!! The guy who did the estimate had said that he would use second hand parts to keep the costs down!!!!! He obviously quoted for brand new parts.

What can I now do to stop the car being written off????

Car needs front wing, front bumper, either door skin or repair to door.

try taking the car and a lump of cash from the insurance company. but dont take there first offer as it will be peanuts. i had a vr6 golf and the binman run up the side of it. there was a light scrape through the door and the back arch. i reckoned on a few hundred quid to put right. they said it wasd gonna cost 2000+ as it needed a new door skin and quarter. i ended up gettin 1500 and the car back. it cost me 350 to get the car resprayed and repaired. i only paid 1100 for it.

bumper, wing and door even fitted shouldnt be too much. £2500???? 2nd hand parts? thats a bit of a salty labour charge from where im sitting. are you sure thats all it needs? if its had the A-pillar thats where the money comes in and i think thats a reasonable price then.

si.

bumper, wing and door even fitted shouldnt be too much. £2500???? 2nd hand parts? thats a bit of a salty labour charge from where im sitting. are you sure thats all it needs? if its had the A-pillar thats where the money comes in and i think thats a reasonable price then.

si.

 

No, that is defo all it needs, the A-pillar is not damaged at all. There is NO serious damage.

What he has estimated is obviously using NEW Nissan parts, not second hand parts, although he said he would do seperate estimates for using both new & s/h parts when he did the original estimate!!

You have the legal choice of where your car goes for repairs.

 

I had a similar situation 2 years ago. I needed a new front bumper, front wing and headlight. (Not to mention the fitting, spraying etc etc....)

 

The engineer valued the car at a decent price but said owing to the cost of parts the "authorised repairer" obtained the car was bordering on a write-off.

 

I spoke to the manager of said garage and he confirmed he had asked Nissan for parts prices. I gave him Mike Feeney's number and suggested he obtain new parts from him instead (also gave me the chance to get a '99 spec front :dance: ).

 

This brought the price right down, they gave me a courtesy car and finished the repairs. I wasn't happy with the car when I first got it back, as I thought the bumper didn't sit straight. However they took it back and put i right, I only accepted the car once I was happy with it ad they didn't mind me being so picky.

 

Richard :)

You have the legal choice of where your car goes for repairs.

 

I had a similar situation 2 years ago. I needed a new front bumper, front wing and headlight. (Not to mention the fitting, spraying etc etc....)

 

The engineer valued the car at a decent price but said owing to the cost of parts the "authorised repairer" obtained the car was bordering on a write-off.

 

I spoke to the manager of said garage and he confirmed he had asked Nissan for parts prices. I gave him Mike Feeney's number and suggested he obtain new parts from him instead (also gave me the chance to get a '99 spec front :dance: ).

 

This brought the price right down, they gave me a courtesy car and finished the repairs. I wasn't happy with the car when I first got it back, as I thought the bumper didn't sit straight. However they took it back and put i right, I only accepted the car once I was happy with it ad they didn't mind me being so picky.

 

Richard :)

 

Who is Mike Feeney, does he supply NEW parts then, and are they original Nissan parts at a much lower price?

try taking the car and a lump of cash from the insurance company. but dont take there first offer as it will be peanuts. i had a vr6 golf and the binman run up the side of it. there was a light scrape through the door and the back arch. i reckoned on a few hundred quid to put right. they said it wasd gonna cost 2000+ as it needed a new door skin and quarter. i ended up gettin 1500 and the car back. it cost me 350 to get the car resprayed and repaired. i only paid 1100 for it.

 

 

Yeh, that is a good way to do it, but the problem with this is, the car is then a cat 'C' (I think it is) right off, and I think that affects the resale value massively, and maybe your future insurance premiums, though not sure about that.

hh

What do you mean hh???

Who is Mike Feeney, does he supply NEW parts then, and are they original Nissan parts at a much lower price?

 

Hi MAte,

 

Me is AKA MJP Auto in the traders section.

 

He can supply genuine Nissan parts cheaper than Nissan ever will. Great service from him too - thoroughly recommended :cool:

 

Good luck,

 

Richard :)