Car Repair - Standard Practice

[Thai at Heart]

I had a medium front end accident about 3 weeks ago and took the car to the repair shop recommended by the insurance company.

I have been away on business and have returned 3 weeks later to check on the rather slow repairs.

I have first class insurance, and am a little shocked to see what they have done in terms of repairs. They have bought a new bonnet, bumper and lights but the accident itself caused quite a lot of damage to the braces that hang the various bits at the front of the car. The radiator was shifted back by the impact, and was expecting to see that a new one would have been bought. They have simply knocked the braces at the front back into shape as opposed to purchasing new ones. The impact wasnt large enough to bend the chassis.

We are close friends with the agent who sold us the policy, and she is coming around soon. Of course, I wouldn't expect a new wing where there was a small ding, but in this situation I was expecting to see that 90% of the front end structure of the car externally and internally would be new. In reality, they have put the pieces back in shape and bought new lights, bonnet and bumper. Looking at it, it would have only required about 5 extra new pieces to be bought.

Am I to assume that the shop is going to submit an invoice directly to insurance showing that the parts were new, but in reality have been repaired (common enough all over the world) or is it the case that since the repair can be done this is what is always done. Can I insist to the insurer that I want new parts for the structure of the front? Will this weaken the structure of the car?

If not, then what is the point in having first class insurance if all they are going to do is knock the pieces back into shape and buy a new bonnet and bumper.

[h90]

I had a medium front end accident about 3 weeks ago and took the car to the repair shop recommended by the insurance company.

I have been away on business and have returned 3 weeks later to check on the rather slow repairs.

I have first class insurance, and am a little shocked to see what they have done in terms of repairs. They have bought a new bonnet, bumper and lights but the accident itself caused quite a lot of damage to the braces that hang the various bits at the front of the car. The radiator was shifted back by the impact, and was expecting to see that a new one would have been bought. They have simply knocked the braces at the front back into shape as opposed to purchasing new ones. The impact wasnt large enough to bend the chassis.

We are close friends with the agent who sold us the policy, and she is coming around soon. Of course, I wouldn't expect a new wing where there was a small ding, but in this situation I was expecting to see that 90% of the front end structure of the car externally and internally would be new. In reality, they have put the pieces back in shape and bought new lights, bonnet and bumper. Looking at it, it would have only required about 5 extra new pieces to be bought.

Am I to assume that the shop is going to submit an invoice directly to insurance showing that the parts were new, but in reality have been repaired (common enough all over the world) or is it the case that since the repair can be done this is what is always done. Can I insist to the insurer that I want new parts for the structure of the front? Will this weaken the structure of the car?

If not, then what is the point in having first class insurance if all they are going to do is knock the pieces back into shape and buy a new bonnet and bumper.

I don't know if you can reject it as "not repaired", let it stay there, not signature that it is OK?

[taxexile]

thai workshops are very good at straightening out bodywork and other bent bits , provided the structural integrity of the main parts of the car have not been compromised in the accident then i wouldnt worry about it too much.

an alternative is to negotiate with the insurance company and find out how much they will pay for the repairs and then get a quote for a "western style repair" ( where everything is replaced as new , much of it unecessarily) from a main dealership and for you to pay the difference.

[goingaroundagain]

Your mistake was not going through what was required before giving them the go ahead to fix it. I'd have left the car at home for 3 weeks and had it fixed when I returned.