Car insurance issue

Ace Modder · 14 Sep 2016 at 10:56

Hi

I accidently reversed into a car last week. It was a low speed ding. I just lifted the clutch and the car rolled back into another car.
The driver was in the car. He came out of his car ****** and jeffing!

Anyway there was zero damage to either car visually.
Here is what happened to my car.

As for his car, there was zero damage that either of us could see on the bumper etc on his car (sadly I didnt take a photo at the time).

However I gave him my contact info anyway. I have just got a text from him

"Hi Lee, sorry it's as I've been busy with work. The best quote we had for the biumper is £130. Did you want to pay cash or go via insurance"

I'm not sure what to do here. I feel that the bumper was fine and there was zero damage to either car.
I know roughly where the guy lives, so do you think I should go round and take a look at his car to see if there is any damage to it? (maybe even take a photo etc for my evidence)

Of course IF I have damaged his car, I am 100% happy and willing to pay him to get it fixed, but I'm concerned he maybe trying to pull a fast one on me. As I said say at the time if he finds anything wrong with the car mechanically I would cover it for him. I feel as if he is trying to push for some money as he thinks I want to avoid insurance on this.

wedrum · 14 Sep 2016 at 10:57

honestly just pay it and get something in writing.

MooMoo444 · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:02

Probably chancing it that you'll offer cash and then they just pocket it. £130 for no effort at all.

Ace Modder · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:03

MooMoo444 said:
Probably chancing it that you'll offer cash and then they just pocket it. £130 for no effort at all.

Thats what I'm thinking to be honest. But if it is honest, I'm more than happy to pay it. I'd rather not do insurance for the sake of £130 but I feel that he maybe trying to pull a fast one on me.

Worth me asking him for the copy of the receipt and advise I will need a copy of the invoice from the garage in order to pay it.

tom_e · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:04

Tell him you want to go down the insurance route and see what he says, if he's just a chancer and it sounds very much like he might be then that should put him off considering it's going to raise his premium and he won't be getting cold hard cash.

Jamesyboyjim · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:09

I'm not saying this is what you should do, but if you suspect foul play, I would just sneak round have a look and grab a picture. If there isn't even a mark then you could argue that but you could also ask where he got that price from and you will pay the repairer directly.

Hilly · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:09

or tell him that you'll pay for the car once the work is done - where's he getting it done from and when and you'll pop in to pay the company.

Ace Modder · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:12

I think a reply along the lines of "Hi, OK, I will need to a receipt as it will be paid for via my company as it is a company vehicle. I would need a receipt from the garage and I would prefer to pay the garage directly as I will be using a company credit card for the payment"

Sound reasonable?

MooMoo444 · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:14

Can't imagine there would be any issue with going for pictures. I wouldn't go snooping in peoples garages or whatever though. If he is legitimate he shouldn't have anything to hide if you ask for pictures.

tom_e · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:14

Sounds sensible to me. Although there is always the chance that it's his mates garage and he'll end up pocketing the cash one way or another but I suppose there's always a way to fleece you if they really want to.

krisboats · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:15

While the bumper may have looked fine, it could have snapped mounting brackets or aplit it further round where its attached. While i dont think you should be quick to judge him (you did hit him after all) you could always ask for the receipt of work done before you stump over the money.

Just phrase it like 'send me a copy of the bill once its all sorted and i'll wing over the full amount it comes to.'

Rotty · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:16

Ace Modder said:
I think a reply along the lines of "Hi, OK, I will need to a receipt as it will be paid for via my company as it is a company vehicle. I would need a receipt from the garage and I would prefer to pay the garage directly as I will be using a company credit card for the payment"

Sound reasonable?

yes

Ace Modder · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:22

OK, I text him back with "Hi, OK that is fine, for the value it doesn't make sense to go via insurance for either of us. I will need a receipt from the garage as it will be paid for via my company as it is a company vehicle. I need to pay the garage directly as I will be using a company credit card. "

He has replied "ok thats fine. I will arrange for it to be done and let you know the details. Thanks"

So based on his reply I feel better now, don't think he is pulling a fast one now.

EDIT: he has text back saying the damage is a 8inch crack in the bumper. So feel like he is genuine now. The crack could have been missed as his car was a very dark blue colour.

IAmATeaf · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:54

I think you should have stated the amount that he quoted, what if the bill comes to more than £130? Your reply makes it sound like you'll pay regardless when I'm sure you meant the £130 quoted?

Ace Modder · 14 Sep 2016 at 11:58

Well he told me it is £130 quote now. I aint paying more. My text says for the value... it's not worth using insurance. So to me that's the agreed amount.

Gaygle · 14 Sep 2016 at 12:24

If you're paying it to the garage then I wouldn't worry about being done over. Even then, £130 to repair an 8inch crack in a bumper and spray it?!

I can't get anyone at a body shop to give me the time of day for less than £300!

Ace Modder · 14 Sep 2016 at 12:49

Gaygle said:
If you're paying it to the garage then I wouldn't worry about being done over. Even then, £130 to repair an 8inch crack in a bumper and spray it?!

I can't get anyone at a body shop to give me the time of day for less than £300!

Yes, £130 does seem very cheap, which was my main reason I was concerned he was ripping me off - but now I'm happy he isn't.

agnes · 14 Sep 2016 at 12:56

Probably because they won't repace the bumper, they'll likely fill it, sand it and spray it. 2 hours work.

kaiowas · 14 Sep 2016 at 13:00

It's more likely to be a crack in the paint rather than the bumper itself so it'll just be a simple respray job I'd have thought.

agnes · 14 Sep 2016 at 13:02

kaiowas said:
It's more likely to be a crack in the paint rather than the bumper itself so it'll just be a simple respray job I'd have thought.

Or that. The bumper alone would be £130 depending on how new the car is.

So yea, it can't be bad.