Son scraped someone's car...

[Freddyfruitba...]

A while back my son managed to scrape the bumper of another car while parking his (my ) car. Being well brung up, he left a note under the windscreen wiper owning up. Fast forward a bit, and the other driver has contacted him with a quote for almost £400 for the damage, from a franchised dealership.

Here's the thing though. First, this isn't a quote as such - my son walks past this car most days and has noticed that in fact the repair has already been done. Secondly, IMO this is an absolutely mad price... I've seen pics of the damage and the area measured about 1" x 0.5", and was entirely on the plastic bumper; there's no dent or other damage. The guy has clearly taken the vehicle (which unfortunately was on a 17 plate) straight to his main dealer and said 'fix it - the other guy's paying).

Now on the one hand I do sympathise with the guy - he's had his new car scratched by some pratt and wants to be 100% sure it's reinstated to as-new condition. However I do object to the way he's gone about this. My son has texted back pointing out how expensive the quote is, and would he please get another one; and has given the name of a very reputable local body shop who will do a bang-up job for about half that price or less. Hasn't heard back yet!

I'm not sure where my son stands with this really - whereas the guy has been pretty unreasonable in just having the repair carried out in the most expensive way imaginable rather than making any attempt to mitigate his losses, does that carry any water legally, if he decides to push back on the £400? Wouldn't an insurance company have requested more than one quote? What say you, BCF?
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[Polarbear]

Can we see said pics of damage?

Ask to see the receipt if it has already been done. If that is what it cost and is from a reputable garage I don't see he has much choice as he has already admitted liability.

If he is trying it on he won't have a bill and I'd then tell him to take a hike.

Shaft or someone else in the industry will probably be along and can give you a breakdown in prices but for a main dealer I expect thats not excessive. They dont get out of bed for less than 3 figures nowadays.

May I emphasise everything said above is my own opinion and I am in no way a lawyer.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[DrDonnyBrago]

If it required paint and was done at a main dealer I can see even a small repair reaching £400 quite easily and it sounds as though it has already been paid.

I don't think the other guy is being particularly unreasonable - he is already doing you a favour by letting you pay it directly, if you aren't happy then go via insurance.

[Freddyfruitba...]

Thanks.
I don't think there's any doubt that the cost reflects what he's paid; the issue is really whether it's reasonable to have simply gone ahead and had the job done at that price.

I wonder what significance to put on the fact that he's deliberately said "the quote will be £400" as opposed to "the repair cost was £400"...
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[dodsi]

So,

2 things.

If your son had scratched my 2001 Avensis I would have phoned him up from the note and told him not to worry about it.

If he had Scratched 'My' (VW Financial services Ltd) 2016 Superb I would have called and explained that i have taken it to a main dealer and had them sort it at whatever expense and the bill is £££ and expect payment.

[rpsmith79]

Maybe the car owner has just buffed it out

Similar thing happened to my GF, she got side swiped on the motorway by a HGV in her VW Beetle (newish shape one)

After exchanging details, HGV driver said to contact his boss rather than insurance, who would pay for any repairs, scuffed rear wing, broken wing mirror (cover had popped off)

After getting quotes for around the £600 mark and getting paid, i went about fixing the car myself

The wing mirror cover popped back on relatively easily, and with very little visible damage, a couple of cracks on the underside

But the best part was the rear wing, got the rotary polisher out, and got it looking like new, i couldn't believe how much of the scuffing came out, and as the rear wings are plastic, there was no dent or deformation of the wing

So, maybe this guy got lucky and polished the most of it out, but not before getting the most expensive quote possible
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Current Bike: Honda CG125 ES4 // Honda CB600FS Hornet // Triumph Street Triple R

[weasley]

[Devil's advocate]
The guy wants his car to be back to before-incident condition. He wants it done by a reputable business that he trusts or believes in. He wants to maintain the bodywork and paintwork warranty on the car. In summary, he wants it fixed the way he wants it fixed. It should not be up to the third party to decide how this gets done, especially if the third party will push for a cheaper job.

You damaged it, now you pay for fixing it the way I want it fixed.

Actions and consequences. Lessons learned. Would you rather it went through insurers?
[/Devil's advocate]
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[DrSnoosnoo]

If I was stupid enough to buy a brand new car and someone did leave a note. I'd definitely take it into the dealership where I bought it from and say, I want to maintain all my warranties that come with a new car. I want it repaired to an acceptable level, considered by the OEM, so I can continue to drive my new car with new car perks.

"Sir it will cost £... but you will still have guarantees for paint longevity etc" - Do it. He's paying.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Freddyfruitba...]

Alrighty.
Yeah, I suppose you're right. Good to get other's perspectives on it. Thanks for the feedback
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[doggone]

[UnknownStuntm...]

Make him pay it, as others have said it actually isn't that mad.

Make sure the lesson your son learns from this is "be careful when you're driving" and not "don't leave a note next time".

[-]

[AshWebster]

£400 is a lot cheaper than how much telling your insurance will cost over the years
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Honda cg125 J reg peice of shit ---> CB650F ---> 2016 CBR600RR
Ford KA ---> 93' MR2 ---> 94'MR2 ---> 98' Subaru WRX STI Ver 3 (track car)

[Ste]

I wouldn't want a bang up job from some local body shop. I'm going straight to a main dealer to get the bumper replaced and painted. And yes, the other guy is paying.

"the quote will be £400" as opposed to "the repair cost was £400" could just be him being clumsy with words but either way, it doesn't change the fact that it cost £400 to repair the car.

Seeing an invoice for what it cost is better than seeing a quote for what it will cost since you know that he's not just pocketing the money.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[-]

[skatefreak]

I don't think the argument is about getting a new bumper or not, it's about how he's going about it...

I know a couple of garages I could go to and get a new bumper sourced and fitted for a reasonable price.

Then there are dealerships that will add a zero to do exactly the same job whilst serving you a coffee and croissant for the pleasure of your business and that big wad of cash.

Just because someone else is paying doesn't mean you should spitefully take the piss...

That and I'm not sure how a new bumper is going to invalidate a car's 'warranty'... Maybe you need volcano insurance to go with that warranty

All that being said, £400 for a new bumper sourced and fitted is not that unreasonable on a new car however if he's just had it buffed out for £10 then I'd peg him as a slimey c*nt.

[Shaft]

[sickpup]

Price seems fair to me, just pay up.

[grr666]

That's cheap for a new bumper and paint. Surely it doesn't matter what it cost as the sons paying? Right?
Want to play with big boy toys and break them? Then you get big boy bills to go with it. Life lesson.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Hawkeye1250FA]

Keep it going as long as possible for lolz... But yeah eventually pay it. 👍
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1993 RF400R - 2002 Bandit 1200 - 2012 1250 FA

[grr666]

^^^
Uh huh, and that attitude would see a letter from your insurance company on your doormat if you'd pulled
that old shit with me. Enjoy your lulz while you pay more for insurance for the next 4 years.

[Hawkeye1250FA]

Wow. Bet you are a hoot at parties.

It's a joke! And why would you damage your own insurance renewal when someone is offering to pay for it?! Just to save face and teach them not to have lolz. Really??


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1993 RF400R - 2002 Bandit 1200 - 2012 1250 FA

[Pete.]

Bumpers are plastic, not glass. If it's not gouged or cracked then fixing the paint is an appropriate remedy.

The guy's got a dent doctor to fix it for 50 quid and now he's chancing his arm IMO.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[stevo as b4]

I'd be very happy if I can have all the scuffs, on all four corners a 6" strip of roof re-sprayed and a tiny but irritating dent in my cars RHS front wing for £400. I somehow think it'll be a few £££ more than that, but my old bruiser has gotta look clean and tidy or I'd never drive it.