Car body repair

[jadow]

Hi all,

My car has been damaged while parked and the insurance are directing me to Inchape Body Shop in Chester. Does anybody have any experience of this shop.

[randomeddy]

Do a general web search and there will be reviews.

I did the same for the body shop my insurance recommended following a bump. The reviews were terrible so I stayed well clear and used a local place.

[jadow]

Thanks for the response, but I have done the general web search and of course all reviews state that they are excellent !!! I am always suspicious when I see this, because nobody is perfect. 1 or 2 bad reviews indicate that the website is genuine. Also, Inchape are a car dealer and so the reviews are probably screwered toward that rater than the body repair shop.

[jadow]

PS. I meant to type rather and not rater

[anonymous-user]

Look at it this way. It's not a twopenny back street repair where they'll disappear if you aren't happy.

Given they have been around years and deal with a lot of company and lease cars I'd suggest they should do a good job and have a process for complaints if you aren't happy.
Plus the insurance company won't want to deal with complaints so they'll have done the due diligence you're trying to do now.

Just get it done, life's to short to worry about things like this.

[Dark85]

You have the legal right to choose who repairs your car, so if you're not confident they'll do a good job take it somewhere else where you are confident. They will argue with you that you're not allowed to do this but they are wrong and know it - ask them to put it in writing and they'll soon back down. However, what they can do is load your excess for using a 'non-network repairer' it's normally an extra £200 but sometimes more. Have a chat with your bodyshop of choice about this and see if you can go halves on the extra or something. If not the approved bodyshop will probably be fine but their priority will be keeping the insurance company happy, not you.

[Wooda80]

Dark85 said:

1)You have the legal right to choose who repairs your car

2) the approved bodyshop will probably be fine.

Dark85 pretty much summed up the situation :-)

[jadow]

Many thanks to all who have responded on this, it is good advise and is much appreciated. My car was hit by another while parked and that persons insurance have admitted liability. I assume I have the same legal right to choose the repair shop when another's insurer are paying, but if not please advise.