[radz28]

DUDE! I'm sorry I missed this!

First - I'm sorry you have to go through this and am glad you're okay and hope you're doing better.

Second - The bodyshop is more you friend than the insurance company. All the insurnace company wants to do is save money. I worked as an estimator at a bodyshop for more than five years (I hated every minute of it because of the insurance companies and will tell you which was the worst, but will not post here) and had to deal with the crap your estimator is dealing with; it sucks almost as bad as you're getting hit by the other driver.

Third - you SHOULD be dealing with the bodyshop. In California, it is illegal for the bodyshop to do anything the customer does not authorize; though the insurance company will tell you they are only authorizing such-and-such, the law does not really listen to them. It is the responsibility of the bodyshop to do the repair and the insurance company to pay for the repair. In California, the insurance company, by law, can not offer a warranty because they are not approved to perform vehicle repairs, so I would way be more on the bodyshop's side than the insurance company.

Fourth - In California, the customer is always entitled to a written estimate of what is going to be done to the car. Although a person who doesn't work at a bodyshop may not understand what "R&R, R&I, Prime and Block, Tint Color, Section Quarter Panel, etc. means, the bodyshop is responsible to explain it.

It looks to me like either the dealer would have to order a whole outer door opening panel and section it (that would include the entire frame around the doors, from the door hinges at the front door, the roof edge above both doors, the rear door post, rocker panel, and quarter panel) or perhaps a smaller section - sometimes, on cars that don't have seems like yours, quarter panel sections are available. If I still had estimating software, I could totally prepare you a really rough visual estimate but there's more damage underneath.

Originally Posted by Rallysport

I own a bodyshop, so I guess I'm qualified to answer this. Looks to me like you need a new quarter panel. I doubt that your car is totaled, but that depends on the car's value. If the damages exceed 70-75% of your retail value, the car is toast. This all depends on your labor rates where you live. I'm surprised they gave you a rental already, that's great. Just be thankful you are not dealing with Progressive insurance. Believe me, they are the WORST CAR INSURANCE COMPANY on the PLANET. I call them "Regressive" Remember, you are the boss in this situation. Insist on genuine manufacturer parts, no imitation junk! When you get the estimate, and have questions, let me know, I'll help you any way I can. Hope you are okay...sometimes aches or pains may occur in a day or so depending on how hard you were hit. Good luck.

Except for the opinion on Progressive.

Originally Posted by gtahvit

Ok, anyone that can shed some light on this would be a big help.

Situation:

The repair center called me to say that the insurance company wanted to fix my car with used parts. The repair manager, who was doing me a "favor" said, "I don't feel right about making the repair with used parts." and advised me to call the insurance company to ask for new oem parts to be used in my repair. He gave me the "you should have a warranty" line and I bought it. Since he was looking out for me.

So, I called the insurance company with my concern. To which they politely informed me that they stand by their estimate of the repair which calls for "like quality" replacement parts and the repair center would have to justify to them the need for new parts...

So, I call the repair manager back and repeat to him what I was told. He then gives me his sob story that he doesn't work for free and he needs fair compensation for the work he will be required to perform and he will not warranty any used parts unless I am willing to pay the difference... hmmmm.. I then explain to him that he needs to contact the insurance company and decide if he can repair the car within the estimate they provided him. Then I will decide if that repair is acceptable and make a decision as to whether or not I want to take may car somewhere else.


Ok, so here's what I'm thinking about all of this. It seems to me that the repair center is using me to apply pressure to the insurance company to, in short, get more money out of them. And the insurance company is using me as leverage to get them to do the repair for what they estimated...

I'm not a happy camper.......


Any insight would be nice right about now....

Like Quality is a nice way to say used parts. Your adjuster may be a newbie, because I remember newbies from this company but that's beside the point because depending on the way he saw the damage he could've written it for more than it needed. What I mean is, if they want an Like Kind and Quality (LKQ) part, the bodyshop is likely to get a whole section of the car they are removing it from - so that whole corner of the donor car. So they probably want your bodyshop to cut the quarter panel off the chunk of the donor car and put it on yours, but sometimes the bodyshop doesn't push that it is almost like doing double work, opposed to just replacing the quarter panel (because not only do you have to remove the panel off your car, you then have to spend time removing a panel from the LKQ part, clean it and straighten it, and then put it on your car. I'd see if you bodyshop has already looked into sectioning an OEM panel and see what else they need inside, like on the rear body panel, floor, inner and outer wheelhouses, etc. If you need wheelhouses and floor parts, it would may not be practical to use this LKQ chunk of garbage they are suggesting.

Originally Posted by 1_2Many

You shouldn't be dealing directly with the body shop at all except to pick up the car when it's done.

Tell your insurance company they need to deal with the body shop directly.

It is highly unlikely the insurance company would suggest using used parts on anything cosmetic, if you end up with a scuffed or used tail light or something similar I would ask for a new replacement and if they do not agree then file a report to BBB.

Many body shops cut corners to save a buck. Do not feel too sorry for this repair guy...I worked for a body shop for a while and this is typical BS he is telling you. Likely he will get a check from insurance company and cut corners to earn more $$$. If he has any skills at all he will mend the metal and save the new parts costs.

I almost entirely disagree with this post. I don't know what experience this person has in the autobody business or insurance business, but it is your car and you should be involved and you should know what's going on with it. Like I mentioned, in some states, THE CUSTOMER is the only entity to authorize repairs, NO ONE ELSE. Yeah, the insurance company may only agree to pay for a certain aspect of the repair, but then it's up to the bodyshop estimator to be there for you and fight for you; give you tools to get the job done correctly. In the end, who do you think is going to be liable for this repair if you were in another accident and their repairs failed because they allowed the insurance company to dictate how to repair cars, when they don't have the ability or license to repair cars?... Make your concerns clear to the estimator, and if you feel they are not serving your interests, you may have to bring management into the situation and if they do nothing, find another shop.

A lot of what was posted above goes against what I worked so hard for for my customers and is a little offensive, honestly...

Originally Posted by gtahvit

Wow!!!

Awesome information really, thanks everyone.

After reading everyone's thoughts it looks like I'm heading in the right direction.

Here's the update.

I finally spoke with the adjuster, who I'm pretty sure works for the insurance company. And, they are the "At Fault" insurance company, not my own. He explained to me that he would request the claims department to authorize the repair center to do the repair and pay for a warranty. But that would take a few more days.

Or, I could have my car repaired at one of their approved centers and get a life time warranty on all parts and labor whether parts are used (Like kind and quality) or OEM. The warranty would be as long as I own the car and as long as I live in the U.S.

He gave me the number of the preferred center and faxed me the approval rating of that center and explained to me that if they cant find used parts that are adequate then they will authorize new parts to be purchased and installed.

I guess I should have said this up front, the repair center I've been dealing with is a Mazda dealership. So, I don't know why they would be such pains about this whole process.

Bottom line is if I go with the preferred repair center I get a warranty if I go with the dealer I don't.

I've pretty much decided that preferred repair center is the way to go. Unless anyone can see a flaw in my logic.

I WOULD NOT take my car to a shop that repairs for this insurance company. If you do, they are only going to use the rubbish estimate the adjuster wrote. Progressive won't offer you a warranty, because they are not licensed to repair (unless the law is different in your state). The bodyshop would be the ones liable. Now, I will say that I worked at shops that had agreements and contracts with insurance companies, but we never were apart of networks that dictated repairs to our shops. We would agree to lower labor rates and parts discounts, and would sometimes have to use parts that weren't new OEM, but my customers were always informed and if they had questions, I could give them adjusters supervisors they could contact at their insurnace company that would explain what they were paying for in their policy.

What I would consider is opening a claim through your insurance company, and allow them to get involved. It is their job to protect you and they could write this up better and fulfill your expectations better. You will have more leverage with Progressive because you don't have a contract with them, unlike your insurance company, but they could write-up an LKQ part too. I would continue to push the estimator to fight Progressive and if the estimator doesn't help, then I'd let them know you're going to remove the car and take it elsewhere and get your insurance company involved. That might be motivation for your estimator to get off their duff and get on your page.

Keep us posted or PM me

Good luck buddy