I Think My Mom Is Being Taken Advantage of for Fender Bender

K G B on 07/03/2022 - 13:19

Hi all,
My mom was involved in a fender bender 1.5 years ago where she hit 5km/h into the back of the car in front of her and damaged the bumper from Toyota Corrola Ascent 2010.
She of course had her insurance lapse by a few weeks at the time (rectified immediately but irrelevant for this problem).

  • She received a bill today for 3.6k from Allianz, 1.9k for labour and rest for parts and painting.
  • They added a few other parts in their list of items and I am unsure if this can be fought or just pay and forget about it?
  • parts list that was replaced:
    • Rear Bumper
    • Beaver Panel
    • LH Crush Can
    • RH Crush Can
    • Rear B/Bar Slide LH
  • She is at fault as she did hit the car but without any evidence (no phone on her at the time) I am unsure how anything can be disputed
  • Insurance stated to get 'desktop assessment' however I can't see anyone would be able to disprove the cost.

Any advice is truly appreciated. I am just afraid she's being taken advantage of. Do you guys think the price is normal or inflated?

Automotive

Comments

  • Hybroid on 07/03/2022 - 13:23
    +6

    Without knowing full context of works undertaken that doesn't seem too unreasonable frankly.

    Both side crush cans being replaced? That's not a 5 KM/h bump.

    Might be worth speaking to a lawyer though.

  • apsilon on 07/03/2022 - 13:23

    Without seeing the damage or knowing what type of car was damaged it's hard to say but doesn't seem unrealistic.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/03/2022 - 13:42
    +1

    Nah anything could have happened in between 1.5 years … but having no proof of damage at the time doesn’t sound too good unfortunately.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/03/2022 - 13:49
    +12

    Was this in North America? Surely we cannot comment on overseas accident damage.

    I have seen cars with 20k/h accidents that have merely scratched the bumper cover but destroyed the crash member behind the bar (bent like a banana). This is what insurance companies have to deal with, can you view the damaged parts? After all they are yours (your mUms) once they are paid for.

    List price on the parts you mentioned comes to about $555 (hatch) and $590 (sedan), the beaver panel and crush cans can be purchased together so shouldn't be separate invoice lines, maybe $160 saving in parts.

  • MS Paint on 07/03/2022 - 13:54
    +7

    5km/h pfffffffffft

    • rektrading on 07/03/2022 - 13:58
      -1

      She was pushing the car and forgot to steer clear.

  • Hithere on 07/03/2022 - 14:00
    +1

    Bit late now to dispute the claim but it does sound about right.

    Damage often looks minor but once the car is stripped down that's when costs add up. Labour is a killer.

    I've seen bills far higher than that when the only thing that's apparent at first glance is a few marks on the back bumper.

  • rektrading on 07/03/2022 - 14:02
    -5

    Deny, deny and deny.

    Then ask for evidence of the repairs.

    • buffalo bill on 07/03/2022 - 16:21
      +1

      Watch Mom get smashed with costs of debt collection, then taken to court to have a judgement made against her.

      • rektrading on 07/03/2022 - 16:23

        Can debt in Australia be forced on an individual without a Court order?

        • buffalo bill on 07/03/2022 - 16:25
          +1

          No, that's why they'll take her to court and seek the costs there.

          • rektrading on 07/03/2022 - 16:26
            -1

            @buffalo bill: But you said "Watch Mom get smashed with costs of debt collection, then taken to court to have a judgement made against her."

            How can the driver be 👊 with debt collection fees before a Court order? Is that even legal in 🇦🇺?

            • buffalo bill on 07/03/2022 - 16:37

              @rektrading: Nice semantics, but long and short of it is Mom is going for a judgement if she goes down your path.

              Bit late for deny deny deny, if OP's Mum was doing that, she should have done it in the carpark.

              • rektrading on 07/03/2022 - 16:39

                @buffalo bill: Delay, delay and delay some more.

                Wear the insurer out until they settle for 50%.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/03/2022 - 14:13

    Is that you Vlad?

    • buffalo bill on 07/03/2022 - 16:14

      Vlad about to get a bill he's not going to be happy with

      • [Deactivated] on 07/03/2022 - 16:23

        Yep - Vlad isn't a happy camper, full stop.

  • Xistn on 07/03/2022 - 14:31

    It's an expensive lesson to learn unfortunately but pay it and accept as a harsh lesson of driving.

    Remember its a privilege to drive, not a right.

  • K G B on 07/03/2022 - 14:34
    +1

    All good guys, thank you for your help, just needed to hear it from someone else.

  • Queue2Queue on 07/03/2022 - 14:40
    +1

    Insurance jobs will most likely replace panels and/or do a full respray on that panel.
    Panel beaters also will charge insurance rates for labour

  • kmwa on 07/03/2022 - 14:41
    +12

    You are going to have to pay, but you can negotiate this down.
    This site https://mva.financialrights.org.au/dtop/ive-received-a-lette… suggests you ask "Is the repair method reasonable given the age, make and model of the car?"
    As Redbook trade-in price https://www.redbook.com.au/cars/details/2010-toyota-corolla-… is $3,500 - $5,200, the repair method is not reasonable - the repair cost is almost the same as the trade-in price.
    The negotiation process is:
    * You should write back to the other party to raise a dispute.
    * You should mark any negotiations “without prejudice” so that they cannot be used as admissions in litigation in the future.
    * You should make a clear offer of a negotiated outcome in your letter (such as a full and final settlement offer of a reduced amount). This can be used in relation to any dispute about the costs of proceedings to show you made genuine efforts to resolve the dispute.

    More suggestions about negotiation here https://www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/Pages/representing/lawassis…
    I'm shocked that an inflated claim like this can come out of the blue, 1.5 years after a minor bingle. Surely they should have contacted you for prior approval of costs before starting the repair.

    • K G B on 07/03/2022 - 15:08
      +1

      That is the thing, they never made contact before, other than typical 'we will get back to you with further information'.
      Thank you so much for the advice. Will give it a go. Really appreciate the time and advice.

  • Euphemistic on 07/03/2022 - 15:13
    +3

    When was the repair carried out? It’s a bit sus if it’s taken so long to get around to getting a repair. If it was repaired straight away why has it taken so long to get back to you?

    I don’t know, but is there any chance the repairs are for additional damages caused at a later date and you could dispute as such? Could you ask for pre repair photos?

    • K G B on 07/03/2022 - 15:51
      +1

      08/11/2021 repair approved and finalised according to papers. My mom had bumper damage and one headlight was damaged due to the other car bumper being as high as the headlight.

      As per @kmwa comment, car repair constitutes 64% of the total car value as per red book. It seems excessive.

      • apsilon on 07/03/2022 - 16:10
        +5

        Rebook values have always been questionable but since start of covid have been very off as used car prices have sky rocketed. If Redbook says $6k it could easily be $12k now for a popular model.

      • jackary on 07/03/2022 - 16:31
        +6

        Lol!!! Find me a 2010 Corolla for between $3500-$5200

      • Euphemistic on 07/03/2022 - 22:21

        The amount of the repairs vs value of the car is not as important in your case. You are responsible for restitution of the damages. $3600 does seem steep, but if legit it’s what it costs to repair the car to the state it was in before the crash. Yes, it could probably be done cheaper for cash, but an insurer will want full repair using new parts, not knocking it back into shape and slapping some paint on.

        Would you rather they said the car isn’t economical to repair so you owe the full value of the car?

  • Quantumcat on 07/03/2022 - 15:26
    +2

    If it were me I would just refuse to pay. Who knows what could have happened to the car in 1.5 years? They might have decided to live with the damage, then later backed into a pole and just remembered they can take a shot at making someone else pay for it. Plus, your mother should have gotten the chance to have multiple quotes.

    • apsilon on 07/03/2022 - 15:34
      +3

      your mother should have gotten the chance to have multiple quotes

      She wasn't the one having the repair done so has nothing to do with the quote process. Multiple quotes may have been done or the other party may have had choice of repairer.

  • kiitos on 07/03/2022 - 15:31

    Does the bill indicate when the repairs were done?

    • K G B on 07/03/2022 - 15:48

      08/11/2021 repair approved and finalised according to papers, and we were informed just yesterday.

      • popsiee on 07/03/2022 - 17:08

        My fault I smashed a car in front of me and bill was send from their Coles insurance to a debt collector .
        If paid immediately they dropped it from 5k to a negotiated just over 3K paid in 7% off Coles MC gift cards .
        Maybe your Mum gets that opportunity as well .

      • kerfuffle on 07/03/2022 - 17:36
        +2

        Why did it take so long to get the car fixed? That's still 1.2 years ago roughly from when the accident occurred

        • apsilon on 07/03/2022 - 17:53

          This is a valid question and should be asked but given we've had lockdowns and supply chain issues it's probably not that unusual.

        • Hithere on 07/03/2022 - 18:11
          +1

          A car accident claim can be lodged up to 6 years after it occurs.

          Really stupid IMO but if the Insurance companies allow it there must be something in it for them.

          • apsilon on 07/03/2022 - 18:24

            @Hithere: Got a link to that? I always though it had to be lodged within a month but the repair could happen any time after that.

          • King Tightarse on 07/03/2022 - 19:13
            +2

            @Hithere: I would not be surprised if the other driver didn't claim until there was more damage of some kind IE reversed into a pole or some such thing and put it through all together with the the insurance as 'not at fault' with your Mum's claim

  • Seraphin7 on 07/03/2022 - 17:23
    -1

    She of course had her insurance lapse by a few weeks at the time (rectified immediately but irrelevant for this problem).

    Of course

  • plmko on 07/03/2022 - 18:50
    +2

    $3.6k is very cheap for an insurance job. They could've gone to town with legal costs etc.

    • Drj55 on 08/03/2022 - 07:58
      +1

      Not to mention 3 weeks car rental if other party had that ticked on their insurance.

  • JimmyF on 07/03/2022 - 19:27
    +4

    Do you guys think the price is normal or inflated?

    Sadly its 'normal' for the type of repair you talk about.

    Even small dents can be a few thousand nowadays due to modern day metallic paint colours needing huge amounts of blending aka painting.

    parts list that was replaced:

    Seems like a standard set of parts replaced for a 'rear' end hit regardless of the speed, they replace them to be sure and well profit too!

    She of course had her insurance lapse by a few weeks at the time (rectified immediately but irrelevant for this problem).

    Not really sure of what your issue is then if she has insurance? Regardless of the cost, either way you look at it, your MUM has a at fault claim, so pay the excess and move on. Does it matter if it was $2k in damages or $10k in damages? Give the bill to the insurance company, pay the excess. Life goes on.

    Unless when you say a 'few weeks' you means months and your MUM couldn't 'renew' her policy as the grace period had expired, then well yes pay the bill and be happy its ONLY $3.6k as it could have been WAY more.

  • tonyjzx on 07/03/2022 - 23:49

    i wonder what the bill would be like if she hit a 2020 Mercedes C63 vs a ten yr old Corolla lol…

    • Euphemistic on 08/03/2022 - 09:03

      Probably not much different. The parts might be more pricey, but labour etc would be much the same for similar damages.

  • WT on 08/03/2022 - 08:10

    of course she is being taken advantage of. The mark up on insurance claims for panel work is huge. No one involved in this is on your mothers side or work for free and without insurance there isnt anything you can do about it.

  • SlickMick on 08/03/2022 - 10:36

    Someone rear-ended me at about 5kph - just dinted the boot in, no other damage. Car was insured for $4k and it was written off.

  • Aust on 09/03/2022 - 00:04
    -1

    What’s with all the Americanisms creeping in.
    We have Mum’s in Aussie land not Mom’s.

    • kerfuffle on 09/03/2022 - 05:57

      The irony of criticising one's own use of the English language when your own isn't perfect either. Ever thought that perhaps the OP was raised in America, considering their use of 'fender bender'?

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