Body repairs

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cobsexcel
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Body repairs

Post by cobsexcel »

hello all
I wondered if any of you could recommend a good bodyshop, someone hit my car today in a car park, which has torn off the protective rubber strip and done paintwork/fibreglass damage. Not sure if there may now be some underlying damage such as cracks as they managed to push the front end over by at least a foot from where it was parked.
Thanks for any help its not been a good day

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Alan_M
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Re: Body repairs

Post by Alan_M »

Sorry to hear your car has been damaged. Unfortunately I cannot recommend anywhere, but it might be worth giving your location to help with recommendations.

HC180
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Re: Body repairs

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TAR
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Re: Body repairs

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rbgosling
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Re: Body repairs

Post by rbgosling »

The usual situation is that, since the offender's insurance will be paying for the repairs, they get to choose who does it. They will probably already have a deal with their preferred body shop. You almost certainly do NOT want to go with them, as the likelihood is that they have little or no experience with repairing fibreglass bodywork.

Are you insured with an insurer that specialises in classics? If so, they are likely to be much more sympathetic to your desire to have the repair carried out by someone you have chosen. It is probably worth talking to them, they may be able to approve the repair then they pursue the cost from the offenders' insurance company.

Often with car park dings the offender will prefer to pay for the repair directly, rather than go through insurance, if it's only a few hundred quid - it'll cost them more in the long run to go through insurance, what with excesses and increased future premiums. I've been sympathetic to this in the past (fair enough, I've done this when I've been the offender once or twice), but you MUST insist in this case that you choose the repair shop, and in this case do not even mention it to your insurers at any stage.

I don't have any suggestions on where to go, but it will help if you let us know where you are.

Can you post a photo of the damage?

Good luck getting this sorted!
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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amarshall
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Re: Body repairs

Post by amarshall »

Nonsense. The offending party does not get to choose who carries out repairs, for obvious reasons.

The injured party's insurer may have a deal, but there's no obligation to go with them except for contractual reasons, especially when someone else is paying.

The injured party does, however, have an obligation to keep costs to a reasonable minimum and not seek betterment.

Oh, and you are obliged to inform your insurer because it affects your risk profile and is clearly stated as a requirement in the contract that you agreed with them. Not doing so is fraudulent behaviour and could result in your insurance being cancelled when they find out.
https://www.lotusexcel.co.uk/
SORN - just say NO!

richardw
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Re: Body repairs

Post by richardw »

I don't know where you live, but as well as Lotusbits and Option 1, two repairers recommended to me by Smith & Deakin (the fibreglass specialists) are Collishine in Blackpole, Worcester and The Body Shop in Pershore, Worcestershire.

Richard
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cobsexcel
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Re: Body repairs

Post by cobsexcel »

Thanks for advice, I am going through the insurance as the cost is too high. I should have said I am in Essex. I have spoken to a premier automotive in Chelmsford who were recommended to me by stocks coachworks. Has anyone heard of them, they seem knowledgeable and they had a lotus in there already. My issue with them is there are no reviews and no website.

cobsexcel
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Re: Body repairs

Post by cobsexcel »

I got that wrong its premier autovision ltd

TAR
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Re: Body repairs

Post by TAR »

Mark at Stocks Coachwork is highly regarded on the LotusForums as knowing his stuff with fibreglass. I imagine if the place is recommended by him, it would be fine.
:)

richardw
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Re: Body repairs

Post by richardw »

I understand this company in Stourbridge used to do work for Paul Matty:

http://www.mickhadleyautos.co.uk/

Cheers, Richard
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