I'm not really asking anything here, rather telling you about what can happen.
Herself was involved in a minor collision in which her car was damaged. There is no dispute about liability: the other driver drove into her while her car was stationary, and instantly admitted that he was at fault.
One wing of her car is crumpled, and a perfect repair would require a replacement wing and a paint job, and she would require a replacement car for a couple of days. You could easily visualise the job running to four figures.
Now, it's an old car, albeit well-maintained and in very good order. She might get €1500 if she sold it, but she is considering availing of the scrappage scheme later in the year. In those circumstances, we had a think about things and agreed between ourselves that we would settle for a cheap repair that would not be quite perfect, and that she could borrow my car for a couple of days (she needs a car more than I do). Our opening offer to the other party was €250 for the actual work, and that we would discuss a supplementary sum to cover some out-of-pocket expenses and to compensate me (at a modest level) for being without my car for a couple of days.
The insurer proposes that the repair be conducted by one of their approved workshops, and that they arrange the provision of a courtesy car. Chances are that they will spend €1000 rather than the €350-400 we had in mind.
Their defences against inflated claims mean that they cannot cope with a deflated claim. She intends to contest their approach, and expects to lose the argument.
Herself was involved in a minor collision in which her car was damaged. There is no dispute about liability: the other driver drove into her while her car was stationary, and instantly admitted that he was at fault.
One wing of her car is crumpled, and a perfect repair would require a replacement wing and a paint job, and she would require a replacement car for a couple of days. You could easily visualise the job running to four figures.
Now, it's an old car, albeit well-maintained and in very good order. She might get €1500 if she sold it, but she is considering availing of the scrappage scheme later in the year. In those circumstances, we had a think about things and agreed between ourselves that we would settle for a cheap repair that would not be quite perfect, and that she could borrow my car for a couple of days (she needs a car more than I do). Our opening offer to the other party was €250 for the actual work, and that we would discuss a supplementary sum to cover some out-of-pocket expenses and to compensate me (at a modest level) for being without my car for a couple of days.
The insurer proposes that the repair be conducted by one of their approved workshops, and that they arrange the provision of a courtesy car. Chances are that they will spend €1000 rather than the €350-400 we had in mind.
Their defences against inflated claims mean that they cannot cope with a deflated claim. She intends to contest their approach, and expects to lose the argument.