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This is a really long post! Sorry, but hopefully if you make it to the end and look at the photos someone might have some comments to make!
I know there’s been a few hail-related posts on here recently and I thought I would share my own story (and pictures) in the hope of receiving advice from those more knowledgeable than myself.
Basically, my 13-month old Tiguan got caught in Perth’s recent ‘great hailstorm’ and it resulted in some pretty major bumps along the right hand side of the car, the roof, upper portion of the tailgate and bonnet. The left hand side of the car escaped relatively unscathed. I’m insured with SGIO and, due to going to Japan for a couple of weeks, I only recently had the car assessed.
The guy who saw the car at the assessment centre was genuinely unsure about whether the car was a write-off. He gave me the name of a repair place close to my home and instructed me to find out if the repairer thought the side ‘turret structure’ and roof would need to replaced or whether the damage could be repaired in place. He didn’t tell me to get a quote¬ – literally all he wanted was a written indication from the repairer of what his opinion was. He then wanted me to come back to the assessment centre with this opinion. If the panels had to be replaced he was of the view that the car would be written off. Incidentally, while the assessor was off finding the contact details of the repairer, another assessor came along, took one look at the car, and pronounced that she was ‘a goner’.
Thinking it was a bit strange, I made my way to the repairer and spoke to a guy who seemed very confused about my instructions. He spoke to someone at SGIO and then, after having assured me that ‘anything’s repairable’, proceeded to do a quote.
A few days ago he called me and said that he had submitted a quote for the work and that SGIO had authorized him to proceed with the repair. The roof, bonnet and two right-hand doors would be replaced, the turret (including A pillar damage) and tailgate would be repaired in place. The damage on the parts he intends to replace is less serious than the damage on the parts intended to be repaired. Total cost: $14,638.71
I thanked him, hung up the phone and very quickly called SGIO. The girl I spoke to was very helpful and I explained my concerns about having the most seriously damaged part of the car repaired rather than replaced and explained I was suspicious that the repairer had submitted a quote knowing that if he had needed to replace the two most expensive panels, he would probably not have gotten the work. As you can see from the photos, the damage on the turret is much worse than any other part of the car (i.e the dents are MUCH bigger).
Eventually, a senior assessor called me back and I explained I wanted a second opinion. He tried to talk me out of it and implied that if I sought a second opinion and the original repairer had already ordered parts, then I would probably be held liable for payment of the parts if I decided against going ahead with the repair. I thanked him for his help, hung up the phone and consulted the policy documents; those documents made it clear that the company could do nothing unless I authorized them to act on my behalf. I also had the right to seek my own quotes and repairs. I called back and spoke again with the first nice girl (what a coincidence!). I very nicely explained that at no stage had I given SGIO specific instructions as to what I wanted to happen – either organizing repairs myself or letting SGIO do it for me – and that my first contact with the repairer had been in the context of seeking his advice. I indicated that, should SGIO go ahead with the repairs it would be in breach of its contracted terms of service with me. The girl was very nice and promised to get back to me. About 30 minutes later I had her assurance that the claim would go no further until I had my second opinion.
I spoke with the dealer from where I bought the car and they provided me with their ‘preferred repairer’ and I have a booking to get an assessment in a few weeks.
I guess my question is to those who have some experience with repairs. Do you think the damage looks like it should be ‘repaired in place’, particularly the damage to the turret and pillars. Secondly, what can I do if they insist that the damage should be repaired in place? I’m not fussed one way or another about a write-off, but I feel very uncomfortable about the ability of the larger dents on the side to returned to ‘as new’ condition. At the very least I’d like the panels replaced, rather than ‘banged out’ and gap-filled up!
I suspect my attempt to embed photos has failed, so here's a link to my Flickr page.
Thoughts and advice or general comments on the damage appreciated!
I know there’s been a few hail-related posts on here recently and I thought I would share my own story (and pictures) in the hope of receiving advice from those more knowledgeable than myself.
Basically, my 13-month old Tiguan got caught in Perth’s recent ‘great hailstorm’ and it resulted in some pretty major bumps along the right hand side of the car, the roof, upper portion of the tailgate and bonnet. The left hand side of the car escaped relatively unscathed. I’m insured with SGIO and, due to going to Japan for a couple of weeks, I only recently had the car assessed.
The guy who saw the car at the assessment centre was genuinely unsure about whether the car was a write-off. He gave me the name of a repair place close to my home and instructed me to find out if the repairer thought the side ‘turret structure’ and roof would need to replaced or whether the damage could be repaired in place. He didn’t tell me to get a quote¬ – literally all he wanted was a written indication from the repairer of what his opinion was. He then wanted me to come back to the assessment centre with this opinion. If the panels had to be replaced he was of the view that the car would be written off. Incidentally, while the assessor was off finding the contact details of the repairer, another assessor came along, took one look at the car, and pronounced that she was ‘a goner’.
Thinking it was a bit strange, I made my way to the repairer and spoke to a guy who seemed very confused about my instructions. He spoke to someone at SGIO and then, after having assured me that ‘anything’s repairable’, proceeded to do a quote.
A few days ago he called me and said that he had submitted a quote for the work and that SGIO had authorized him to proceed with the repair. The roof, bonnet and two right-hand doors would be replaced, the turret (including A pillar damage) and tailgate would be repaired in place. The damage on the parts he intends to replace is less serious than the damage on the parts intended to be repaired. Total cost: $14,638.71
I thanked him, hung up the phone and very quickly called SGIO. The girl I spoke to was very helpful and I explained my concerns about having the most seriously damaged part of the car repaired rather than replaced and explained I was suspicious that the repairer had submitted a quote knowing that if he had needed to replace the two most expensive panels, he would probably not have gotten the work. As you can see from the photos, the damage on the turret is much worse than any other part of the car (i.e the dents are MUCH bigger).
Eventually, a senior assessor called me back and I explained I wanted a second opinion. He tried to talk me out of it and implied that if I sought a second opinion and the original repairer had already ordered parts, then I would probably be held liable for payment of the parts if I decided against going ahead with the repair. I thanked him for his help, hung up the phone and consulted the policy documents; those documents made it clear that the company could do nothing unless I authorized them to act on my behalf. I also had the right to seek my own quotes and repairs. I called back and spoke again with the first nice girl (what a coincidence!). I very nicely explained that at no stage had I given SGIO specific instructions as to what I wanted to happen – either organizing repairs myself or letting SGIO do it for me – and that my first contact with the repairer had been in the context of seeking his advice. I indicated that, should SGIO go ahead with the repairs it would be in breach of its contracted terms of service with me. The girl was very nice and promised to get back to me. About 30 minutes later I had her assurance that the claim would go no further until I had my second opinion.
I spoke with the dealer from where I bought the car and they provided me with their ‘preferred repairer’ and I have a booking to get an assessment in a few weeks.
I guess my question is to those who have some experience with repairs. Do you think the damage looks like it should be ‘repaired in place’, particularly the damage to the turret and pillars. Secondly, what can I do if they insist that the damage should be repaired in place? I’m not fussed one way or another about a write-off, but I feel very uncomfortable about the ability of the larger dents on the side to returned to ‘as new’ condition. At the very least I’d like the panels replaced, rather than ‘banged out’ and gap-filled up!
I suspect my attempt to embed photos has failed, so here's a link to my Flickr page.
Thoughts and advice or general comments on the damage appreciated!
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