Insurance claim advice.
 

In the last 6 months I've had the front end damaged and the back end damaged.
Both going through the insurance.
One is current at 50%50 and the other is still waiting to hear back from the 3rd party.

I went to see the body shop that I trust for two quotes.
Front and rear.

Front requires new bumper, wing, head ligt and wing support.
All be painted and blending on the bonnet, drivers door and passenger wing.

The rear needs new bumper and blending in to the boot and rear wings.

Both quotes got sent off. No extra parts, no over inflation in work required.

Insurance company rejected the quotes.
They phoned the garage up and tried negotiating the price as their engineers did not agree.

I phoned the insurance up and asked what I going on and they said its policy that if the engineer does not agree the quote at that garage you can't do it there.
Your options are to use there garage, pay for it yourself and claim back, get a cheaper quote and get that approved or claim directly from the 3rd party's insurance if they accept liability.

Slightly annoyed is an understatment.

The only option im willing to entertain is the 2nd quote but if its less than my garage, they will approve that one.

I want my garage to do, ive seen his work and more than happy with it. Other garages, i feel have been poo.

Im wondering if they have me over a barrel or if there something im missing?

I do feel ashamed for using the line "Do you know its a A8 and not some ford?"

Who's the insurer? sounds a bit tight to me. I'd get 2 other (higher) quotes and tell them that their's was unreasonable ;)

I'm going to go to Audi and see what they say.

I'd rather not say at this point.

I'm more annoyed cause it's a genuine quote and not a over inflated one.

Did your garage say how far off they were i.e. what were the engineers trying to get them down to? I can imagine your garage may have one rate for labour (which is correct imo) but some 'approved' garages have a different rate for insurers, keeping their costs down but ensuring they get more work. It is probably this reason they are saying it's high

Chatting to my garage they wanted him to drop 10 hours off the rear and something like 15/20 off the front.

He refuses to drop quality if he's putting his name to it.

He will maintain his quality and quality products.
Which is fair enough but the insurance company don't seem to see it like that.

I got a second quote as requested.

The quoted the rear at £300 more than my first garage.
Insurance company authorised this quote.

The front quote was £1000 less.
The new garage never priced up a new bumper, wing support or for painting the bonnet or other wing (wing not needed if the bumper is being fixed).

I find it odd that they approved a quite that was more that first quote that they declined due to it being to much money.

I've asked them to explain why.

See what they say.

Sounds like someone is getting a backhander!