UGH! More car insurance "fun"

[cabmandone]

My wife had a boo boo with the Highlander Hooked a post pulling into a car wash, my fault for buying her an unlimited wash package, and dented the rear door enough that it needs to be replaced. So I go to a few shops to get estimates and submit them to my insurance (they only required 1 ) They use the estimate I got from a shop I was okay with and sent an approved estimate. Meanwhile I find out the shop I wanted to use has no written guarantee for the paintwork! This is a pretty big shop mind you. The guy who gave me the estimate said "we stand behind our work" so I asked, If I come back in 8 years with clear coat peeling you're going to fix it? Guy says "we stand behind our work". I said "put it in writing". Nope!

Sooooooo I go to two other shops today and get estimates that are about $1000 higher than the one the insurance company worked off of. Again, reputable shops in the area. I hadn't received the approved estimate yet. When I get home the approved estimate is in my inbox. It's for $3900. I look it over, compare it to the one I got today and notice there are parts the insurance co estimate has listed as R&I that are listed as "non-reusable" on the other estimate. I email the adjuster and tell them they have items listed as R&I that can't be reused. They reply back "who told you that?". I reply back "You did. Look at your estimate for the rear door and the front door. You have the same part listed as non-reusable on the back but R&I on the front". Now you're probably thinking that they did this because the back door was damaged so they can't reuse the part. Nope! It's a part that is basically damaged when you remove it. Apparently a one shot deal. Three different shops listed it as non reusable for both doors.

So anyhow, I call the shop with a $5000 estimate and tell them my insurance approved $3900. Shop says they'll do the job and just bill the insurance company for the parts that are not reusable as a supplement and the insurance company will pay it. WTF???

Good grief insurance will make ya crazy!

[LWJ]

I do this 5 days a week. Yes. Drives me nuts. Small mind thinking abounds.