[FastCarFan]

Recently a woman backed out of a parking spot as I was driving by in my wife's Audi -- her rear bumper hit our right front fender. I contacted my insurance agent -- not my insurance company -- to advise them in case the lady's insurance company (State Farm) gave me problems. We did not call the police. My agent took the info & held it to see if State Farm would give me any problems, in which case they would submit a claim to my insurance company. It turns out my insurance company was never advised about the claim.

Anyway, the woman called her insurance company & I called them too to start the claims process. They asked where I wanted to take it & the body shop was on their list of "approved" shops, so they told me to just take it there & the shop would send the invoice to State Farm. I also requested a rental car, which they readily agreed to. The total claim was about $2,000 + the cost of the rental car.

Bottom line, as others have said, you should not accept their 1st offer. Instead, tell them that you expect them to pay to have it fixed at your preferred body shop. It is not your fault that your car is damaged. It sounds like Allstate ("The good hands people"? Sounds more like they are showing you 1 finger on 1 hand) is being jerky about it. Sure, they want to see if they can get off with a lower claim, but you should be made whole. Period. It wasn't your fault.

Good luck.