YACT: Need fast (really fast) advice. (Now w/pic from insurance co.)

[amdhunter]

update: I caved in after speaking to my father and showing him the pics. He agreed with most of you, that I shouldn't spend money on a new bumper when this one is fixable, and that they might just fix this one anyway and tell me it was a new one if I did.

So I was hit from behind the other day, and my bumper looks retarded now. The insurance adjuster wants the bumper repaired, instead of replaced.

Honda is doing the repairs, and they won't warrant against paint chipping in the future. To get around this, they want to replace the bumper entirely. This is also what I want, I don't want to keep repainting the bumper over and over.

The car is a brand new (~6000 miles) at time of accident. I was rear-ended.

Honda needs an answer before 12PM. It is 10:45 now. What should I tell the insurance adjuster?

Pic of damage from Geico's website.

 

[Pacemaker]

Tell them that Honda recommended the bumper be replaced. Then give them the number and tell them to call Honda if they want.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Pacemaker
Tell them that Honda recommended the bumper be replaced. Then give them the number and tell them to call Honda if they want.

What if they say no? I am a total n00b when it comes to this stuff.

 

[ramirez]

Remember to be polite. Being rude or impolite over the phone with these ppl is the best way to ensure they won't help you.

That being said, if your adjuster says no, simply ask why not, and explain the situation about the paint. If they refuse to replace the bumper, I would see if I could get something in writing that says they will cover the cost of paint jobs in the future, at no cost to you.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Pacemaker
Tell them that Honda recommended the bumper be replaced. Then give them the number and tell them to call Honda if they want.

What if they say no? I am a total n00b when it comes to this stuff.

If they say no, tell them that their client hit you and that you will not tolerate paint chipping from your bumper in the future from this incident. Then direct them to Honda....and verify with Honda that they are going to replace the bumper.

 

[pclstyle]

yup, just direct them to honda.

i had a repair recently where the adjuster quoted me for $600. Turns out once it hit the shop, the service guys found a few more things that needed to be swapped out, and hours/labor went up as well. Geico sent an adjuster down there to verify the new estimate, and everything was taken care of for me. I didn't even need to come in a second time. They also gave me an extra 2 days on my rental, which wasn't too shabby.

I'm pretty sure they just want to make sure you aren't trying to scam them, as many people do - pocketing the change for an expensive repair that's really not necessary. Let them deal with your dealership directly.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Pacemaker
Tell them that Honda recommended the bumper be replaced. Then give them the number and tell them to call Honda if they want.

What if they say no? I am a total n00b when it comes to this stuff.

grow a pair and say I WANT A NEW BUMPER... I dont want some crappy POS repaired bumper on my brand new car..

fock man get some balls.. youre the customer you have the power.

 

[Injury]

It's simple... you have the RIGHT to go to ANY shop and use ANY shop's estimate to have your car repaired.

If the Honda dealer says it should be replaced with a new one to prevent future damage that would not occur with the original bumper, then you get an estimate from them that states that.

 

[amdhunter]

My adjuster is refusing to have a new bumper installed because the old one is "repairable." I added a pic to the OP.

It is my own insurance I am suing, and they claimed they will help me recover my losses from the other insurance company later on.

I am not trying to scam anyone, I just want to get my car back into new condition.

 

[Parasitic]

Not to be mean but from the look of that alone it'll be hard pressed for them to write a claim with a new bumper.

 

[Syrch]

slap them with a wet noodle imo

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Not to be mean but from the look of that alone it'll be hard pressed for them to write a claim with a new bumper.

Unfortunately, I gotta agree. While it sux, the damage isn't severe enough to warrant a replacement. That's alike demanding a new fender because of a door ding. Just not gonna happen.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Not to be mean but from the look of that alone it'll be hard pressed for them to write a claim with a new bumper.

Unfortunately, I gotta agree. While it sux, the damage isn't severe enough to warrant a replacement. That's alike demanding a new fender because of a door ding. Just not gonna happen.

Yeah, I guess. I am just scared that the repair job won't look good, even though Honda themselves are fixing it.

That type of damage can be repaired (smoothed out) easily right? I won't see any wierd bumps or anything after it is done..?

 

[pclstyle]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Not to be mean but from the look of that alone it'll be hard pressed for them to write a claim with a new bumper.

Unfortunately, I gotta agree. While it sux, the damage isn't severe enough to warrant a replacement. That's alike demanding a new fender because of a door ding. Just not gonna happen.

Yeah, I guess. I am just scared that the repair job won't look good, even though Honda themselves are fixing it.

That type of damage can be repaired (smoothed out) easily right? I won't see any wierd bumps or anything after it is done..?

nope, you won't. they could probably tell you they gave you a new bumper and you wouldn't be the wiser.

 

[BoomerD]

Nope. Very WORST case, (and since your car is pretty new, I wouldn't expect it) is that the paint might be a little different due to weathering and sunlight, and a GOOD body shop should be able to match better than that. Over time, MAYBE the repair will be a bit noticeable due to the paint ages...MAYBE...

 

[Doublejr]

If whoever repairs it is decent, you won't notice a difference

 

[Mr N8]

I got hit in a parking lot the other day while I was in the store. I wish my damage was that small. 13,000 miles on mine.

pic

 

[Parasitic]

Honda is just saving their asses telling them that you might have paint chipping problems IMO...but honestly you won't note the difference even if the paint did chip.
Looks like you can get that patched up yourself even.

At least Geico is dealing with you nicely. Last November I got into an accident (the opposing party was totally at fault) and the front end of my car was ruined. The opposing insurance company wasn't going to replace ANYTHING besides the light assembly - the claim adjuster kept insisting that the damage was light and could be molded back - this "light damage" included a cracked front grille, a bulged hood, and disfigured (and torn) bumper. I complained but he wasnt bulging; eventually the repair shop complained and said that they wouldn't be able to work off such a ridiculous claim so work was redone from the beginning.

That company was Sterling Casualty. Horrible people.

 

[jtvang125]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Not to be mean but from the look of that alone it'll be hard pressed for them to write a claim with a new bumper.

Unfortunately, I gotta agree. While it sux, the damage isn't severe enough to warrant a replacement. That's alike demanding a new fender because of a door ding. Just not gonna happen.

At first I was like, where the hell did he get hit? I had to look again a few more times to find the dent.

But yea, the damage to the bumper is just too small to warrant a whole new bumper. Honda recommends a new one because a) that's more $$$ for them and b) it's easier to prep a new bumper for painting than to repair the damaged bumper and then repaint it.

 

[MisterJackson]

PAB....is that....is that you????






j/k!

 

[Blazin Trav]

Originally posted by: amdhunter
So I was hit from behind the other day, and my bumper looks retarded now. The insurance adjuster wants the bumper repaired, instead of replaced.

Honda is doing the repairs, and they won't warrant against paint chipping in the future. To get around this, they want to replace the bumper entirely. This is also what I want, I don't want to keep repainting the bumper over and over.

The car is a brand new (~6000 miles) at time of accident. I was rear-ended.

Honda needs an answer before 12PM. It is 10:45 now. What should I tell the insurance adjuster?

Pic of damage from Geico's website.

What was the verdict? Did you get a new bumper?

 

[shawn130c]

Originally posted by: Mr N8
I got hit in a parking lot the other day while I was in the store. I wish my damage was that small. 13,000 miles on mine.

pic

That's not as bad as the damage to my jeep, Damage to My 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee 160,000+ Miles. At least my bumper made it

 

[Baked]

Where's the fricking damage? I have a bigger scratch on my rear bumper and I can't tell it's there if my face's 2 feet from it?

Ps. You're PAB.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Mr N8
I got hit in a parking lot the other day while I was in the store. I wish my damage was that small. 13,000 miles on mine.

pic

Ah that sucks. I've always wondered when I see a hit like that, cant you just push it out from the inside to make it less noticable..? (total n00b here)

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Blazin Trav

Originally posted by: amdhunter
So I was hit from behind the other day, and my bumper looks retarded now. The insurance adjuster wants the bumper repaired, instead of replaced.

Honda is doing the repairs, and they won't warrant against paint chipping in the future. To get around this, they want to replace the bumper entirely. This is also what I want, I don't want to keep repainting the bumper over and over.

The car is a brand new (~6000 miles) at time of accident. I was rear-ended.

Honda needs an answer before 12PM. It is 10:45 now. What should I tell the insurance adjuster?

Pic of damage from Geico's website.

What was the verdict? Did you get a new bumper?

Nah, they are just going to repair it. I spoke to my father and showed him the pics, and he said the same thing you guys did...either Honda just wants to make $$$, or they will fix this one and say they replaced it anyway.

As long as the damage isn't noticeable I will be happy.