Body Shop and insurance questions ?

[mikeyw]

So, managed to have a close encounter with a deer on the A422 last night. Deer came off much worse than the car, just wish i'd be able to avoid the poor thing. Just going dusk and probably something that has happened to more than a few on here.

In the cold light of day a reasonable amount of damage to the lower spoiler, drivers side grill, front grill and sensors, but it could have been worse for the car, but sadly not worse for the deer.

So, rang the dealer booked it it - Listers Stratford, then sent them the pictures only for them to say it was a bigger job than they could do there and it would need to go to their body Shop in Coventry. Now just waiting to hear from them.

So, to the questions - has anyone used them - is that a good place to trust my pride and joy.

Additional complication - called my insurers Aviva tonight to register the claim, only to find that my £500 excess is actually £700, but if I want to use Listers its going to cost me a a further £200. If i user their 'approved' repair centre, I dont have to pay more. So I ask about the warranty on the job - lifetime they reply, as long as i'm still insured by Aviva. How, I inquire, is the quality and durability of the work carried out on my vehicle possibly linked to my continued payment of premiums to them ? They could not answer. I use a broker and i'm pretty pissed off so am waiting to hear from them.

Aviva say their nearest Audi approved body Shop are a company called Wyndon Motors in Coventry - has anyone used them ? I'm just expecting to have to use the main dealer so as to maintain my warranty, especially as the parking sensors are screwed as is the audi driver assist. Alternatively they said carbodies in Banbury - again, no idea about them but I have my reservations.

Think i'll be moving insurance companies and brokers after this regardless, but some feedback and thoughts on insurance process and repairs would be welcome!

[Ian_C]

Aviva have run this excess strategy for a while now - higher if you don't go to the repair of *their* choice. No doubt because they have a lists of approved garages on a tight leash price wise.

Probably worth paying the £200 for peace of mind. Recalibrating the ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) would be dealer only surely? So if an 'approved repairer' put the car back together, I very much doubt they could reset / calibrate / safety check it all.

If you've already been speaking to the dealer in person, possibly worth trying to negotiate a half decent free courtesy car from them, rather than them giving you another RS4 and adding a gigantic daily charge onto the insurance claim

[A20LEE]

Personally, i'd never use an Audi approved bodyshop as it means they are cheap which = corners cut. Buy what you see or recommendation. Its the prep your paying for and your have the right to choice your own repairer

[mikeyw]

Thanks both - its seems my complaints and annoyance have had the desired impact. Aviva have waived their £200 fee and I can have the works carried out at the dealership, which is what I wanted. I've no idea of the likely repair bill, but I suspect its going to be several thousand I guess so not something I want to foot myself.

[MikeFish]

You can ask Mr V10 if you are still concerned as he works at Coventry audi. Drop him a PM as he probably won't want to say if their bodyshop is bad on a public forum.

[mikeyw]

You can ask Mr V10 if you are still concerned as he works at Coventry audi. Drop him a PM as he probably won't want to say if their bodyshop is bad on a public forum.

Good suggestion!

still waiting for them to call me back, so its not a great start TBH