Birmingham Bodywork repairs. Someone bumped into me!

[James West Mids]

Hi guys,

So my car (bright white) was parked and someone managed to reverse into it 😫

Long story short, they've accepted liability and thankfully they're insured so I'll be claiming on theirinsurance.

However, I want a proper job done. Can anyone vouch / recommended a legitimate Bodywork company located around the Birmingham area?

I'm still yet to see which company the insurance want to go through. If the reviews are average or worse then that, I won't be using them. 

[WES180]

Gutted for you mate! I would want it sorting at a Ford main dealer. The fact is your car is a collectors car and now someone has devalued it as the purist buyers look for all original paint and panels if they are to pay top money in the future.

It royally pi55es me off that for the next 3-5 years you will now pay higher insurance premiums because someone else hit you! It happened to me on my parked car too, i argued it out with insurers but they just say regardless of whose fault it was it was still my car involved in an accident!

 

[Ryan_Tango]

Yeah I'd argue about getting this done at a main dealer due to the type of car it is, go for a drive and check out some Ford dealers.

[andypsp]

3 hours ago, James West Mids said:

Hi guys,

So my car (bright white) was parked and someone managed to reverse into it 😫

Long story short, they've accepted liability and thankfully their insured so I'll be claiming on their insurance.

However, I want a proper job done. Can anyone vouch / recommended a legitimate Bodywork company located around the Birmingham area?

I'm still yet to see which company the insurance want to go through. If the reviews are average or worse then that, I won't be using them. 

oh dear, had mine smashed into back in october had all the front wheel arch and wing damaged, was sorted thru the insurance, went here to get the car sorted great place and the job they did was amazing http://www.perfect-finish.net/ they don`t keep the website upto date much but they are on facebook, give `em a call matey

[MikesFocusZS]

+1 for the main dealers.

Insurance company will try use a local cheap garage. 

However you have the right to refuse and say you want it doing to a high professional finish and want it doing where it was born. 

[simcor]

When I had my Focus bumper scuffed when a knob pulled out in front of me and I stopped yet he still caught my bumper. Through the insurance mine went to Advance Accident repair which is local to me but I believe it is also part of GK Ford as in their accident repair business. There is certainly some link to GK Ford. So insist it goes to a Ford body shop or at least a Ford approved body shop that uses genuine parts. 

[clarkeehull]

I work for Ford Accident Management / Vizion Network. Push for a FARC or Ford Approved Repair centre.
Advance are a good bunch, theyre one kf ours and so are Perfect Finish but with it being driveable you're looking at a good 2 week wait I'd say... also Trust Ford Birmingham and RS Motors.

What insurer is the other person with? We deal with 15 / 20+ insurers on a daily basis so chances are my team will be dealing with the management side of it.

Most dealers don't have a body repair centre on site and if they do they won't be Insurance approved apart from the big ones like Trust Ford / Bristol Street.

I'd look into Ford Accident Management (im not trying to ploy for trade either aha) they can sort out the repairs for you, and a replacement hire car.

If you need any assistance, I'm happy to advise :)

http://www.ford.co.uk/OwnerServices/VehicleServiceandRepair/VehicleRepair1/AccidentRepair?fullsite=true


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[tazzman600]

That's nasty James. I'm flummoxed as to what car it is actually tho.
As for the damage it's a biggun and costly. New door skin (£300 approx) and is that another door or a quarter panel? Anyway that'll need replacing too and that at least another 300 + smackers.
As to where to take it. Yes you don't have to use who the insurance suggest But they have to repair to original condition and insurance companies do not use cowboys because of the guarantee they have to put on the work.
Leave it to your insurance but insist on a curtacy car.
If after the works been done and you're not happy with the work you have the right to have it re done but right.
Have you googled body shop repair forums in brum?

[WES180]

14 minutes ago, tazzman600 said:

That's nasty James. I'm flummoxed as to what car it is actually tho.
As for the damage it's a biggun and costly. New door skin (£300 approx) and is that another door or a quarter panel? Anyway that'll need replacing too and that at least another 300 + smackers.
As to where to take it. Yes you don't have to use who the insurance suggest But they have to repair to original condition and insurance companies do not use cowboys because of the guarantee they have to put on the work.
Leave it to your insurance but insist on a curtacy car.
If after the works been done and you're not happy with the work you have the right to have it re done but right.
Have you googled body shop repair forums in brum?

Its a Focus RS! I wouldnt let anyone other than a Ford main dealer touch it as its already devalued it now its not original paintwork and panels, at least he would be able to say Ford repaired it if questioned about it.

I doubt a Focus RS rear quarter would be around £300, there would be hundreds or even thousands of replicas if that were the case. I could be wrong though, but i doubt it!

[tazzman600]

Oh. Is it a mk1 RS? A professional body repairer wouldn't use a replica panel unless original factory ones weren't available. I know that from speaking with dozens of them over the years. A rear quarter panel would be dearer than a door panel. I know a door panel is circa 300 quid and that's a price from years ago. I've had 4 done in 20 years.
If it was my car I'd only use a professional none dealer car restorer. Those that do Rolls Royce and Ferrari's etc etc. And yes they'd do a Ford. A superb one in Manchester did my 1st mondeo when some toe rag keyed all four panels.
Good luck where ever you take it.

[James West Mids]

Hi guys.

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate any input. I'll be considering all. It's a MK2.

Their insurer is 1st Central. The insurer has contacted me today acknowledging that they will be proceeding with the repair. Apparently, a local bodyshop will contact me in the coming days to assess the damage. I'll see what they're like first before I agree to anything.

I am a bit unsure as to whether to demand that Ford do the work vs a bodywork specialist. I'm getting mixed opinions from family, friends, work colleagues and on here. That's a bit of a worry!

 

As a side note, they offered me a Vauxhall Corsa as a hire car . Needless to say I declined that humble offer as I will not drive a Vauxhall. 

 

I'll continue to post updates. Thanks again.

 

[WES180]

9 hours ago, James West Mids said:

I am a bit unsure as to whether to demand that Ford do the work vs a bodywork specialist. I'm getting mixed opinions from family, friends, work colleagues and on here. That's a bit of a worry!

 

Are they appreciating the pedigree of your car though? I understand what your saying and if it were a standard Focus then take it anywhere. The fact is your car is a collectors car and a future classic so from that point i would like to have Ford Main Dealer paperwork to back up the repair. Unless of course your car is a replica and your keeping that quiet?

[James West Mids]

3 hours ago, WES180 said:

Are they appreciating the pedigree of your car though? I understand what your saying and if it were a standard Focus then take it anywhere. The fact is your car is a collectors car and a future classic so from that point i would like to have Ford Main Dealer paperwork to back up the repair. Unless of course your car is a replica and your keeping that quiet?

It's not replica .

I've spoken to Ford this morning. They said for Bodywork repairs, they use an independent garage that are Ford approved. They're called PJ Rhodes. Anyone heard of them? They're Birmingham based.

[WES180]

Which Ford dealership have you spoken to? Some dealerships such as Peoples Ford and Evans Halshaw Ford are franchises where as Trust Ford is owned by Ford and usually have on site bodyshops.

[tazzman600]

PJ Rhodes. According to 2 reviews I've just read DON'T USE THEM. On yelp site one unfortunate sod gave 2 stars and one woman gave 1. Far too long to get cars back and shoddy work etc etc.

[andypsp]

8 hours ago, James West Mids said:

It's not replica .

I've spoken to Ford this morning. They said for Bodywork repairs, they use an independent garage that are Ford approved. They're called PJ Rhodes. Anyone heard of them? They're Birmingham based.

not heard of pj rhodes, but just had a quick look on there site and 2 birmingham branches acocks green and sutton colefield. i`d give them both a miss. when my car got hit last yr the 3rd party insurance got intouch and sorted a list of repair shops out as i gave `em my partners postcode i went to one near her just on the outskirts of coventry, service was 2nd to none original ford parts 3yr gurantee on all work etc loan of a car while mine was been sorted. pop over and see them or give christine a call they will look after you and your car 

Perfect Finish Bodyshop Limited

Unit 21
Albion Industrial Estate
Endemere Road
Coventry
CV6 5PY

Telephone/Fax: 024 7663 7000

[James West Mids]

Hi guys,

I wanted to give an update. I had absolutely no luck calling 8 bodyshops in and around Birmingham. Most of them said they didn't deal with that particular insurance company (1st central) and others wanted a deposit off me in order for them to give an estimate.

I contacted the insurance company and asked them to recommend an approved company to me. They gave me the contact details for Atherstone Motor Repairs. They're not Ford approved, but they do use original Ford parts. They are Mazda approved however, which gave me some confidence.

 

To be fair to them, they've done a fantastic job. I've attached the two images to show before and after. They replaced the door Shell and pushed the panels out on the bodywork. She's back looking as good as new.

 

Although this hasn't affected my NCB, I do still need to declare it as a claim. I've checked quotes with and without this claim, and this year, my insurance increases by £100 because of it. What's the point in saying it doesn't affect my NCB? 

 

 

[andypsp]

good to see the work has been done and looking nice once again, car insurance is always going up so it`s no suprise 

[tazzman600]

Glad you got a good job done. As for NCB it does seem a waste at times. I actually got some info from my insurance company that they shouldn't have told me. It doesn't matter whose fault it is but you will always see a slight increase in your premium. Robbing barstewards.

[Incontro]

Useless government needs to get off their asses and regulate the insurance industry, the public are being totally conned.

[Commencal24]

If it's not insurance it's energy bills we're always getting shafted 👎🏼

11 hours ago, James West Mids said:

Hi guys,

I wanted to give an update. I had absolutely no luck calling 8 bodyshops in and around Birmingham. Most of them said they didn't deal with that particular insurance company (1st central) and others wanted a deposit off me in order for them to give an estimate.

I contacted the insurance company and asked them to recommend an approved company to me. They gave me the contact details for Atherstone Motor Repairs. They're not Ford approved, but they do use original Ford parts. They are Mazda approved however, which gave me some confidence.

 

To be fair to them, they've done a fantastic job. I've attached the two images to show before and after. They replaced the door shell and pushed the panels out on the bodywork. She's back looking as good as new.

 

Although this hasn't affected my NCB, I do still need to declare it as a claim. I've checked quotes with and without this claim, and this year, my insurance increases by £100 because of it. What's the point in saying it doesn't affect my NCB? 

 

 

 

Nice to see you RS looking all repaired and shiny, I must admit the first mk2.5 RS I saw was a white one and I've lived that colour ever since. how long was your car in the body shop for? 

[avi]

11 hours ago, tazzman600 said:

Glad you got a good job done. As for NCB it does seem a waste at times. I actually got some info from my insurance company that they shouldn't have told me. It doesn't matter whose fault it is but you will always see a slight increase in your premium. Robbing barstewards.

Someone rear ended me around Xmas 2015 and the claim was confirmed as no fault with full recovery from the third party.   It didn't seem to make any difference when obtaining new quotes at renewal with LV but I'd imagine it can vary between insurance providers just like price.  It always amazes me how much difference there is between quotes ranging from £250 to £850.  Even brands of the same company i.e. Direct Line and Churchill were significantly different by hundreds of pounds,

The other classic scam is paying extra for a courtesy car or it being inclusive but then you fond it's "only" provided if you agree to use the insurers recommended repairer.  If I had a claim now I'd probably use Ford Accident Management to get a courtesy car and genuine Ford parts.

Last renewal we managed an extra 15% from LV using its drive app on the phone for 10 journeys/200 miles.  Ended up paying less than £280 for a brand new Focus with protected no claims. 

I do agree though in general robbing barstewards !