Is it worth making a claim (1 Viewer)

bernardfeay

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Nov 18, 2009
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We just returned from 3 weeks in France. A grumpy French lady was very annoyed with me for stopping at a narrow junction forcing her to run into my rear bumper. She blabbered and blabbered at me in French despite my telling her "Je ne parle pas Francais". In truth I can still do the "vous etes un cochon" stuff and "fermez la porte".

Her ramblings in French did not stop despite my continued "Je ne parle pas Francais" and I reached the point of "I'm having steak pudding chips and mushy peas for my tea, Je ne parle pas Francais, I'm having steak pudding chips and mushy peas for my tea" over and over again.

Top and bottom of it she put a big crack in my plastic moulded rear bumper. Looking at the damage you can't help but get the feeling that a competent person could remove the bumper, push it into the right shape and fiber glass it together and it would be good as new. The MH is ten years old and I'm not overly bothered if the repair isn't absolute perfection.

So, are there specialists who do that sort of work on our plastic bits? If it looks like I can have it sorted for £100 then I'll swallow that. If, instead it is a £500 job then I will put a claim in.
 

irnbru

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Don't think you will get much done for £100. I was in a garage today and overheard them say body repairs are £60 an hr. I had to ask if I just heard correctly. Was told some places charge even more.
 
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bernardfeay

bernardfeay

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Thanks irnbru, I have all my pictures and details. I'm just hesitant having been rearended before and the determination it took to get a payment.

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irnbru

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I am sure there will be some knowledgeable people along soon to give you better advice . I would get a few quotes before deciding. Remember your insurance normally has an excess to pay.
 

vwalan

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always carry a european accident form . you should be able to get them from your insurer .
even morocco use similar. many insurers say you dont need them but insist they give you a couple .

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Bluemooner

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I'd ask at the local bodyshop and possibly see if there is a college that teaches car repair and ask them.

Just a thought.
That's a good idea when my son was an apprentice people used to take cars in for them to practice on
 
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bernardfeay

bernardfeay

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We did all the swapping of details and I made it known to my insurer that I would only be interested in pursuing the matter as a claim against the third party. Despite her being terribly upset with me she was so clearly in the wrong. Bottom line, if you have to stop because your way ahead becomes blocked then the people behind you should also stop.
 

Forestboy

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Jul 31, 2007
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Had a major repair on my Hymer rear bumper recently and I do mean major, full repair welding and respray £300.00. Having said that it was a friend of my sons who said the proper price was £500 / £600 but a new bumper was nearly £1500.00.
Don't think you'll get much for £100.00 I was quoted that on Friday for a few scratches on the front valance of the wifes cars.

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Puddleduck

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The trouble is insurers often won't pursue a foreign claim for small amounts - too costly and too much trouble for them.
 

vwalan

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http://european-accident-statement.accidentsketch.com/ressourcen/Accident-Report_FR.php
this is what uk insurers should give you if going abroad . in some countries you may be fined if not having one . its in several languages not sure if thios one is but the official one is . its compulsory in just about all eu countries apart from uk. . its free dont pay for one . if you have problems contact association of british insurers on 020 76003333 dont let your insurer get away with it.
 

peter marshall

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I had the same damage on the rear nearside corner bumber, got hit in Barcelona I didnt repair it I just but some White sticky tape over it, He came of worse I was towing a car trailer & Smart car, the front of the trailer caught his front wing and pulled the front of his car off, he claimed against me and the Insurers paid out I said well if I get hit in the rear and your willing to payout get on with it, the mind boggles with Insurers. Pete (n)(n)(n)

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tambo

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I guess you don't think you could do it yourself?

Your probably right with how to fix it and doing it yourself could be under £100

Unfortunately there's a few hours work and a bit of materials required to do that so i don't think anyone else will do it for you for that price

Insurance ....The garage will milk it and it will cost the insurance a fortune
 
Dec 12, 2010
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Don’t know how bad yours is but sounds like it will have to come off the van, that means disconnecting lights, trims etc, probably at least two or three hours work so you’re looking at a minimum of £250. Pick mine up from the plastic welder tomorrow, not sure what they’ll charge and I’m getting my neighbour to fill and spray it. Got to be cheaper than the £1500 I was quoted for a replacement.
 

TheBig1

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many many years! since I was a kid
check locally for a plastic bumper repairer. the one i have locally is relatively cheap with fast turnover of jobs. if not, push it back straight and tape the back with fibrefix tape, then use plastic padding to fill the crack

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jollyrodger

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A certain funster on here did a brillent job .bumper off plastic welded using cheap soldering iron and plastic strips from the inside .dressed and painted on the outside you cant tell the repair
 

kcy

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A certain funster on here did a brillent job .bumper off plastic welded using cheap soldering iron and plastic strips from the inside .dressed and painted on the outside you cant tell the repair
When we bought our CI it had a rear bumper cracked and broken in several places and held together with string and tape and OH repaired in and it looks bril.
 
Feb 16, 2013
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Ever noticed , how many vans have cracks in the back end somewhere, seems to be a common thing in second hand ones for sale.

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tambo

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Ever noticed , how many vans have cracks in the back end somewhere, seems to be a common thing in second hand ones for sale.
It's because a lot are used to driving small cars then jump in a big van and they can't drive it.

I was quite lucky with this one it hadn't any exterior damage except a cracked mirror surround
 

peter marshall

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Just on the subject of tape I mended mine by putting white tape on the outside not perfect but worked ok, I have come across Tenacious Tape you could use it on the inside then fill and paint the exterior (Tenacious tape sticks like glue) Pete
 

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