The final (I hope) bill
I collected my Mondeo from the engineering firm that repaired my engine yesterday, having been waiting for the insurers to assess my car subsequent to the rear bumper being damaged while under their care. The bill for the engine repair was £860 inclusive of VAT. The car seems to be going well, though I’m still using the insurers hire car while the bumper is in a state.
The insurance assessor phoned me to say that as far as they are concerned my Mondeo is a write-off, and offered me £600 to tow away, or I can keep it. I say it’s worth at least £860 to me since that’s the cost of the recent repair. He says a local car magazine shows newer models selling for around £600. I give reasons why my car is probably better than those advertised. After a while he says okay, £700. I agree to the £700 and they agree to send a cheque. Perhaps I could have held out for more?
The engineering firm give me a contact name of a bumper repair firm, so I take the Mondeo there for a quote. It’s £170. This seems reasonable and I ask for a further quote to fix rust spots on both rear wheel arches and this comes to £300. I said to go ahead and do this too, though in retrospect I think I should have stuck with the £170 option and touched up the rust spots myself. I suspect he will take less for cash though. While cleaning the car later I discover the front indicator glass has also been smashed (WTF) and order one from Ford, for £25.
So my total bill is 860 +25 + 300 – 700 = £485.
I was fortunate that someone bashed into my car since the old bumper wasn’t great and it reduced my bill significantly. So I will have a reconditioned engine, a nicer looking bumper and wings for £485. If the car goes well the decision to keep rather than scrap will have been a good one, I hope.
I collected my Mondeo from the engineering firm that repaired my engine yesterday, having been waiting for the insurers to assess my car subsequent to the rear bumper being damaged while under their care. The bill for the engine repair was £860 inclusive of VAT. The car seems to be going well, though I’m still using the insurers hire car while the bumper is in a state.
The insurance assessor phoned me to say that as far as they are concerned my Mondeo is a write-off, and offered me £600 to tow away, or I can keep it. I say it’s worth at least £860 to me since that’s the cost of the recent repair. He says a local car magazine shows newer models selling for around £600. I give reasons why my car is probably better than those advertised. After a while he says okay, £700. I agree to the £700 and they agree to send a cheque. Perhaps I could have held out for more?
The engineering firm give me a contact name of a bumper repair firm, so I take the Mondeo there for a quote. It’s £170. This seems reasonable and I ask for a further quote to fix rust spots on both rear wheel arches and this comes to £300. I said to go ahead and do this too, though in retrospect I think I should have stuck with the £170 option and touched up the rust spots myself. I suspect he will take less for cash though. While cleaning the car later I discover the front indicator glass has also been smashed (WTF) and order one from Ford, for £25.
So my total bill is 860 +25 + 300 – 700 = £485.
I was fortunate that someone bashed into my car since the old bumper wasn’t great and it reduced my bill significantly. So I will have a reconditioned engine, a nicer looking bumper and wings for £485. If the car goes well the decision to keep rather than scrap will have been a good one, I hope.
Comment