tonyishuk Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 I have a been given a leaflet by my local Fiat garage which states as a Fiat owner, If I have an accident or the vehicle is stolen I should contact Fiat Services BEFORE contacting my insurance company. The leaflet further states that Fiat will act on my behalf and deal with the insurance company to ensure that bona fide Fiat parts are used in the repairs and all necessary Fiat Euro NCAP standards are met. The leaflet states quite categorically and lists Insurance companies that do not ensure the quality of work is carried out. The list includes most of the well known companies from TV advertising and Supermarkets. The page http://www.fiat.co.uk/Content/Default.aspx?id=20385 details part of the leaflet. (But does not say that the Insurance companies are cheapskates !) I am not too sure what my insurance company would say about Fiat jumping in on my behalf. Has anyone any thoughts on this approach by Fiat? Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Accordingly to honest John in the Telegraph, more manufactures are doing this . (a) to ensure that repairs are carried out to the correct standard , as this could have a bearing on the re-sale value. and (b) to avoid the loan / hire scam that can be foisted on some clients by some insurance companies. Brian B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosbotham Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 © to get possession of the vehicle to ensure they're the repairer of the vehicle rather than a third party body shop. Question : if a vehicle is repaired with non-manufacturer parts of equivalent quality, is the repair any worse than using manufacturer branded parts? Dunno. (Edit : It's probably worth noting that many franchise dealers don't have their own bodyshop facilities and will outsource to a 3rd party anyway....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 It gets even fishier when you read the small print ! "Fiat Accident AfterCare is a trading name of Retention UK Limited, registered in England and Wales Company No. 05687158 at Batchworth House, Church Street, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1JE and regulated by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claims management activities and is an appointed representative of Original Insurance Services Limited who are regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Retention UK Ltd is an appointed representative of Original Insurance Services Limited which is regulated by the Financial Services Authority." So who owns Original Insurance Services who trade as Retention UK Limited ? No mention of Fiat here. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 They is this crowd, Clive. :-D http://tinyurl.com/7taaaae The plot thickens more! It looks to me like a move to protect the manufacturers and dealers from third party competition. Whether there are dangerously sub-standard counterfeit parts around I know not but, in their absence, I think I see just good, old-fashioned, protectionism. Naughty, cynical, me! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesFrance Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 When I had some body damage to a Peugeot Boxer a few years ago I was insured by Norwich Union. My local Peugeot dealer was only 3 miles away from home and had an extensive bodyshop. As a new vehicle under warranty I was concerned that there could be some mechanical damage also, so I requested that they should be used for the repair rather than some suggested repairer 30 miles away. Norwich Union then said that they would have the vehicle inspected at my home. This took them 2 months and they eventually agreed the quote from the Peugeot dealer. Because I hadn't agreed to their preferred repairer I was unable to use the motorhome for most of the summer. I would never insure with them again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Thanks for your replies. I had to phone Caravan Club M/home insurance to get a European Accident Statement (Just in case !). I asked about the information I had from Fiat and got the answer that CC Insurers would be very unhappy if I called Fiat to act on my behalf and the contract between the insurer and me, was that I should contact the insurance company first. I was told if Fiat had a problem with the quality of a repair, it was a matter between Fiat and the insurance company and nothing to do with me. (Apart from me having a badly repaired m/home ?) Sounds like a consumer "piggy in the midle " scenario Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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