Dear Lord Save me! (Please Help!)

[EScanlon]

...i really hate to be the asshole ...

You are NOT being an asshole. You are entitled to restitution to restore your vehicle to the condition it was in PRIOR to her damaging it. That internally the car required more repair than you knew would be is not the issue. The issue is that she damaged it.

Now, if you wanted to be a really nice guy (read that as in "sucker") you could offer to pay for part of the damage since neither you nor her were aware that there was prior damage / rust that is exacerbating this repair.

Enrique

[tanny]

Not possible! Couldn't be any rust on a $900 240. I learned the hard way a long time ago that it is always best to go through your insurance company even if the damage appears to be minor. No matter how nice and honest the person who did the damage seems, when they see the outrageous prices the body shops charge they ALWAYS get pissed off and think you're trying to rip them. Then they try to figure out ways to back out of their bargain with you. The only drawback is that your insurance company will often raise your rates even if they don't pay out any money. Just the fact you were envolved in an accident is excuse enough for them to increase their rediculous profit margins. If you ask them why your premiums went up so drastically, they'll bury you with BS about inflation and "normal" cost increases and that your accident had nothing to do with the rise. Right. Why did this lady assume she was in charge of the situation? You should have demanded that she give you the money, not the shop, or you would go through the insurance company. Hindsight is great. Good luck. Victor.

[Alfadog]

Victor, welcome back! Haven't seen you on the forums for weeks...

[tanny]

Thanks. Been going through a separation and the move out took some time and plenty of money. Quite amicable but still a pain in the a**. So now I have some time to get back to being a smart(dumb?) a** and contributing absurd content to this site. Like this reply that has nothing to do with the thread. Sorry about that.

[bpilati]

We learned the hard way about whether to call a cop or not. Someone rear-ended my wife's Expedition. It bent in the tow hitch, messed up the plastic/rubber pads on the bumper and cracked the taillights. I had to end up paying the $200 deductible on my insurance cause the "nice, cleancut" (who I met) gave bogus info. So while my insurance company tries to go after this guys insurance company, I have wait for a refund of my deductible. Hopefully I'll get it back, some day. Never again, always a cop.....NO MATTER WHAT!

Check YOUR state laws:

(excerpt)

REPAIR OF MOTOR VEHICLES

2004 Florida Statutes

TITLE XXXIII, CHAPTER 559 – PART IX (ss.559.901 – 559.9221)

559.909 Notification of charges in excess of repair estimate; unlawful charges; refusal to return vehicle prohibited;

inspection of parts.--

(4) It shall be unlawful for any motor vehicle repair shop to fail to return any customer's motor vehicle because the customer

has refused to pay for unauthorized repairs or because the customer has refused to pay for repair charges in excess of the final

estimate in violation of this section........

559.917 Bond to release possessory lien claimed by motor vehicle repair shop.--

(2) The failure of a lienor to release or return to the customer the motor vehicle upon which any lien is claimed, upon receiving

a copy of a certificate giving notice of the posting of the bond and directing release of the motor vehicle, shall subject the lienor

to judicial proceedings which may be brought by the customer to compel compliance with the certificate. Whenever a customer

brings an action to compel compliance with the certificate, the customer need only establish that:

(a) Bond in the amount of the invoice, plus accrued storage charges, if any, less any amount paid to the motor vehicle repair

shop as indicated on the invoice, was posted;

http://www.800helpfla.com/pdfs/MVR04.pdf

There is a process, they cannot bully you. Drag the women into it since she wrote a letter to the shop. It would be interesting to know what she wrote. Good luck.

[ryoojin83]

Thank you very much for the Info! We ended up just using the old panel again and they decided to do it for the amount writen. Thanks for your time. Should be getting the car back soon too

[EScanlon]

Post some pictures when you get it back.

Enrique