Insurance Question

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Insurance Question

I agree with Fly Rod. It's good to have knowledgeable people with logical answers, even if I have been argumentative.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Insurance Question

True, It's all been very helpful. I guess I will pay for the repairs up front. I had no intention of commiting fraud of any sort but this is what I had in mind: I submitted three estimates and they agreed to pay the lower of the three. Since the truck is so new i didn't really want to have it re painted as I've been told that can have undesireable results in the long run. So I was considering Paintless Dent Repair if at all possible, and if it actually came out cheaper, then the rest of the money would have been mine as compensation for the diminished value. I guess it's not going to work that way though. Thanks

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Insurance Question

Paintless dent repair will not be a quality repair for damage from a tree. Paintless dent repair only works on hail dents (due to their nice round shape) and round door dings. I can guarantee you that the dents in your roof caused by a tree limb will not be good candidates at all for PDR.

If you take the truck to a qualified shop, the repair will last forever. And the value of the truck will not be diminished.

I still think you should ask for them to pay the estimate to you, before the repairs are even commenced, since they do owe you, not a body shop for the damage. Just as long as they don't have you sign a general or property damage release, any additional damage or costs during the repair can then be handled on a "supplement" basis, with that payment going directly to the shop.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Insurance Question

I agree with Fly Rod. It's good to have knowledgeable people with logical answers, even if I have been argumentative.

One of the least argumentative insurance discussions I have ever had with a non professional.

I hope my advice helps cdnfthree2, and educates others. I do like to help, that's the only thing that kept me going in the industry for 10 years; the people who were actually appreciative and took the time to say "thank you"!

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Insurance Question

Paintless dent repair will not be a quality repair for damage from a tree. Paintless dent repair only works on hail dents (due to their nice round shape) and round door dings. I can guarantee you that the dents in your roof caused by a tree limb will not be good candidates at all for PDR.

Paintless dent repair can be done on almost any dent as long as the paint is not cracked or chipped. Here's a time lapse video of a 24" crease being removed from a door.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4829754469901931653#

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Insurance Question

Yeah, I know what they say, and even without seeing the video, I am sure they did it fine. But irregular shaped dents are not easy. And they would probably charge just as much to do it that way on a roof, as they would a conventional repair. Now I'll watch the video and give additional comments.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Insurance Question

Okay, after watching the video, I'll say, that may have been desccribed as a "crease", but that was no crease. I was a large, wide dent. On a relatively flat panel, with little obstruction and no body lines, reinforcements or mouldings to deal with. On a vehicle with thinner sheet metal than a Ford truck uses.
So in other words, it was the exact right dent to show how "amazing" of a job that guy can do. I could have gotten 80% of that dent out with my hand and/or "Pops-A-Dent" from those cheesy infomercials!

I am not saying to the original poster to not explore it, but I can almost guarantee that the PDR guy can't make it perfect, and it'll show. But hey, if you want to try to profit on your claim (very common in insurance - and also technically fraud) give it a shot.