Bumper damage - Any thoughts on my insurer's choice of repair company?

[esprit gt3 nickbassett]

"Sorry mate, my foot slipped off the clutch and I just shot forward", the driver of a Peugeot Expert van said to me.  My mint GT3 was parked outside my home when it was shunted from behind by a van driver who was attempting to park.  The brakes were off of the GT3 and it was propelled forwards in to the car in front.  The black plastic 'spoiler' (?) that hangs underneath the rear bumper was broken-off.  The front bumper has a horizontal split in it about 12 inches long.  I've uploaded photos.  My insurance company, Admiral, have been good so far.  They gave me the option of going through themselves or being dealt with by a company, 'Auxilis', who only deal with non-fault claims.  I instinctively felt I should stick with just them, but my £500 excess would then be taken from me upon completion of the repair, although they would be "...fairly certain of reclaiming it back from the other party as the circumstances are so straight-forward".  In the end, I chose to go through their 'Auxilis' partner, whereupon I will never have the excess deducted at all.  They will compensate me for time off work when I drop-off the car or collect it, and provide a courtesy car for the duration.  So far, so good.  They listened to me when I said there are probably only half a dozen places in southern England (I'm in Southsea, Hampshire) who can properly make the repair.  They took on board my comments regarding composite construction and the non-availability of COTS parts.  They first asked me to take it to SJ Sportscars in Devon when I said it has been there before for mechanical work.  I have only half a day's leave available from work (until 1st July) so that was out of the question.

They came back to me requesting me to take it to Hendy Accident Repair in Poole instead.  I was instantly mortified at the thought.  I imagine it will be less than five minutes before I receive a call from them asking me how to un-latch the bonnet and how to release the hand-brake.  I asked them to quiz Hendy regarding their experience.  They came back to me saying "Hendy say they have repaired many Lotus, including ones as old as the Elan, and that they are experienced with "fibreglass bodywork" and composite construction."

I'd like to ask the Forum for their views.  Should I instead ask that the car is low-loaded-away instead of me driving it there?  Should I insist on a garage that we would recognise as a Lotus repairer?  Does anyone have any experience of Hendy Accident Repair in Poole (in regard to their Lotus)?  What repair solution should I be expecting/requesting ie should I be expecting new bumpers to be made/procured, painted and fitted, or should I expect that they will repair the existing ones, prepare and re-paint?

TIA.

Kind regards, Nick.

[Rambo]

My gut feel is to get your insurance co. to flatbed it to Steve at SJS (I assume you are OK with that?) and have the hire car delivered to your home address for the duration of the repairs.

[ChrisJ]

Seems to be part of New & Used Lotus | All Models Available From Hendy Lotus - so should be OK.

Be careful with a courtesy car through an accident management company - these are normally a hire car at a really high rate, which you will have to sign for, stating the you will be liable for covering the cost if it cannot be claimed back from the 3rd party. I don't think the repair is going to be a couple of days, so the charge will soon rack up. If you have access to another car, I'd turn down the offer of a courtesy car.

I'd also have gone directly to the 3rd party insurance company - done this twice with non-fault accidents, and both times everything has been sorted out really quickly - but not a Lotus.

Are you going to be liable for the car that you hit, as you were parked with the brake off - you might want to remove that information from the initial post.

I'm with @Rambo - take to SJs and if the insurance won't flat bed it, will Steve come and collect? I know Gerald at GST has done this a couple of times for my cars, and charges about £60 to do so.

 

[Rambo]

Some good points from Chris to consider ie the hire car, handbrake comment and also getting Steve to collect and include costs as part of the claim.

[esprit gt3 nickbassett]

2 hours ago, ChrisJ said:

Seems to be part of New & Used Lotus | All Models Available From Hendy Lotus - so should be OK.

Be careful with a courtesy car through an accident management company - these are normally a hire car at a really hight rate, which you will have to sign for, stating the you will be liable for covering the cost if it cannot be claimed back from the 3rd party. I don't think the repair is going to be a couple of days, so the charge will soon rack up. If you have access to another car, I'd turn down the offer of a courtesy car.

I'd also have gone directly to the 3rd party insurance company - done this twice with non-fault accidents, and both times everything has been sorted out really quickly - but not a Lotus.

Are you going to be liable for the car that you hit, as you were parked with the brake off - you might want to remove that information from the initial post.

I'm with @Rambo - take to SJs and if the insurance won't flat bed it, will Steve come and collect? I know Gerald at GST has done this a couple of times for for my cars, and charges about £60 to do so.

 

Yes I agree with all you wrote, thank you.  In regards to the car in front that the Esprit hit, the wrath I have to face is that of my wife, for it was her Mercedes, but it was not damaged.  Her rear bumper faired excellently, whereas the Esprit's front bumper took all the impact damage.  So, at least only one car involved on our side of the claim.