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Guest
Anonymous Poster
jkgordon@student.umass.edu
Oct 22, 2007, 10:43 AM
Post #1 of 9
(1597 views)
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so i was trying to get out of a parking space and was virtually boxed in, i got out but ended up grinding my rear bumper to their rear bumper. As you would imagine, i wasn't going any faster than a couple of mph but i did manage to get some of my grayish paint job onto their yellow bumper....didn't seem to be much damage beyond that, maybe some slight scraping....
so i'm in a bit of a bind for money right now but i told the woman that i'd take car of the cost for repair, so my question is can anyone give me a ballpark number for how much i should expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 22, 2007, 1:39 PM
Post #2 of 9
(1595 views)
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Re: small accident
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Have you tried to clean the bumper, or is there gouges and scratches in it? If it is just paint transfer, a good cleaning will remove all the paint. If it is gouges, more than likely the bumper cover will need replaced. Since we don't know what kind of car we are talking about, estimates are hard to give.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Oct 23, 2007, 8:39 AM
Post #3 of 9
(1589 views)
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Re: small accident
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well my car its fine, its her car that will need a bit of work....she was driving a mustang, looked like a late 90's model
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 23, 2007, 10:51 AM
Post #4 of 9
(1586 views)
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Re: small accident
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As way2old said this might just clean off if there is color from your car on hers. Will she let you check it out and try? If you see the scrape and can tell with your fingernail if it's paint added or removed that helps. A gouge won't clean off. Paint transfer will. I do it for folks all the time and use MacGuire's cleaner wax or for marine/rv called #50 which is non abrasive but will take off transferred paint. It's slow but will work if you use like flannel cloth and the wax and just keep doing it till it's gone. You might get lucky,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Oct 24, 2007, 3:27 PM
Post #5 of 9
(1582 views)
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Re: small accident
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ok so i just got a quote sent to me from the place where she took the car. I'll give you an idea of what needs to be done, according to them...
remove and install bumper (1.5 labor hrs.)
(for painting)
Lt. rear corner of bumper cover. (3.5 labor hrs
Paint is "spyder" cracked + 2.8 paint hours)
clear coat (1 labor hr)
custom tint oem color (.5 labor hrs)
repair materials $36.00
paint materials $72.00
total labor hours $231.00
total paint hours $159.60
500 DOLLARS!!!!?!?!! I just don't understand how a car going 5 mph could cause $500 worth of damage to a freakin bumper! Does this seem a little excessive or is this legit!?!?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 24, 2007, 3:44 PM
Post #6 of 9
(1580 views)
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Re: small accident
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That can be legit in a heatbeat. Scary isn't it? What state do you live it? In Massachusetts even at fault damage would be paid to the other party out of your insurance and if you can get the quote even just one dollar under $500 it doesn't go against you or your record unless this happens a lot.
Ask your agent about that. This state does some insurance things all different from the other 49 but the under $500 thing may be in lots of states. Here I think it's $500 to 1500 in damage get you a point which equates to 7% of your whole insurance premium for a long time.
Ask and if it's beneficial to just pay it talk to the shop and tell them the story and I bet they can help you out a bit with the price. She should be able to select the shop though,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Oct 24, 2007, 3:48 PM
Post #7 of 9
(1579 views)
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Re: small accident
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thanks a lot, i appreciate the advice.
I do live in massachusetts and the cost right now is at $504.00
So you're saying if i can get this under 500 than possibly it might not kill me on my insurance payments?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 25, 2007, 12:05 AM
Post #8 of 9
(1574 views)
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Re: small accident
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What were the chances you lived in Massachusetts?? The point system is #9 for the best and up to 35 which represent the steps. All start at 15 and you pay more or get money back depending on the # you are at. Call your insurance company and get that job paid for for under $500 -- they'll tell you that's the way it works. Is this other person agreeable to work with you on this? They could stamp their feet but you are so close in price this should be a cake walk.
We pay for insurance for these things. Having a minor boo boo like you said does NOT make you a hazard to navigation out there.
I've collected from being hit a few times when folks said they would pay and I told them they don't have to and does not change thier "merit rating #" at all!
This is real - ask your agent and cooperate with shop and the person who owns the car.
Note: You can't select the shop for the person but you can take just that estimate to another or request another if this is sticky and surely someone will fix it for less than that quote. If insurance is paying you they go with the lowest bid and if your favorite shop is more they either comply or lose the work. That's what the adjusters are for.
If this person won't work with you it could be trouble as they could tack on a day's car rental and you'll go over as the rating is triggered by the total pay out. This is not about cheating the system and I won't help you with that but the system will work for you with this minor problem.
Again- work with your agent not the insurance company. It's listed on your registration who the company is but forget them for now with this. If you already have some points there may be no forgiveness for this and paying for it out of pocket will probably save you $ in the long run.
Know that any repair that involves really having to paint is going to cost a couple hundred bucks so I believe the estimate.
There may be no exemption for you if you are under 21 and you should aim to be a step 9 driver. I am and it saves me a fortune. I don't carry collision on my own vehicles but if someone hits me - even a door ding their insurance pays. If they don't have insurance for that they are in BIG trouble in this state!!!!
I have friends in the auto body biz if Worcester or Hudson, MA are helpful for you. These things are a pain in the butt but worth it to settle and keep all involved happy,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Oct 25, 2007, 8:53 AM
Post #9 of 9
(1572 views)
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Re: small accident
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awesome, thanks for the tips, tom. i'll be conversing with my agent later today and hopefully things will work out.
Once again, thanks for the sounds advice.
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