Auto body repair & detailing: Black Cars Look Better In The Shade, diminished value claim, dodge caliber

Question
I have a 2007 Black Dodge Caliber. When I got my car back from  being painted (2008) from vandals scratching the paint, the Insurance Corp says "you can't 'blend' or 'match' black paint. This car is a year old.

1. Is it true that you can't match black?
2. Should the Insurance company be responsible enough to paint the entire car, or at least the panels that meet each other? (half the car was scratched)
3. If the above two answers are "no", do I drive the car around with the handle of "domino doors", or do you have a case I can relate to?

Answer
Black CAN ABSOLUTELY, 100% BE BLENDED.  Black ranges from jet black to reddish brown under certain lighting conditions, and should be blended like any other color. The adjacent panels should be blended- don't press for a complete paint job. The insurance company is blowing so much smoke up your a__ that you wouldn't even believe it. Don't let them try to pull that .5 hours tint paint to match crap, either- that is a brand new rip-off they pull on body shops, and vehicle owners. Demand that they pay the body shop to blend the panels out, or threaten them with a diminished value claim. It's cheaper to pay a couple hundred bucks out than to pay you back a thousand dollars in diminished value. This is especially true if they suggested you use the shop you took it to (direct repair facility.) The problem with DRP's is that some less scrupulous companies screw the HELL out of the body shops that they send them to- it's a contract thing. Promise them all kinds of work, then cut the hell out of labor times- Then, the shop passes the savings on to you. I just did one for progressive-the car needed a driver door skin on a 3 Y.O. G6 Pontiac- the adjuster figured to only paint the driver's door. (black, like yours.) I only painted the door, and it doesn't match. I fully intend to throw it into the face of the adjuster when the owner complains. This is what you need to do, scream until somebody fixes it. I just hope the insurer doesn't try to strong arm the shop into doing it for free- but I really think that is what is going to happen. Painters don't like working for free, so demand to see the check for additional paint work before taking the car back to the shop. I suggest you find another insurance company, god only knows what they will do to your car if you have a serious accident. I foresee used parts and imitation Taiwan parts if you do. Bill