QuestionI found a damage (scratch and dent) in my car a day after I took it to a repair shop. So I took my car back to the shop to talk and showed the damage to the manager, where he himself promised me to give me a call the next day after he confront his technicians about the incident. That next day arrived, and I was able to talk to the manager, where he told me that his technicians confessed and admitted to him that in fact, it (accident) happened in their shop. So the manager told me to bring the car back to his shop cause he said, they will take care of it. At first I was kind of hesitant to do it because, I am bit worried about the quality of repair they will do on my car.
Since they already admitted that they are the ones damaged my car, I brought my car back to their shop a week later. But when I asked the manager that I need a rental car during the time of the repair, he refused to provide me one because he said a) he is doing the repair as a gesture of goodwill to his costumers and b) I have no physical proof that it happened in their shop.
Without his knowledge, I secretly recorded the whole conversation thru my iphone in which 2 instances, he admitted having damaged my car in his shop.
My questions are:
1. Do I have a right to choose my own repair shop?
2. Am I entitled to a rental car during the course of repair?
3. I know that it's a he said/she said scenario, but with him admitting to the incident during our conversation, Is it enough proof to establish their guilt?
4. Is my recording admissible as evidence in the court?
Answer Hello Victor,
You do not mention why your car was in the shop. Was it a body shop? Was it in repair after an accident? If the extra time to repair is an extension from an accident repair, and if you have rental coverage, you could call your insurance company and file for an additional 2 days under the same claim number. They might balk since it is the shop's responsibility to repair it. But, nonetheless, you would be entitled to the coverage that you have paid for.
As for the shop, I admit I was somewhat amazed at the honesty of the shop manager and his employee. I question how many shops would be that honorable. So, to answer your questions.
1. Of course you can pick your own repair shop. I'm just not sure what you mean. The car is already repaired. If you want to go somewhere else to have the shop-induced damage repaired, you can do that. But you'll have to pay for it.
2. In these circumstances, are you entitled to a rental? Only under the circumstances I described. I don't see where the shop is required to provide you with a rental.
3. What is the shop manager guilty of? Not giving you a rental? That's not guilt.
4. I don't know what state you live in, but in most states taping someone without their permission is felony. Delete the recording.
Jane Pytel
http://SolutionsForYourInsuranceClaim.com
