Postby tjoz » Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:23 pm
From experience with having a car repaired and requesting to have a different part fitted that I have already paid for: repairer outright said no. Later found out that insurance jobs are guaranteed income for repairers and many wont be as open to alternatives (fitting different parts than normal regardless of circumstance) for fear of losing the tender for that insurance company.
Before my insurance company decided to write my car off, the repairer offered to do 'additional' work to the car at extra cost. This was a different repairer to the first one.
All repairs that have been authorized by the insurance company generally have lifetime guarantee on the repair work.
The VIN number thing, that is mainly so the repairer can get an accurate quote. It also is a way of Mitsubishi can keep track on where their parts are going (its do with pricing and spec adjusting on future model years. EG if they see that a certain spec Lancer owners are continuously ordering a specific higher specced part, that part may be included in the next model year which in turn encourages the owner to upgrade to that model year version). Also some dealers cant order specific parts (such as Ralliart/EVO parts. Found that one out myself). This is why a VIN number would be needed. Also some will refuse to sell higher specced parts (VRX, Aspire, Ralliart, EVO) to lower spec cars and vice versa.
The excess thing, with that any repairer can outright refuse to return the car to you once the repairs are completed if excess has not been paid. Simple rule being: dont pay your excess and you wont be getting your car back. Excess has to be paid for them to release the car back to you. Dont matter who was at fault, excess has to be paid. If you werent at fault but had to pay, you will get reimbursed by your insurer.
Just be upfront and open with the repairer. Dont try and do sneaky things with them to better yourself as remember one thing; they will have your car...