Young kid T-Boned my wife's car, not horrible damage but substantial. His father asked if he could just pay the body shop directly. Like a dumbass I agreed, learning a valuable, doesn't pay to be a nice guy . I got an estimate from a local body shop to do the work. The guy paid the body shop directly prior to the work being started. While disassembling the rear bumper the body shop broke a trim piece, cost almost $2,000 with installation to replace. This part was not damaged from the accident directly. The body shop is just flat out refusing to replace what they damaged. They basically glued/hot stapled the piece back together, looks bad, the piece was broken into 4 pieces. They are telling me it was initially a preliminary estimate so I am responsible for the damage they did. Is this standard with body shops?

The shop I use would have replaced it if they were responsible for the damage .

Yeah, never do that

Make the other insurance company pay, that's what you pay your agent for.

There's always hidden damage.

That sounds shady. Also, I would have gone through their insurance. There's no upside for you; only downside. If I remember correctly, when autobody shops give you an estimate, they say it might be more depending on what they see as they do the work. So, they could have gone to the insurance. Them paying the shop directly even before the work started is also fishy to me. I understand it's different in that the shop broke the part. I don't know why they won't make it right to you.

Small claims suit applies for the damages caused by the shop.

Put your demand in writing, and keep notes on phone calls, face to face and other communications.

Don't waste time with arguing with the shop beyond reasonable demands and just file when you get your car back.

Then take it to a few reputable shops for estimates and file a claim.

My question is what trim piece is that is $2k to replace. Is this a lux euro brand? (edit* Just saw your forum name. Porsche?) Also is this shop your choice or the other party? Also paying off the shop ahead of time is fishy to me. Most body shop collect after it's done since there are previously hidden damage uncover during the repair process.

I wasn’t sure the guy would pay. I didn’t want to get stuck with the entire repair bill. So I waited until he paid the bill and the check cleared. It’s a Porsche, nothing is cheap.

What evidence do you have that the shop broke the piece?

Is it too late to make a claim? Did you sign something saying he was absolved after he paid the body shop?

Mr. Monkey's suggestion is the most practical solution. I would proceed but would try to get some kind of admission in text that they did actually break the trim piece. Once you have the vehicle back, you can discuss it with them and give them another chance to do the right thing.

The shop admitted they broke it. I have a message on my answering machine where he says he will take care of the damages. My insurance agent is on vacation until late next week. I’m going to see what they will do. I don’t want them to pay it I want them to contact his insurance

Somehow I think the insurance companies will take care of this. If you didn't sign away any rights, this should be a relatively easy claim.

My Porsche 993 got backed into by a Chevy Silverado with a big trailer hitch. Of course, the driver was borrowing his buddy's truck, but he also owned the same color, make and model truck, just a different year. Oh, that was fun to work out with his insurance company.

Do what the monkey said and then begin a campaign on yelp etc to leave poor remarks.