pick-up truck damaged car – who to claim from?

the boy broke down on the way to watch forest on sunday, right on a busy roundabout.  cue lots of mirth from passing geordie buses 😀

anyways, he rang auto-aid who arranged a local pick-up place to take him to his local garage back home.  hes just got it back today, a few hundred quid down on a new alternator and belt i think.

anyways, his garage have noticed part of the bodywork looks bent, from what i can gather its under his door, as the door now scrapes when opening and shutting.  he says he can remember both him and the policeman who was present shouting at the pick-up driver to “STOP” as he hauled it onto the back as they could see contact being made.  so…. he has a witness to that altho he doesnt know who the copper was, and the pick-up company arent answering.  he’ll try them again tomorrow.

whats his best course of action?  ringing auto-aid for details of who they used?  ring his insurance and just tell them what he can and leave them to contact auto-aid?  or will it be too difficult to sort, so just suck it up and pay for a repair?

cheers

Did they not take photos before loading and ask the boy to confirm any damage?

Good luck with that one unfortunately!

Presumably auto aid have a record of the job. If there not answering the phone to you they’ll presumably pick up the phone to them. If they were managing the job it’s for them to sort out really

It’s fairly standard practice for the driver to get  some photos when they load, so they can’t be blamed for any damage already there. Ask to see these (probably before you say there’s damage or they might be less keen to hand them over)

Sounds like you’re a customer of Auto Aid, I’d start by making it their problem

Third on the photos thing – my daughters car got picked up a few months ago and the pick-up driver took photos at every stage. Loading and unloading.

hes spoken to someone at the pick-up company who’ve asked him to send pics and a video that he’s taken, its worse than i thought, the doors bent and wont lock.

so hes sent pics and the video of him trying to close the door, and asked for photos that the driver may have taken.  im guessing there wont be any tho, he hasnt mentioned that they took any.

hopefully therell be a positive resolution, he’s really p1ssed off as its his pride and joy and its his 2nd issue now, neither of them his fault.

Sounds like you’re a customer of Auto Aid, I’d start by making it their problem

thatll be his next move if no good with pick-up company.

I had a couple of pick ups via Auto Aid last month, and both times the driver was very thorough with pictures once my car was loaded.

Is he hoping to get a settlement without involving insurance? Otherwise, wouldn’t it be best to hand over to his insurance company?

well the boys just rang me, hes buzzing.

he’s had a phone call from the pick-up company accepting responsibility, said theyll fix it at their expense and provide a courtesy car too!

cant ask for more than that.  ok its only verbal at the moment but ive recommended he email them thanking them for taking responsibilty (and clearing his headache!) and asking them for a time and a place to take it.  just to keep the ‘paper trail’ going really.

thanks for your help.

That is good.