auto body HELP?

You should just go through insurance.... You'll probably want a rental while your truck is being fixed, they pay that. They will probably have a shop in the area with lifetime guarantee... you probably want that to, that way it doesn't matter if they repair or replace the door skin.

That being said, I think it needs a skin, blend the fender and blend the rear door.

 

i agree with you except if i could get it fixed without having to have it reported it saves you that carfax hit. it is deffinately safer to go through the channels as you have stated but i know last year my wife was in an accident in her new rav4. it was the other persons fault and with 8k worth of damage we had no choice but to go through ins. we automatically lost 20-25% of the vehicle value even though it was repaired with genuine toyota parts just because it's now reflected on carfax

 

yep. typical 3rd gen owner... lol.

File a diminished value claim. You have to be able to prove it cost you 20-25% of your value though.

 

i tried. i got comparitive values from the dealership, kbb, and edmunds. i fought with the insurance but unless i was willing to pay for some time consuming legal fees it wasn't going to happen.

 

Right now I don't want to deal with this dude . @Casper66 i just called Toyota a door skin retail 402 $$$i think this guy was slipping it to me .

 

yeah, it's not easy to prove.

 

That is just for the part, add 7hrs of labor to just replace the skin, then paint time at like 2.0 for the door, blend fender at 1.5, blend rear door at 1.5, plus breaking down the doors, removing the front bumper and headlight... there is a lot to it.

@oneshort

 

OP everyones suggestions are good. they all have valid points aimed toward helping you have repairs done that you will be happy with. the ball is in your court at this point the only thing i'm able to offer is what i've told you about how the repairs can be made

 

and it really sucks! if we were people who only keep a car a couple of years it would have screwed us even worse. we usually keep our vehicles until the wheels fall off so all we ever get is the wholesale tradein anyway

 

I would suggest contacting a reputable Toyota dealership and use their recommended body shop. They will most likely guarantee their work so even if they pull and fill the repair they will honor any issues you may have.

 

Yeah I know, I'm an adjuster and I have helped people prove their own DOV claims before.

 

get your estimates but insist on genuine toyota parts and feel free to explain you have already priced the door skin

 

The problem is is that you didn't get multiple quotes, you went to one guy who said $XXXX for X work, and then changed it after you got paid. I can't say that's the fault of the neighbor or that they owe you any additional funds, sure, the damage was on them and they were responsible and told you to get an estimate, you provided them the estimate and took their funds. Then your chosen body shop/person changed the work order.

That's not their responsibility to correct, the problem is between you and the body man who gave you a quote and then changed it. I don't see what you're mentioning small claims court for?

You need to find a new body shop, tell them the situation and see if they'll match the $1900 quote for the work you agreed to have done with the other person. If that $1900 doesn't cover it, it should be out of your pocket IMO. Fault for the dent is on the other family, but fault for your situation is on you entirely.

 

great idea and will be easier to insure genuine parts are used

 

That door skin needs to be replaces.... no need to get a whole bunch of estimates. It should be pretty standard, unless the shop wants to cake it with mud. Most shops will want to replace that skin, it's easier than trying to repair that and it makes them more money.

 

It's a door, you either get a new skin or a used door shell, both would be Toyota parts. I've never written an estimate with aftermarket doors. I don't even no if you can even get them.

 

I'm not arguing that, body work on those curved body lines isn't quick or easy, and is an easy "quick Bondo fix" for a shop that doesn't care to do it right or re-skin the door. I've done body work on hard, curved body lines and auto painting and know the work behind doing a repair and not a replacement of those things.

My point is that he's already gotten paid for the work to be done, and had a problem with the shop who quoted the repair. The family's obligation to pay for the repair has already been fulfilled, and he has no reason to be speaking of taking them to court.

They asked for an estimate, he got one, they paid it in full. The shop changing their mind isn't their fault, liability, or problem.

 

I agree with that.... Plus the shop wrote an "estimate" of repairs. An estimate is an estimation... I know no other way to say it.

 

Lesson here is go through proper channels for repairs and save everyone some trouble. Your neighbors insurance premium would not have gone up more than what paying out of pocked for the repair will. Plus insurance would get you a rental, unless the OP doesn't need his truck for 4 or 5 days.

also, good communication skills will get you help a lot faster.

 

Or if you're going to half ass things and get a single estimate, do it with someone reliable.

Regardless of the fact this person did work for you several times before, he doesn't value your business as much as you do his. Go elsewhere, and don't drag the other family into your fuck up. They did what you asked of them, they're no longer involved.