Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge New Orleans Body Shop?

Folks:
I need a little New Orleans help. My daughter lives and works in New Orleans. She has our car down there and a truck hit it last week, tearing off the front bumper. We have an estimate and check coming from the drivers insurance company. She took the car to Premiere Kia, where she's had work done this summer. Their body shop is "New Orleans Collison Center". Their guy, over the phone told her they can't do a written estimate until they started taking the car apart. That sounds nuts to me, and I need something in writing to send and/or compare with the settlement from the insurance company, before accepting their payment.
If anyone is familiar with New Orleans and can recommend a good shop, that would be appreciated.

Can't help you in NOLA, but I ran into the same thing with a VW. The dealer would only give me a "guesstimate" until he got inside the rubber bumper. The insurance Co. knows that sometimes there's hidden damage and should work with the repair shop - or if they've got reason to not trust that repair facility - recommend another DEALER. Sounds like they're just trying to get your daughter to sign away her rights too soon. Sign nothing until the repairs are completed and she's satisfied.

Well, I have a better update. I spoke to the shop manager where my daughter called (he called me). He can't do an estimate on visual only, but has to take the bumper off and look at all the brackets, fasteners, etc. He said they deal with the insurance company, if there any cost overages. He'll also make sure she gets a rental car while the car is in for evaluation and than again during the repair, which will be paid for by the insurance company. He said Kia parts take a while to order and the car is drivable so she can use it in the interim. I had a good feeling talking to this guy and feel comfortable letting them do the work. The daughter is aggravated by the hassles, but I told her that's life away from home and in the big city....

It's worth letting them investigate a bit. A friend of mine was hit by a kid in a truck and the initial visual estimate was $800. When they they took it apart to fix it they found that the damage went deep and needed another $2000 in chassis fixing.

Don't forget an alignment if it was hit anywhere in the front end. My wife's car ate a new set of tires after a small front end thing which an alignment would have prevented.