They encourage that the check be made to the body shop "they are friends with" sometimes there is not one in the area but often there is one they prefer because the work is garenteed.

Basically you can tell them look, heres the estimate, I want the check made to me so if I change my mind I can take the check somewhere else. that is 100% legal. I did a lot of research on this a while back and that was how I was able to get the check written to me, not the dealer.

You don't even legally have to get your car fixed with the money they give you. Insist they send YOU a check.

In NY legally if your car is insured for collision and the accident is not your fault and you do not get it fixed you have to report it to your insurance co. But that is if you don't get it fixed. If you owe money on the car there are issues about not getting it fixed IE: if it gets repossed they will demand the money from your insurance claim to fix the car. The other guys insurance co. can NOT tell you to get it fixed somewhere else, you have the choice. Again here in NY if you owe on the car they write the check to the shop and you. If you own the car then you get the check. I would just tell them you haven't decided where to get it fixed and you want the check. Your insurance co. can demand receipts from a shop to prove the car was fixed properly in case of another accident. Your insurance co. will be notified. I actually had to have a form filled out and sent to my insurance co stating the car was back to factory specs.

Some teenager looking for a coffee fix hit my wife'* Pacifica with a volvo. The cop was like "who owns the tank" Damage to Pacifica 900.00 volvo 5800.00.

Aw Leslie...sorry to hear about you getting bumped in the rear. And now the insurance is trying to stick you too...wow.

So she went in for surgery today. I probably won't see her again until Friday, maybe next week even. I got the insurance company to give me the check in my name. I took it to riverdale body shop though because they do better hard collison repairs than my shop does. The check was issued for $4,200, he is fixing it for $3,200. That gives me $1,000 for myself woot! lol

I smell mod money.

Glad to hear it'* already getting fixed. That'* a very quick turnaround from the insurance company.

Yeah, i haven't got the check yet, but they said I should have it by the time repairs are finished. And nope, no mod money, thats going straight towards what I owe to the car. My tax money will go partially for mods

BAHAHAH, Mine is dead last.

Hence, mine is 18 years old and has not one dent.

I found out something today to disprove that it EVER did, but thats another post and another thread entirely.

Glad to hear its getting fixed les. How come you never posted pics of the damage!?!?

broke my camera john, I mentioned that oooooh on the 1st page lmao