HELP - I need some advice

[illest]

Here's my story. Saturday I was driving around in DC and this guy pulls up beside me and says "I can fix that damage on your front fender, Do you want a price?" This was strange for 2 reasons. 1. Autobody shops dont usually have workers in the streets giving out free estimates. 2. The last time I looked at my car there was no damage on the front fender. So I told the guy No. When I got home I went to the passenger side of the car and my fender had aseverl large dents and several scratches.

I have no idea when the damage occured or who did it. I never go to the passenger side of the car and since I ride the train to work the car is parked at my apartment most of the time.

So today I took the car to 4 shops to get an estimate to fix it.
shop 1 - ~$1500-1800 would replace fender
shop 2 - $980 would replace fender
shop 3 - $375 would repair fender and repaint to match
shop 4 - $475 would repair fender and repaint to match

I have insurance with a $500 deductable.

Pictures are below

Here are my questions

How much is a good price to get this fixed?
Does the fender have to be replaced?
If I go through insurance how my can I expect my rate to change?
Any recommendations on good shops in the MD, DC, VA area?

[Esleeper]

That sucks.

Maybe that guy f---ed up your car and waited for you to flag you down. At least that much sounds like a scam. Good thing you didn't stop.

Your insurance will probably go up if you report it and use your deductible. Our E classes are not new anylonger so if the cheapest guy in the bunch has good refferals then go for the cheapest repair. Lucky for you that color blue is easy to match unlike silver.

[gregs210]

Hi, illest.

Sorry to hear that; I recently had one of those myself, it's really depressing that society is that way now.

I can't say the "street approach" is typical, but it's certainly not unheard of. There are lots of good body guys who don't work out of a conventional shop and are looking for an easy job, so I certainly wouldn't be suspicious of that. Here in the bay area there are some who will come to your place of business, set up a tent and even do painting, etc.

In any event, if you have a good insurance agent, call him up, tell him what's going on, and ask him whether your rate will go up if you submit this small claim. From the pics the fender looks pretty jacked, so I think I'd be tempted to have it replaced. In that case you're out pretty much the same amount of money, so ask the agent and see what he says. The agent may also have a shop they recommend, so another estimate never hurts.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

[Musikmann]

Man, I'm sorry to hear about this.

Some insurance companies have a "one at-fault accident foregiveness" clause, I know mine does with Erie. In other words, your insurance premium might not go up for the rather small claim that this is.

On the other hand, I scraped a fender on a pole once, and called my former agent. A $700 claim would have cost me (in increased premiums for 3 years) about $2000! Needless to say, I paid for that myself.

Good Luck!

[Creative85]

honestly same thing happened to me i think those f**ers try to scam people they hit the car and then they are like want me to fix it...from my experience just fix the car yourself...i mean you have a good deductible...but its not a lot of damage i think to pain and fix the fender about 600 dollars if u find a decent shop ...this way for 600 bucks ur insurance wont go up and u will be headache free cause till they send u the check and till they inspect the car and give an estimate and all that crap ...and shop is gonna charge more through insurance...so just repair the fender and paint it...trust me its not a big deal and its not a major damage...good luck

[ProV1x]

yeah sounds like a scam, that guy f##ked up your car and wanted to steal your money.. did you get his plate #? file a report to your local news agency and PD.