[rajeshckr]

Thanks for all the responses. Yes, I am pushing for replacement as hard as possible.

Audi has not provided a written communique to state that repairing the dent would void warranty. Maybe I should push for that in writing. They have indeed communicated to me that the replacement of alloys is what needs to be done in my car (as a part of work and price estimates provided). They also told that there is no "de-dent" procedure internally available as a part of Audi body shop.

Today, Audi has echoed this back to the insurer again (verbally) and looks like the insurer is now slightly getting to back foot. They now are asking for "salvage cost" to be borne by me. I really do not understand what this is - perhaps I should read the policy again.

The insurance company in this case is Liberty Videocon.

[JoseVijay]

Originally Posted by rajeshckr

Thanks for all the responses. Yes, I am pushing for replacement as hard as possible.

Audi has not provided a written communique to state that repairing the dent would void warranty. Maybe I should push for that in writing. They have indeed communicated to me that the replacement of alloys is what needs to be done in my car (as a part of work and price estimates provided). They also told that there is no "de-dent" procedure internally available as a part of Audi body shop.

Today, Audi has echoed this back to the insurer again (verbally) and looks like the insurer is now slightly getting to back foot. They now are asking for "salvage cost" to be borne by me. I really do not understand what this is - perhaps I should read the policy again.

The insurance company in this case is Liberty Videocon.

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

As Vikram said, repairing alloys makes it weaker. And it can be a safety issue as well o Indian roads.

Push for a full replacement.

+ 1 to the above. I suggest you to go for a full replacement of the alloys.

Can you please post few pics of the state of those wheels if you have?

[kingofmyworld]

Originally Posted by rajeshckr

Thanks for all the responses. Yes, I am pushing for replacement as hard as possible.

Audi has not provided a written communique to state that repairing the dent would void warranty. Maybe I should push for that in writing. They have indeed communicated to me that the replacement of alloys is what needs to be done in my car (as a part of work and price estimates provided). They also told that there is no "de-dent" procedure internally available as a part of Audi body shop.

Today, Audi has echoed this back to the insurer again (verbally) and looks like the insurer is now slightly getting to back foot. They now are asking for "salvage cost" to be borne by me. I really do not understand what this is - perhaps I should read the policy again.

The insurance company in this case is Liberty Videocon.

The salvage charge is a scam. Nothing else.

Salvage is paid only when you take back the broken parts. It is not a mandate that you should take it, It is upto you whether or not to take the broken parts. You do not have a to pay a single rupee for salvage if you decide not to take the broken parts.

A Friend's honda city crashed and during the claim processing we were notified that salvage has to be paid by us though we had a 0 dip policy. Since it was a 0 dip policy, my friend went through the policy and found that salvage is not a mandate. It is basically the price you pay for taking the broken parts from the insurance company.

If your insurance surveyor denies this statement about salvage, Get a notary done that the insurance company does not follow any such salvage rules and it is a mandate that the buyer needs to pay for salvage. If the surveyor is sensible, he will not sign the notary. If he does, then he is doomed!

PS : Notary was the point which made my friend's surveyor step back and cancel the savage charges.

[rajeshckr]

Originally Posted by JoseVijay

+ 1 to the above. I suggest you to go for a full replacement of the alloys.

Can you please post few pics of the state of those wheels if you have?

Here are some pictures.

[rr_zen]

Repair is out of the question. A 4 month car does not deserve this treatment and at no cost should you be compromising on safety by giving into what crap the insurance company is saying. Am surprised how they even suggest getting something done outside of the authorized service center. BTW, the name of the insurance company doesn't sound very familiar to me and am hearing it for the first time. Is it only me ?

[rajeshckr]

Originally Posted by kingofmyworld

The salvage charge is a scam. Nothing else.

Salvage is paid only when you take back the broken parts. It is not a mandate that you should take it, It is upto you whether or not to take the broken parts. You do not have a to pay a single rupee for salvage if you decide not to take the broken parts.

A Friend's honda city crashed and during the claim processing we were notified that salvage has to be paid by us though we had a 0 dip policy. Since it was a 0 dip policy, my friend went through the policy and found that salvage is not a mandate. It is basically the price you pay for taking the broken parts from the insurance company.

If your insurance surveyor denies this statement about salvage, Get a notary done that the insurance company does not follow any such salvage rules and it is a mandate that the buyer needs to pay for salvage. If the surveyor is sensible, he will not sign the notary. If he does, then he is doomed!

PS : Notary was the point which made my friend's surveyor step back and cancel the savage charges.

So here is another update. I played the Notary card.

Clearly, they did not want to give anything in writing. The guy started telling "This is how it works in all insurance companies...blah"

Finally I told him that either you give it in writing or I am not going to pay for it and hung the phone.

Now they called me again and said : "We cannot avoid putting the salvage cost. But you do not have to pay anything and we will sell it ourselves to cover the cost"

Clearly, they are under pressure from management to on record show the top management that they are pushing salvage cost to customer.

As long as I do not end up spending anything, I feel okay. But part of me says that I should insist on no savage put on record either - given that they tried to take me for a ride.

On a related note, Here is another issue I had to deal with Audi during this incident. Clearly things are not going all that smooth.

https://www.facebook.com/audiindia/p...72721306091374

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by rajeshckr

As long as I do not end up spending anything, I feel okay. But part of me says that I should insist on no savage put on record either - given that they tried to take me for a ride.

So any non-suspecting customer would have been taken for a royal ride using the 'salvage cost' name where the customer will have to believe as the car has to get in running.

What all tricks these guys get to squeeze out money!

By when are you expected to get the car back?

Anurag.

[rajeshckr]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

By when are you expected to get the car back?

Anurag.

It is going to take like another week or so. Given that there were issues with Audi assist and few other issues I had to deal with when I bought the car, this time Audi was kind enough to give me a spare car - even though this is an accident (as against a warranty claim)

[kingofmyworld]

Originally Posted by rajeshckr

So here is another update. I played the Notary card.

Clearly, they did not want to give anything in writing. The guy started telling "This is how it works in all insurance companies...blah"

Finally I told him that either you give it in writing or I am not going to pay for it and hung the phone.

Now they called me again and said : "We cannot avoid putting the salvage cost. But you do not have to pay anything and we will sell it ourselves to cover the cost"

Clearly, they are under pressure from management to on record show the top management that they are pushing salvage cost to customer.

As long as I do not end up spending anything, I feel okay. But part of me says that I should insist on no savage put on record either - given that they tried to take me for a ride.

On a related note, Here is another issue I had to deal with Audi during this incident. Clearly things are not going all that smooth.

https://www.facebook.com/audiindia/p...72721306091374

Great! But why does salvage has to be mentioned in your claim when you are not paying for it? I'm not 100% sure whether or not that will impact you negatively in the future.

On a positive note, You just saved on salvage cost. See if you can manage audi guys and get some after market wheels . We did this on one of my friend's car and it works if you can manage A.S.S guys.

[drmohitg]

Hey my almost brand new BMW 320d faced the same issue a month back. Both the left side alloys had got bent in my case and the tyre was still intact. The insurance company took care of the alloys and they were replaced, no questions asked. So unless Audi categorically is telling you getting them repaired rather than replaced ( which they never will or can) , get them replaced. Your insurance has to cover it.

Here are the pics of my bent alloys: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post3427750

[rajeshckr]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

The insurance company took care of the alloys and they were replaced, no questions asked.

Thanks!

Which was your insurance company? I might junk this one after the first year. Or is there an option to switch over mid way?

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by rajeshckr

Thanks!

Which was your insurance company? I might junk this one after the first year. Or is there an option to switch over mid way?

Mine is ICICI. I don't think there is a provision in changing the company midway. Never heard anyone doing that. But these days there is hardly any difference between the companies w.r.t. what is covered and what is not. So you are just being taken for a ride by them. Be persistent and firm and they will do it as required.

[Ahmed]

I guess Auto Insurance portability is possible now. However, I doubt the liability of an incident occurred in the last insurers tenure also gets transferred to the new insurance company.

[rajeshckr]

So here is another update.

I got the car back fully repaired. Alloys and tires replaced (as against repaired). Moreover, no salvage was paid.

Thank you all! The responses certainly helped.

I will soon post another thread on some interesting issues that I have had with my A6.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by rajeshckr

So here is another update.

I got the car back fully repaired. Alloys and tires replaced (as against repaired). Moreover, no salvage was paid.

Thank you all! The responses certainly helped.

I will soon post another thread on some interesting issues that I have had with my A6.

If you don't mind can you tell us how the process was and how things went in your favour to get the issue solved altogether?

Anurag.