Seven Week Wait for Budget Direct Car Repair Booking

mr fox on 27/01/2023 - 22:36
Last edited 28/01/2023 - 14:04 by 1 other user

Was involved in a fender bender (my fault) šŸ™‡ā€ā™‚ļø Budget Direct's fastest booking for a repair is seven weeks away.

I've had numerous dealings with AAMI over the last two decades and it's always been a case of a week or less for a repair.

Is this the norm? I'm in suburban Melbourne. I've lodged a complaint and have requested the choice of my own repairer (not a policy inclusion I've paid for) so the process can be finalised in a reasonable time frame.

That request/complaint will be reviewed next week.

TL;DR, is it just me or is a seven week away repair booking unreasonable?

Automotive

Related Stores

Budget Direct
Budget Direct

Comments

  • SnoozeAndLose on 27/01/2023 - 22:38
    +2

    if it is Christmas time, 3-4 weeks is acceptable but 7 weeks is a bit to long.

    is your car still drivable?

    • mr fox on 27/01/2023 - 22:41

      It is drivable.

      • Euphemistic on 28/01/2023 - 01:24

        Is it drivable and roadworthy?

  • Sobai on 27/01/2023 - 22:42
    +2

    Nrma took my car in two days after calling and had it returned the next week - two days before christmas eve. 7 weeks is crazy

    • jv on 27/01/2023 - 23:06
      +1

      premiums are probably twice as much though.

  • Hybroid on 27/01/2023 - 22:48

    Does your policy include rental car while vehicle being repaired?

    • mr fox on 27/01/2023 - 23:03

      Nope.

  • askbargain on 27/01/2023 - 23:14
    +2

    Switch providers! You shouldn't expect cheap service from a premium insurer!

  • bobbified on 27/01/2023 - 23:26
    +2

    As I keep saying, 'price' isn't the only thing one should look at when choosing an insurer.

  • Muzeeb on 27/01/2023 - 23:29

    I was involved in a not at fault this week. Car is still drivable.

    Received a text from panel workshop today…

    Hi from xxxxxx
    - your vehicle xxxxxx has been assessed and authorised. Booked for repairs Monday, 1 May 2023 Drop off between 8 AM-9 AM if that suits, due out Wednesday, 10 May 2023 4:45PM. Please be aware these dates are only a estimate and there may be possible delays.

    šŸ˜³

    With RACV and using a well regarded workshop. I get a free hire car for the 10 days and $160 taxi travel credit.

    • original15 on 28/01/2023 - 07:12

      Missed opportunity for your own forum post

    • Quantumcat on 28/01/2023 - 20:35

      The good thing is that if there is a delay you can occupy yourself playing Tears of the Kingdom

  • Simoneee on 27/01/2023 - 23:57

    Could be a supply chain issue with the parts ordered from overseas

    • mr fox on 24/02/2023 - 12:56

      There are no parts required. Its scratch and dent stuff.

  • Euphemistic on 28/01/2023 - 01:30
    +1

    If it hasnā€™t been rendered unroadworthy then it seems annoying but acceptable. If it wasnā€™t roadworthy they jump quick smart to get it sorted so you donā€™t have a massive rental car hill racking up.

    Waiting to sort out repairs to my car, hit mid December. Itā€™s annoying I can still see the damage, but otherwise itā€™s perfectly functional and legal to drive it so Iā€™m being patient knowing itā€™s summer holiday time and thereā€™s likely people trying to get residential repairs done.

  • doctordv8 on 28/01/2023 - 08:38

    You could…shock..horror…ask your Insurer and the nominated repairer why the delay.
    So many variables.
    Then you have facts, not guesses.
    Good guesses, but still plausible guesses.
    We do not have the facts to answer your question fairly to all concerned parties.

    But then again…it is only Budget Direct.

    • mr fox on 28/01/2023 - 18:33
      -1

      I'm not interested in why there's… a delay. I have… shock… horror… an expectation of service standards in line with the service that was… advertised… and paid for.

      What I'm interested in… is a solution… or compensation.

      • oscargamer on 29/01/2023 - 09:16
        +1

        Compensation for what exactly?

        And until you get the reason for the delay, coming up with a solution to an unknown problem, is…. Shock… Horror… difficult to say the least

  • scotty on 28/01/2023 - 08:44
    +1

    Had a case with our old KIA & Budget Direct. Someone crashed into my car in the carpark. It was drivable but not road-worthy (rear bumper came off). BD can't find any smash repair around my area and had to tow the car to somewhere 1hr drive away. Didn't hear anything for a month so I had to call up. "Oh, we declared it's a write off." Got notified to collect belongings another 2 weeks later — didn't even get to say goodbye to our old car.

    It was a 12yo car which was why we switched to Budget Direct. However that wasn't a good experience and we aren't likely going to use them again.

  • herecomestheoost on 28/01/2023 - 09:07

    :D

    herecomestheoost on 28/01/2023 - 09:07 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • djsweet on 28/01/2023 - 09:30

    Putting the ā€œbudgetā€ in Budget Direct lols

  • 87percent on 28/01/2023 - 10:00

    AAMI is the same. Got hit in late December, car is booked in mid Feb

  • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2023 - 10:11
    +1

    Most likely the repairer is favored by them for doing it as cheap as possible. So the wait ends up being longer. That's the risk you take when you don't have the choice.

  • omguleh on 28/01/2023 - 20:21
    +1

    Yes for panel work there is a long wait.
    We did ours at 5 Star Panels and waited around 4-5 weeks. Was chatting to the one of the owners and he says he gets about 5 cars per day for work done.
    Quality of work is good though and quite happy.

  • bunshon on 01/02/2023 - 13:11

    Does Budget Direct used

    "Capital S.M.A.R.T."

    centralized repair centres?

    The Botany (Sydney) one has vacancies in 2 weeks for a new intake, I was there this morning with my car and asked them.
    (Actual repair time depends on damage)

  • mr fox on 24/02/2023 - 12:57

    Not that anyone will read this but Budget just waived my requirement to use their repairer. So i can shop around for a faster repair.

  • Euphemistic on 24/02/2023 - 13:31

    I just had my car booked in for early May for repairs. Itā€™s still driveable, and the ones shop indicated they may be able to do it earlier if the parts come in.

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