Do not under any circumstances let the garage undertake any form of repair unless you are given a full written quotation, any reputable bodyshop will have a fully trained insurance estimator who's job is to furnish insurance companies with this information, before any work is undertaken.

If they say they can't don't use them. Alternatively depending on the extent of the damage, the age of the car, etc, you could offer to pay for a smart repair, lots of numbers readily available in the phone book, they normaly charge a fraction of what a bodyshop will.

If the Lady still insist's that she takes it to a Lexus dealer, and she may if it is a new lexus, I would tell her to make an insurance claim and let your insurance company sort it out.

My opinion is that, under no circumstances should you let the garage have your card details plus authority to charge whatever they like. Garages love situations like this and an established main dealers will know how to milk things to the maximum. No doubt they will be working on a complicated, expensive-sounding, story at this very moment about how you have broken the integrity of the undercoat membrane.

In your shoes I would offer the other driver two options. Firstly accept a payment for the damage which she can do with as she wishes (for a small scratch on an expensive car, I'd offer maybe £100 - £200 but you've seen the scratch and I haven't so this is for you to judge but it may be best to decide on something that seems reasonable and then not negotiate). Second alternative to offer is for her to make an insurance claim through her insurer, lose her no claims bonus and pay the excess. You need to be aware that an insurance claim would lose your bonus too (if she has your car details) and increase the next premiums for both of you but, if the other driver isn't being reasonable, then you may have little choice. My wild guess is that, for a £300 claim, you might pay an extra £200 at the next renewal plus another £100 the year after (instead of the premiums going down). The other driver would pay extra too.

In the other drivers shoes, I would but a tin of "special" polish in the right colour for £5 and I'd rub it into the scratch until it was hard to notice.

Hi - I scratched a car at work when I opened my car door - Tiny scratch but I left a message. The owner obviously wants it fixed but wants to take it to LEXUS garage and according to her will take two days. She has booked it in and wants me to pay over the phone direct to garage. Apparently they cant give estimate until they have started job.

It sounds as if its going to be expensive - haven't got much spare cash at the moment - should I:

1) Pay

2) expect estimates first?

3) Unreasonable to insist she takes it elswhere (she is a very awkward and unreasonable person)

4) As it looks as it may be expensive - let her claim on my car insurance? Hove much extra would this be on insurance - although it would spread the cost!

Ideas would be helpful

Thanks