Estimates for damage repairs

Anyone any recent experience with getting estimates for car repairs??
Im being asked for 100 euro to give an estimate, refunndable against the repair if its carried out in their garage.
If every garage asks for this, you be 300 squid down just to satisfy the insurance company that you were getting a compeditive deal. As it is, the guy who hit me wants to settle outside of insurance luckily.
I still feel ripped off about handing over a ton so they can tell me what they'd like to charge for the repair!!!!

You shouldn't have to pay for an estimate.

yep have had experience recently...and got charged nothing...

Dundhoone said:

Im being asked for 100 euro to give an estimate, refunndable against the repair if its carried out in their garage.

Click to expand...

what a joke... run away as quick as you can.....

I ran .

Got the estimate elsewhere, I just couldnt believe the cheek of asking 100 for an estimate which would take ten minutes to sort.

Yes a scam ! but probably introduced by the garage as they found themselves giving a lot of quotes and not then getting the work!
seems a great way to get business....Boss:"hmmmm our quotes are to high, people always get the repairs done elsewhere"
Mechanic" How about we charge for the quotes so at least we get a fee"
Obviously busy enough that they can turn away a certian amount of business in this way and are happy with their cost base.