I need a professional opinion/second opinion and I hope you can help me out. I backed into a car. We would like to settle without insurance and the owner of the car has given me an estimate for the front bumper to be fixed. They have listed the following as the scope of work: Removal and installation of lumber and trimmings, body filler/plastic weld on dents and tap repair for the bumper bracket, primer on the dent repairs, paint and blend panels (prep the whole bumper) and clear coat entire bumper and grill that was damaged, refinish/wet sand to color match. They have said they are only charging me for the materials and no labor. Total is $500. Here are photos of the car after I backed into the bumper.
I’m surprised they didn’t list what was for lunch too. I had a lady back into me at a drive through. Punched the bumper, headlight, and a little hood and fender work. It was $3000 before they got done but that included a loaner car. Normally they just replace the bumper cover, not glue it back together. And to blend new paint has to include spaying onto all of the adjacent panels or it will show. I don’t know what the current rate is but some years ago it was $75 per adjacent panel. The shop owner complained to me tat he just paid $400 for a gallon of paint. And that was without the primers, reducers, catalysts, and other items. Wet sanding and polishing is pretty standard. Close the deal if you can get by for $500.
Jump on that! It is cheap. Most placed would charge upwards of $1500 for that work. $500 for the paint alone.
Create a release of responsibility… basically write down that you paid for the repair, they are happy with it and you no longer have any liability to them after the $500 payment… and both of you sign and date originals. Each of you keep one.
As @Mustangman says, get a release and include in it that you are released from “any and all liability to the maker, from the beginning of the world until the end of time”. You dont give the other party the $500 until they sign and hand you the release.
$500 seems very reasonable. Suggest to take that the other person up on that offer. Other than hiring your own lawyer to handle a bevy of signed paperwork, I doubt there is anything you can do to guarantee the other party won’t attempt to change the terms after you pay the $500. Suggest to just write them a check, try to maintain a good relationship with other party, and pretty good chance imo that will be the end of the transaction. You always have your cancelled check for proof you paid the $500.