car damage

[dealfinder85]

a guy smashed our bumper last week and wants us to give him an estimate. i went to the dealer and just by looking at it he said he thinks the only problem is bumper so it would be 1140 (with tax i bump that to 1240). we then took it to a more heimish place and they also said they dont think there is any internal damage, and they said it would be 700 (bump it to around 775 for tax).
if he writes me a check, there is no way im going to the dealer, so is it wrong to tell him 1240?

[george]

Of course it'd be wrong.

[Fan of Dan]

Even if you went to the dealer it's not simple at all to ask him for that amount if the heimish guy can fix it just as well. For sure if you are not using the dealer I don't see any way to justify asking for the dealer price.

[aygart]

What would his insurance give you? If you would make that money from his insurance then why should you be obligated to forgo it

[PlatinumGuy]

I think it's fine.

The value of the damage is the official price to fix. Using a heimish guy is no different than choosing not to fix it all.

[ushdadude]

I would take it to the heimish guy and ask for that much. Why profit from it?

[PlatinumGuy]

I would take it to the heimish guy and ask for that much. Why profit from it?

Why save him money? If anything just use the dealer.

[henche]

One day I'll buy a nice car, and the first thing I'll do is smash the bumpers with a 2x4.

Its much better; you can park in all sorts of spots you would be afraid to otherwise, and people give you space when you're force-merging on the bqe.

[ushdadude]

Why save him money? If anything just use the dealer.

use the dealer if you want but IMHO charging him the dealer price and then using the heimish guy just to make a profit is wrong.

[ushdadude]

One day I'll buy a nice car, and the first thing I'll do is smash the bumpers with a 2x4.

Its much better; you can park in all sorts of spots you would be afraid to otherwise, and people give you space when you're force-merging on the bqe.

LOL
the first scratch is very liberating. It's like the first stain on the tablecloth

[Malachi]

I think it's very wrong to do that to a frum yid

[Fan of Dan]

A guy nocked of my mirror a few years ago on my then brand new car. I told him he can either pay the heimish price, however if that voids the warranty for any reason which I had with Hyundai on the mirror than if I ever need the warranty I would go back to him. His other option was the dealer price. I gave him the choice and he told me to go to the dealer.

[Aaaron]

I think it's very wrong to do that to a frum yid

But it's ok if it's a goy?   

Shouldn't this be in the "Is it Ethical" thread?

[dealfinder85]

But it's ok if it's a goy?   

Shouldn't this be in the "Is it Ethical" thread?

in my case its a goy

[3yummyboys]

Would it be considered unethical if someone damages your car and you get an estimate for damage, even though you have no intention of actually fixing it because it's merely cosmetic, but you take the money anyway

[myb821]

Would it be considered unethical if someone damages your car and you get an estimate for damage, even though you have no intention of actually fixing it because it's merely cosmetic, but you take the money anyway

No bc they lowered the value of the car

[Ergel]

No bc they lowered the value of the car

+1. They are responsible to pay, whether or not you want to fix it.
Although, midina he is only chayav to pay the depreciation in value, which is likely less than the repair estimate.

[PlatinumGuy]

+1. They are responsible to pay, whether or not you want to fix it.
Although, midina he is only chayav to pay the depreciation in value, which is likely less than the repair estimate.

I'm not sure you're right if the US Law is different, certainly not with a non Jew. (Rambam ב. שני עכו"ם שבאו לפניך לדון בדיני ישראל ורצו שניהן לדון דין תורה דנין האחד רוצה והאחד אינו רוצה אין כופין אותו לדון אלא בדיניהן היה ישראל ועכו"ם אם יש זכות לישראל בדיניהן דנין לו בדיניהם ואומרים לו כך דיניכם ואם יש זכות לישראל בדינינו דנין לו דין תורה ואומרים לו כך דינינו ויראה לי שאין עושין כן לגר תושב אלא לעולם דנין לו בדיניהם וכן יראה לי שנוהגין עם גרי תושב בדרך ארץ וגמילות חסדים כישראל שהרי אנו מצווין להחיותן שנאמר לגר אשר בשעריך תתננה ואכלה וזה שאמרו חכמים אין כופלין להן שלום בעכו"ם לא בגר תושב אפילו העכו"ם צוו חכמים לבקר חוליהם ולקבור מתיהם עם מתי ישראל ולפרנס ענייהם בכלל עניי ישראל מפני דרכי שלום הרי נאמר טוב ה' לכל ורחמיו על כל מעשיו ונאמר דרכיה דרכי נועם וכל נתיבותיה שלום

[Name Changed]

I think it's fine.

The value of the damage is the official price to fix. Using a heimish guy is no different than choosing not to fix it all.

I dont think its fine.

I have hear or read once that If you do not plan of fixing it, they (the one that made the damage) is only חייב to pay the deprecated value.
Hence value of damage is really depreciated value not cost of repair.

Same would be if you totaled his car, you are not responsible to pay for the cost of repair if its more than the value of his car.

I would say, same would be if you are able to fix it in a cheaper place.

I do not know Halacha, and would recommend to ask a Posek

[PlatinumGuy]

I do not know Halacha, and would recommend to ask a Posek

With an akum you can follow the local laws.

Either way, you would need to ask a dayan. A posek is generally someone qualified specifically in Yoreh Dayah.