[Maritime Q-Scout]

I'm not an expert but I wouldn't give over $600 without a written estimate.

I would ask where he got the estimate done, as well as phone around and get a rough idea from a number of different autobody shops as to the repair for his make and model car.

I would also explain to the insurance company, that it's not that you're not willing to pay to fix his car, it's just you want to see the paperwork for what you're paying. It's not unreasonable to have a transaction for what you're paying for, in fact it's unreasonable to deny you it.

DR isn't looking to get out of not paying, he's saying he may not be guilty and wants to be treated as such. The possiblity of him being guilty, and him without a doubt being guilty aren't one in the same.

He said a red flag went up when the estimate came back at $600 and the other party refused to show him the estimate. Frankly, that's a red flag for me too. Now he's simply looking at advice on how to go from here. Essentially his guilt or innocence is a non-factor if he's willing to repair the door. The question and argument lies on what do you do when someone tells you an unreasonable estimate and refuses to back it up in writing?

DR could have kicked the guy's door in, if the guy doesn't give him a written estimate to fix it, isn't not unreasonable to hold out for one.

For all those saying DR not paying the guy is wrong, or you can't claim you're innocent suck it up, doesn't matter.

If the guy goes to small claims court over it, guess what he'll have to provide to get DR to fix his car? EXACTLY what DR is looking for (a written estimate). So really small claims court is more of a hinderance on the other party than for him anyway, as the other guy could merely hand over the written estimate without court costs.

DR, in my laymen opinion, you're doing fine. It might cost you $600, it might not, but it is without question unreasonable to hand over $600 for an estimate without getting it in writing first.