SANTAM authorises repairs WITHOUT consultation and inflated PRICING by panelbeaters

I was involved in an accident on 23 November 2024, my car was towed and on the 09 December 2024 I was emailed a report from assessor Sheldon Alias confirming total costs of repairs R90617.17 and my excess was a 10% amounting to R9061.72 HOWEVER two months later when the vehicle was ready for collection I get an invoice from your chosen pannelbeaters for amount of 17452.19 which means the cost of repairs has increased and I was NOT consulted before the work was completed. I have to now pay an extra 8k of which i did not budget for and I was not consulted about. Is there no consultation that should have taken place before this work was completed and do your assessors reports basically mean nothing ? How does a FULL report with pictures and pricing change and I am not consulted ? I am NOT prepared to pay this difference as your service provider firstly inflates pricing secondly as the client i should have been given the opportunity to approve as the 10% excess is affecting my pocket and this is my vehicle... BUT again SANLAM you have authorised repairs BEYOND what I was TOLD the amount was going to be and I now am expected to foot in the difference THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED ASAP as the loan vehicle has to be returned and I need to remain mobile !!! and i am NOT prepared to pay this difference as I should have been consulted