My wife's Fabia has been involved in a minor accident, what right have I to insist on OEM parts as it involves the front wing and a cheap pattern part might not be the same high strength steel so my not offer the same protection in an accident, also I've heard some repairers use salvage parts.

You can choose a garage to get it fixed. You can provide the parts yourself etc.... Insurance would like you to use their approved repair centres..... <cough> with which they'll have contracts.... but that's not necessary.

OEM parts are generally always used anyway unless the car is discontinued and the panels are no longer available.

I'd avoid the insurers choice unless you can find out they're good.

 

To my misfortune I couldn't find any reviews on the one my car got taken to. And they made an utter pigs ear of it, twice. They had to get a second shot before I could take it elsewhere.

Car came back with more damage than it went in with.