15:11 Jul 18, 2011 

tx for that informative treatise. Didn't think it was as complicated as that, and I will try to read up on it.
@YorickJenkins: However, there is another reading of "fiktive Abrechnung" - a cost estimate? This is used in DE in similar cases, no repair but the probable amount will be reimbursed anyway. Could it be that the DE text should actually say "Kostenvoranschlag" instead of "fiktive Abrechnung"? Just wondering.

08:22 Jul 18, 2011 

As the name of this document suggests, this is something issued just for "form's sake". This implies that the document exists - but the parties are all agreed that it does not create an obligation to pay. Hence, in Yorick's case, if the garages or car repairers actually issue insurers with such documents stating what they would charge, these documents could be regarded as "pro forma invoices". If, however, on the basis of experience the insurers calculate what the repairs would have cost, in my view, these internal calculations cannot be regarded as pro forma invoices. The factual situation described by Yorick is not clear on this point.

07:23 Jul 18, 2011 

English n.s. use something like "pro forma" invoice, or is that a false friend? I know that it is used in DE for the purpose described above. EN net finds are inconclusive, most are translated pages.

15:57 Jul 17, 2011 

You should post this as a "non-notional" answer :-)

15:39 Jul 17, 2011 

Hi Yorick,

I think "notional" is more accurate than nominal. I have posted the OED definition of notional below. What you have is a notional invoice / calculation. It is hypothetical based on what a garage would have charged, had it carried out the work.