Car damaged by garage during MOT
Discussion
BertBert said:
xstian said:
I'm not sure you will get anywhere unless they're willing to discount as a good will gesture.
At the end of the day, the bonnet should have been able to withstand a wash with a pressure washer and you say yourself you could hardly notice it unless it was pointed out. If they had scratch it with the lance I think you would be entitled to a repair, I'm not so sure in your instance.
Why do you say that? There's absolutely no "need" for a bonnet to withstand pressure washing. Nor was the service requested. Also it's well know the possible pitfalls of using a pressure washer without proper care (eg using it on a damaged surface).At the end of the day, the bonnet should have been able to withstand a wash with a pressure washer and you say yourself you could hardly notice it unless it was pointed out. If they had scratch it with the lance I think you would be entitled to a repair, I'm not so sure in your instance.
I'm not saying it's the OPs fault, but I'm not so sure it's the garages fault either.
v9 said:
Ham_and_Jam said:
Obviously too late for the OP, but I always say ‘no wash’ when taking my car to a garage.
Just one less thing to go potentially wrong.
Same. Never occurred to me they’d wash it at an MOT. Just one less thing to go potentially wrong.
OK,was looking for some consensus so to summarise, it’s my fault for:
a) having a crack in the paint
b) also for failing to tell then NOT to wash it
c) And either 80-90% my fault or maybe 50% my fault or maybe nobodies fault.
But probably not the garages fault, or maybe it is.
Excellent!
a) having a crack in the paint
b) also for failing to tell then NOT to wash it
c) And either 80-90% my fault or maybe 50% my fault or maybe nobodies fault.
But probably not the garages fault, or maybe it is.
Excellent!
v9 said:
OK,was looking for some consensus so to summarise, it’s my fault for:
a) having a crack in the paint
b) also for failing to tell then NOT to wash it
c) And either 80-90% my fault or maybe 50% my fault or maybe nobodies fault.
But probably not the garages fault, or maybe it is.
Excellent!
Only if you listen to the usual PH types that time after time are proven wrong.a) having a crack in the paint
b) also for failing to tell then NOT to wash it
c) And either 80-90% my fault or maybe 50% my fault or maybe nobodies fault.
But probably not the garages fault, or maybe it is.
Excellent!
mcpoot said:
v9 said:
OK,was looking for some consensus so to summarise, it’s my fault for:
a) having a crack in the paint
b) also for failing to tell then NOT to wash it
c) And either 80-90% my fault or maybe 50% my fault or maybe nobodies fault.
But probably not the garages fault, or maybe it is.
Excellent!
Only if you listen to the usual PH types that time after time are proven wrong.a) having a crack in the paint
b) also for failing to tell then NOT to wash it
c) And either 80-90% my fault or maybe 50% my fault or maybe nobodies fault.
But probably not the garages fault, or maybe it is.
Excellent!
Why bother asking on here, just speak to the garage?
xstian said:
I always find it odd when people come onto a public forum looking for advice, because they don't know the answer, but then moan because it isn't what they want to hear.
Why bother asking on here, just speak to the garage?
Maybe before you add such a pointless comment you could read the posts. As previously said, I’ve spoken to the garage and taken the car to show them the damage they have caused. They have agreed to get back to me. Whilst I’m waiting I thought I’d see what the consensus on a fair solution was. There doesn’t seem to be one, hence the lightly humorous and tongue in cheek post. It wasn’t a ‘moan’. Why bother asking on here, just speak to the garage?
Maybe wind your neck in a little ‘cos you’re not coming across well.
I put this down to the stuff happens category, they should have asked if you wanted it washed, they should have inspected the paint to see if jet washing would be an issue, etc, etc. I would not expect the car to be washed as part of an MOT especially as the max cost is capped, does seem odd to do this.
How you respond is really down to do you want to continue using them for future work?
If you do, negotiate a reasonable compromise with them on the basis they were trying to offer a bit more with the best of intentions.
If not then you can play hardball but at risk of getting nothing leaving you to either suck it up yourself or sue them for the damage.
Not a nice position to be in.
How you respond is really down to do you want to continue using them for future work?
If you do, negotiate a reasonable compromise with them on the basis they were trying to offer a bit more with the best of intentions.
If not then you can play hardball but at risk of getting nothing leaving you to either suck it up yourself or sue them for the damage.
Not a nice position to be in.
v9 said:
xstian said:
I always find it odd when people come onto a public forum looking for advice, because they don't know the answer, but then moan because it isn't what they want to hear.
Why bother asking on here, just speak to the garage?
Maybe before you add such a pointless comment you could read the posts. As previously said, I’ve spoken to the garage and taken the car to show them the damage they have caused. They have agreed to get back to me. Whilst I’m waiting I thought I’d see what the consensus on a fair solution was. There doesn’t seem to be one, hence the lightly humorous and tongue in cheek post. It wasn’t a ‘moan’. Why bother asking on here, just speak to the garage?
Maybe wind your neck in a little ‘cos you’re not coming across well.
BertBert said:
If it was me, I'd be looking for the garage to fix it and happy to contribute along the way.
This is pretty much how I left it with them. They are a local quite large outfit. Convenient for basic stuff , though quite pricey. Have used them for simple jobs I don’t have time or tools to do myself and would like to keep things cordial. Not really looking for legal options, but thought this might be the best sub-forum to get some views on a reasonable outcome for both parties. v9 said:
Currently waiting for them to get back to me, but from their initial conversation they are expecting me to foot the full bill.
Any thoughts welcome!
You paid for an MOT test which in my experience doesn't include a wash of the car.Any thoughts welcome!
You didn't ask them to wash it.
They didn't tell you they will be washing it. If they had you could have had the opportunity to say no, and prevent the damage.
Your car has been given back to you in worse condition than when you gave it to them.
For them to say you're fitting the whole bill isn't very good.
I'd expect them to make a contribution, if they refuse I'd get it done myself, send them the bill with a deadline to pay it, then money claim online.
That's just me as I'm a car valeter of over 30 years, I'd have spotted the flaky bit on the bonnet and stayed well away with a pressure washer.
I pressure washed badly heat cracked audi bonnet without this and had another come off while driving having never pressure washed.
I'd say patching the clear with careful overspray and it not looking anything like new fair.
Full respray with sanding smooth etc taking good time up, new paint etc and I would have to think not more than 20% discount, and I don't do respray work so not biased towards garage.
It would be like having a shed of a car replaced to brand new body & paint as someone dented door or something.
I'd say patching the clear with careful overspray and it not looking anything like new fair.
Full respray with sanding smooth etc taking good time up, new paint etc and I would have to think not more than 20% discount, and I don't do respray work so not biased towards garage.
It would be like having a shed of a car replaced to brand new body & paint as someone dented door or something.
Depends on the car...
Some classics have cracked/damaged/imperfect paint and it's considered a part of its patina. Respraying a bonnet would not only deprive the vehicle of some of its essential character but also, despite "improving" the affected component in a purely technical sense, might devalue the car as it's no longer 100% original. Of course, someone with such a car might be very picky about where they take it and what they tell the garage in terms of cleaning, etc.
On the other hand, if it's not a classic then a paint repair is probably of little consequence and paying for the paint and clear coat while the garage provides the labour would probably be the fairest outcome. Frustrating, as you might not have needed or wanted to respray the bonnet, or have the funds to do it, but one of those "put it down to experience" things. That said, if you'd told them not to wash it and had documented evidence of this, and proof that they knew you'd told them not to wash it, then you could argue that they're on the hook for the whole cost.
Some classics have cracked/damaged/imperfect paint and it's considered a part of its patina. Respraying a bonnet would not only deprive the vehicle of some of its essential character but also, despite "improving" the affected component in a purely technical sense, might devalue the car as it's no longer 100% original. Of course, someone with such a car might be very picky about where they take it and what they tell the garage in terms of cleaning, etc.
On the other hand, if it's not a classic then a paint repair is probably of little consequence and paying for the paint and clear coat while the garage provides the labour would probably be the fairest outcome. Frustrating, as you might not have needed or wanted to respray the bonnet, or have the funds to do it, but one of those "put it down to experience" things. That said, if you'd told them not to wash it and had documented evidence of this, and proof that they knew you'd told them not to wash it, then you could argue that they're on the hook for the whole cost.
A problem you may need to consider is that if you have the whole bonnet redone it may well end up showing the rest of the car up by comparison.
I bought an A4 estate from copart needing a rear bumper and new exhaust, I luckily managed to find one in colour that matched the general condition of the rest of the car (a few years old with a fair number of miles on it) If I'd need to have it sprayed it would have looked very out of place without doing the rest of the car.
Also for just a bonnet respray I would expect around £4-500, if they can just sand back and re-lacquer and £3-400. In your circumstances I would expecting to pay only a nominal amount toward that.
I bought an A4 estate from copart needing a rear bumper and new exhaust, I luckily managed to find one in colour that matched the general condition of the rest of the car (a few years old with a fair number of miles on it) If I'd need to have it sprayed it would have looked very out of place without doing the rest of the car.
Also for just a bonnet respray I would expect around £4-500, if they can just sand back and re-lacquer and £3-400. In your circumstances I would expecting to pay only a nominal amount toward that.
simon_harris said:
A problem you may need to consider is that if you have the whole bonnet redone it may well end up showing the rest of the car up by comparison.
Indeed. The whole car would need respraying for it all to still match, but that would be betterment. However, not doing the whole car and having non-matching panels effectively leaves you in s state of "worsement", if such a word even exists.simon_harris said:
I bought an A4 estate from copart needing a rear bumper and new exhaust, I luckily managed to find one in colour that matched the general condition of the rest of the car (a few years old with a fair number of miles on it) If I'd need to have it sprayed it would have looked very out of place without doing the rest of the car.
I think this is the answer. Replacement part, same colour and as close as possible to the same age and it should just blend in imperceptibly. Cheaper than a respray and, hopefully, the garage will contribute as it was their actions that necessitated the replacement. I bought a replacement boot lid for my E36 3 Series as mine was rusting badly. Got it from eBay. Same colour, roughly the same age. You'd never know it wasn't the original!If you knew the damage was preexisting, you were, at some point going to have to do something about it. The garage tried to do what they felt was a good thing but as the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.
In my opinion, they shouldn't be punished. In normal circumstances, a pressure washer will not damage paintwork. Leveling with them on the basis that the paintwork in that area was susceptible to damage might have prompted the garage to make you a decent offer to repair it?
In my opinion, they shouldn't be punished. In normal circumstances, a pressure washer will not damage paintwork. Leveling with them on the basis that the paintwork in that area was susceptible to damage might have prompted the garage to make you a decent offer to repair it?
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