Bodyshop / insurer trouble...where do I stand?
Discussion
Right, bit of trouble here, want to know exactly where I stand and what i can and can't do/ask for. Bear with the long-winded background but it's all pertinent.
Honda got damaged (cosmetic only thankfully) back at the end of the summer. Don't ask how. Suffice to say that I managed to get the third party's insurer to admit liability.
Dealt direct with the 3P insurer, rather than going through my insurer (possible mistake, but wanted to get things sorted quickly, rather than the usual chains which take forever). Said that I wanted to get the car resprayed at a Honda-approved bodyshop as if it wasn't the 6-year corrosion warranty could be void. They agreed, can't remember if I sent in a few quotes or if they just asked me to send in details of where I wanted the work done.
Car booked in, work done. Go to look at it, and the paint on the resprayed panels is a different colour. More than that, they haven't blended it in to the adjacent panels, so it's clearly a different colour. Point it out to them, they argue that it's not a different colour, and it's the light, it's the angle the panels are at, and so on. They finally agree to have another look at it, then call 24hrs later to say it's ready (Hmmm...) Go and look, and it's no different - all they've done is blended in the front wing to the bumper, which is plastic anyway so was never going to match. They claim that the metallic paint will probably 'settle down' after a couple of weeks, and I can always bring it back as i've a 12-month warranty on the work.
So I take the car away. In hindsight, this was a mistake as this allowed them to invoice the 3P insurers and get paid, which may have been what they were angling for.
A month or so later (early Dec), it's no different, take it back to them, have another debate about the colour, they agree to book it in for the New Year, as they agree that the sill (un-resprayed) is a different colour to the door/wing (resprayed). They don't mention the other colour mis-matches.
I'm concerned about what they will/won't do, so take it to a DIFFERENT (also Honda-approved) bodyshop to independently assess. He says that the paint mis-match isn't uncommon, but they should have blended into the adjacent panels so it didn't show, and definitely should have done the sill.
So took it back this morning to the bodyshop that did the work. They point-blank weren't prepared to do anything other than the sill, and if I still wasn't happy I was to take it up with my insurer*. So I said that rather than have it back-and-forth to them piecemeal, I'd take it away and speak to the insurer.
Well, I called the 3P insurer, and the lady referred it, and she's now come back to me and said they're not prepared to do anything more and I need to pursue this with the bodyshop!
So...am I stuffed? I've no direct contract with the bodyshop, as they invoiced and were paid by the 3P insurer. I've no direct contract with the 3P insurer, as they act for the 3P. All I have is any duty-of-care either party may owe to me, and the warranty issued by the bodyshop...which at this point appears worthless!
Any/all advice (short of suggesting criminal activity in revenge) is welcome...I'm sitting here feeling absolutely gutted that my P&J still isn't quite right and doesn't look like it's going to be without spending a lot of my own money! Two weeks after some scrotes in Stratford kicked the wingmirror off of the wife's car, denting the front wing in the process!
* He even said that new cars come out of the factory with wing and bonnet different colours! ANYONE seen that before?
Honda got damaged (cosmetic only thankfully) back at the end of the summer. Don't ask how. Suffice to say that I managed to get the third party's insurer to admit liability.
Dealt direct with the 3P insurer, rather than going through my insurer (possible mistake, but wanted to get things sorted quickly, rather than the usual chains which take forever). Said that I wanted to get the car resprayed at a Honda-approved bodyshop as if it wasn't the 6-year corrosion warranty could be void. They agreed, can't remember if I sent in a few quotes or if they just asked me to send in details of where I wanted the work done.
Car booked in, work done. Go to look at it, and the paint on the resprayed panels is a different colour. More than that, they haven't blended it in to the adjacent panels, so it's clearly a different colour. Point it out to them, they argue that it's not a different colour, and it's the light, it's the angle the panels are at, and so on. They finally agree to have another look at it, then call 24hrs later to say it's ready (Hmmm...) Go and look, and it's no different - all they've done is blended in the front wing to the bumper, which is plastic anyway so was never going to match. They claim that the metallic paint will probably 'settle down' after a couple of weeks, and I can always bring it back as i've a 12-month warranty on the work.
So I take the car away. In hindsight, this was a mistake as this allowed them to invoice the 3P insurers and get paid, which may have been what they were angling for.
A month or so later (early Dec), it's no different, take it back to them, have another debate about the colour, they agree to book it in for the New Year, as they agree that the sill (un-resprayed) is a different colour to the door/wing (resprayed). They don't mention the other colour mis-matches.
I'm concerned about what they will/won't do, so take it to a DIFFERENT (also Honda-approved) bodyshop to independently assess. He says that the paint mis-match isn't uncommon, but they should have blended into the adjacent panels so it didn't show, and definitely should have done the sill.
So took it back this morning to the bodyshop that did the work. They point-blank weren't prepared to do anything other than the sill, and if I still wasn't happy I was to take it up with my insurer*. So I said that rather than have it back-and-forth to them piecemeal, I'd take it away and speak to the insurer.
Well, I called the 3P insurer, and the lady referred it, and she's now come back to me and said they're not prepared to do anything more and I need to pursue this with the bodyshop!
So...am I stuffed? I've no direct contract with the bodyshop, as they invoiced and were paid by the 3P insurer. I've no direct contract with the 3P insurer, as they act for the 3P. All I have is any duty-of-care either party may owe to me, and the warranty issued by the bodyshop...which at this point appears worthless!
Any/all advice (short of suggesting criminal activity in revenge) is welcome...I'm sitting here feeling absolutely gutted that my P&J still isn't quite right and doesn't look like it's going to be without spending a lot of my own money! Two weeks after some scrotes in Stratford kicked the wingmirror off of the wife's car, denting the front wing in the process!
* He even said that new cars come out of the factory with wing and bonnet different colours! ANYONE seen that before?
My take on this is that the insurer, having admitted liability by contracting to have the work done, has failed to return to you your property in a suitable condition i.e. the condition it was in before their insured caused the damage. You have no contract with the repairer, since you are not the one paying them.
What I would do is to get the vehicle professionally inspected by a suitably qualified independent person or organisation (the AA or RAC, ideally, or Honda U.K.), then sent their report to the 3rd party insurer telling them that unless they agree, in writing, to have your vehicle re-finished to the satisfaction of you and your independent inspector, you will instruct a repairer recommended by the independent inspector to carry out the work, will pay for it yourself and send them the bill for re-imbursement including your out-of-pocket interest charges at 3% over base rate calculated on a daily basis.
That almost certainly will do the trick, but the key is that the independent inspector must have a recognised status to do the inspection. Your having signed a release form when you originally collected the car meaqns nothing as you are not a professional body engineer and could not have been reasonably expected to spot any colour differences yourself.
It's a hassle, but will be worth it in the end if your car is to keep its resale/trade-in value.
I hope this helps.
What I would do is to get the vehicle professionally inspected by a suitably qualified independent person or organisation (the AA or RAC, ideally, or Honda U.K.), then sent their report to the 3rd party insurer telling them that unless they agree, in writing, to have your vehicle re-finished to the satisfaction of you and your independent inspector, you will instruct a repairer recommended by the independent inspector to carry out the work, will pay for it yourself and send them the bill for re-imbursement including your out-of-pocket interest charges at 3% over base rate calculated on a daily basis.
That almost certainly will do the trick, but the key is that the independent inspector must have a recognised status to do the inspection. Your having signed a release form when you originally collected the car meaqns nothing as you are not a professional body engineer and could not have been reasonably expected to spot any colour differences yourself.
It's a hassle, but will be worth it in the end if your car is to keep its resale/trade-in value.
I hope this helps.
Ist one of the niggly thing with my beloved car which fell victim to some yobs the other evening und if only I had not been so shocked und stunned at time .. my feline streak would have gone a-hunting for removing their dangly bits 
So far.. quotes have varied from reasonable und surprisingly in keeping with my own estimate of this repair .. to downright silly from the repair shop as recommended by insurer und which ist insurer approved but not manufacturer approved ..
We think a right scam as they quote almost treble the dealer esitmate und claim it need repairs to areas which it does not need. :roll: I admit to harbouring some suspicion.. und I also make other enquiries as to quality und find that there are some issues which "lieber havoc" have over overall standard expected.
As result of getting quote from dealer body ship.. one bodywork engineer which ist also approved by manufacturer und two "insurance only und bound by insurer policy" accident "repair" centres - Mad Doc und self now have means to lay down our cards on table und insist my czar ist restored to former pristine, handsome hunk by experts in his creator's own body shoppe.
Insurer hem und haw on phone und you visualise eyes rolling in shock at customer daring to insist on their right ot have their property repaired where they think in best interest of the lovely car. He ist only a baby of a few months
... und I was getting to know him und enjoy him too. :weeeping: . He has nasty bruise to his sleek wing.. even bigger bruise to his airbag as well. This was one hefty thump... I kid not.. That car even shunted with handbrake on full.. such was the force of these illiterate und indisciplined thugs who if caught will probably be asked to sit quietly at back of court with eyes folded as they have such an unfortunate life on cocktail of drink, drugs und not one qualification to get a job.
Sadly .. I have no answer as to how to correct this universal ill in our society. I do know from fostering experience that firm discipline make a difference though.
So far.. quotes have varied from reasonable und surprisingly in keeping with my own estimate of this repair .. to downright silly from the repair shop as recommended by insurer und which ist insurer approved but not manufacturer approved ..
We think a right scam as they quote almost treble the dealer esitmate und claim it need repairs to areas which it does not need. :roll: I admit to harbouring some suspicion.. und I also make other enquiries as to quality und find that there are some issues which "lieber havoc" have over overall standard expected.
As result of getting quote from dealer body ship.. one bodywork engineer which ist also approved by manufacturer und two "insurance only und bound by insurer policy" accident "repair" centres - Mad Doc und self now have means to lay down our cards on table und insist my czar ist restored to former pristine, handsome hunk by experts in his creator's own body shoppe. Insurer hem und haw on phone und you visualise eyes rolling in shock at customer daring to insist on their right ot have their property repaired where they think in best interest of the lovely car. He ist only a baby of a few months
... und I was getting to know him und enjoy him too. :weeeping: . He has nasty bruise to his sleek wing.. even bigger bruise to his airbag as well. This was one hefty thump... I kid not.. That car even shunted with handbrake on full.. such was the force of these illiterate und indisciplined thugs who if caught will probably be asked to sit quietly at back of court with eyes folded as they have such an unfortunate life on cocktail of drink, drugs und not one qualification to get a job. Sadly .. I have no answer as to how to correct this universal ill in our society. I do know from fostering experience that firm discipline make a difference though.
havoc said:
Right, bit of trouble here, want to know exactly where I stand and what i can and can't do/ask for. Bear with the long-winded background but it's all pertinent.
Honda got damaged (cosmetic only thankfully) back at the end of the summer. Don't ask how. Suffice to say that I managed to get the third party's insurer to admit liability.
Dealt direct with the 3P insurer, rather than going through my insurer (possible mistake, but wanted to get things sorted quickly, rather than the usual chains which take forever). Said that I wanted to get the car resprayed at a Honda-approved bodyshop as if it wasn't the 6-year corrosion warranty could be void. They agreed, can't remember if I sent in a few quotes or if they just asked me to send in details of where I wanted the work done.
Car booked in, work done. Go to look at it, and the paint on the resprayed panels is a different colour. More than that, they haven't blended it in to the adjacent panels, so it's clearly a different colour. Point it out to them, they argue that it's not a different colour, and it's the light, it's the angle the panels are at, and so on. They finally agree to have another look at it, then call 24hrs later to say it's ready (Hmmm...) Go and look, and it's no different - all they've done is blended in the front wing to the bumper, which is plastic anyway so was never going to match. They claim that the metallic paint will probably 'settle down' after a couple of weeks, and I can always bring it back as i've a 12-month warranty on the work.
So I take the car away. In hindsight, this was a mistake as this allowed them to invoice the 3P insurers and get paid, which may have been what they were angling for.
A month or so later (early Dec), it's no different, take it back to them, have another debate about the colour, they agree to book it in for the New Year, as they agree that the sill (un-resprayed) is a different colour to the door/wing (resprayed). They don't mention the other colour mis-matches.
I'm concerned about what they will/won't do, so take it to a DIFFERENT (also Honda-approved) bodyshop to independently assess. He says that the paint mis-match isn't uncommon, but they should have blended into the adjacent panels so it didn't show, and definitely should have done the sill.
So took it back this morning to the bodyshop that did the work. They point-blank weren't prepared to do anything other than the sill, and if I still wasn't happy I was to take it up with my insurer*. So I said that rather than have it back-and-forth to them piecemeal, I'd take it away and speak to the insurer.
Well, I called the 3P insurer, and the lady referred it, and she's now come back to me and said they're not prepared to do anything more and I need to pursue this with the bodyshop!
So...am I stuffed? I've no direct contract with the bodyshop, as they invoiced and were paid by the 3P insurer. I've no direct contract with the 3P insurer, as they act for the 3P. All I have is any duty-of-care either party may owe to me, and the warranty issued by the bodyshop...which at this point appears worthless!
Any/all advice (short of suggesting criminal activity in revenge) is welcome...I'm sitting here feeling absolutely gutted that my P&J still isn't quite right and doesn't look like it's going to be without spending a lot of my own money! Two weeks after some scrotes in Stratford kicked the wingmirror off of the wife's car, denting the front wing in the process!
* He even said that new cars come out of the factory with wing and bonnet different colours! ANYONE seen that before?
Honda got damaged (cosmetic only thankfully) back at the end of the summer. Don't ask how. Suffice to say that I managed to get the third party's insurer to admit liability.
Dealt direct with the 3P insurer, rather than going through my insurer (possible mistake, but wanted to get things sorted quickly, rather than the usual chains which take forever). Said that I wanted to get the car resprayed at a Honda-approved bodyshop as if it wasn't the 6-year corrosion warranty could be void. They agreed, can't remember if I sent in a few quotes or if they just asked me to send in details of where I wanted the work done.
Car booked in, work done. Go to look at it, and the paint on the resprayed panels is a different colour. More than that, they haven't blended it in to the adjacent panels, so it's clearly a different colour. Point it out to them, they argue that it's not a different colour, and it's the light, it's the angle the panels are at, and so on. They finally agree to have another look at it, then call 24hrs later to say it's ready (Hmmm...) Go and look, and it's no different - all they've done is blended in the front wing to the bumper, which is plastic anyway so was never going to match. They claim that the metallic paint will probably 'settle down' after a couple of weeks, and I can always bring it back as i've a 12-month warranty on the work.
So I take the car away. In hindsight, this was a mistake as this allowed them to invoice the 3P insurers and get paid, which may have been what they were angling for.
A month or so later (early Dec), it's no different, take it back to them, have another debate about the colour, they agree to book it in for the New Year, as they agree that the sill (un-resprayed) is a different colour to the door/wing (resprayed). They don't mention the other colour mis-matches.
I'm concerned about what they will/won't do, so take it to a DIFFERENT (also Honda-approved) bodyshop to independently assess. He says that the paint mis-match isn't uncommon, but they should have blended into the adjacent panels so it didn't show, and definitely should have done the sill.
So took it back this morning to the bodyshop that did the work. They point-blank weren't prepared to do anything other than the sill, and if I still wasn't happy I was to take it up with my insurer*. So I said that rather than have it back-and-forth to them piecemeal, I'd take it away and speak to the insurer.
Well, I called the 3P insurer, and the lady referred it, and she's now come back to me and said they're not prepared to do anything more and I need to pursue this with the bodyshop!
So...am I stuffed? I've no direct contract with the bodyshop, as they invoiced and were paid by the 3P insurer. I've no direct contract with the 3P insurer, as they act for the 3P. All I have is any duty-of-care either party may owe to me, and the warranty issued by the bodyshop...which at this point appears worthless!
Any/all advice (short of suggesting criminal activity in revenge) is welcome...I'm sitting here feeling absolutely gutted that my P&J still isn't quite right and doesn't look like it's going to be without spending a lot of my own money! Two weeks after some scrotes in Stratford kicked the wingmirror off of the wife's car, denting the front wing in the process!
* He even said that new cars come out of the factory with wing and bonnet different colours! ANYONE seen that before?
No .. never seen such. Manfufacturers do have quality control We are no longer thankfully subbect to Red Ken und the Fiday afternoon/Monday morning car "if you were lucky" days.
I think perhaps you should point out that the work ist sub-standard und may be write to whichever body approved them for this work. As said .. have found out for myslef that "insurance approved" ist not the same thing as "dealer or manufacturer approved" .. und I am being very choosy as to who repair my lovely car now.
WildCat said:
...maybe write to whichever body approved them for this work. As said .. have found out for myslef that "insurance approved" ist not the same thing as "dealer or manufacturer approved" .. und I am being very choosy as to who repair my lovely car now.
Well now, that's half the problem...they're part of the group which owns 4 or 5 of the local Honda dealers...and 'Honda Approved' has nothing to do with Honda UK, as HUK couldn't care less about the wording in the manual and devolved all responsibility for 'approval' down to the dealerships...who have no 'approval' process in place, only who they use for their work!
If nothing further comes of this I will be at the very least writing a strong letter to the Group cust'r services manager, cc'ing the Dealer Principal at the dealership I use...and explaining why I won't be using any of their services ever again.
Won't name and shame, certainly not at this stage, but they're a multi-mfr well-known group, so if anyone wants to know more, mail me.
Edit: PS - Cooperman - thanks for that. I'm still trying to ascertain WHO has the greater obligation/duty to me, so who I have more chance of suing. Sadly reckon it will come to that, as they're both big companies who really couldn't give a ****.
Edited by havoc on Monday 8th January 22:11
havoc said:
WildCat said:
...maybe write to whichever body approved them for this work. As said .. have found out for myslef that "insurance approved" ist not the same thing as "dealer or manufacturer approved" .. und I am being very choosy as to who repair my lovely car now.
Well now, that's half the problem...they're part of the group which owns 4 or 5 of the local Honda dealers...and 'Honda Approved' has nothing to do with Honda UK, as HUK couldn't care less about the wording in the manual and devolved all responsibility for 'approval' down to the dealerships...who have no 'approval' process in place, only who they use for their work!
If nothing further comes of this I will be at the very least writing a strong letter to the Group cust'r services manager, cc'ing the Dealer Principal at the dealership I use...and explaining why I won't be using any of their services ever again.
Won't name and shame, certainly not at this stage, but they're a multi-mfr well-known group, so if anyone wants to know more, mail me.
Edit: PS - Cooperman - thanks for that. I'm still trying to ascertain WHO has the greater obligation/duty to me, so who I have more chance of suing. Sadly reckon it will come to that, as they're both big companies who really couldn't give a ****.
Edited by havoc on Monday 8th January 22:11
ja.. I also find out that dealer sub-contract to what seem on eye to be "back street garage" I talk with them.. inspect their work today - und the quote.. und begin to have more thouht as to who I should trust here :wink:
This apparently small concern ist approved by the manufacturer but does little insurance only work.. but then these sharks make their deals which suit their profit margin und not the customer requirement for a fair und expert job at price most reasonable which also should impact on premium :roll:.. but insurers seem to be biggest rip off merchant along with sock puppet "repair centres"
Hi
I served my time a a paint sprayer and for many years owned my own bodyshop.. when painting a car A colour is either right or its wrong , any decent bodyshop will spray out the colour on colour cards and check it outside prior to painting the car If there is eyesite in it they need to tint the colour to get it right..sounds like they have painted your car in a shade that is a mile away and they are trying to blend it out. In an ideal world you should be able to look at your car when painted and see no variation in colour ..
I your car is a Honda some of the reds have a 3 stage paint involving tinted clearcoats and this makes it tricky but not impossible to get right ? but essential agin to do spray out cards.. Another problem you will have is if you come to get the car painted again matching what is on now will be hard work !!
My advice would be to persue the garage If there is eyesite in it how can they argue ,some colours will look mutch worse under street lights so maybe worth taking it back when its dark.. camp outside and ask customers coming in for there opinion..pretty sure they will sort it for you if you put enough pressure on.
I served my time a a paint sprayer and for many years owned my own bodyshop.. when painting a car A colour is either right or its wrong , any decent bodyshop will spray out the colour on colour cards and check it outside prior to painting the car If there is eyesite in it they need to tint the colour to get it right..sounds like they have painted your car in a shade that is a mile away and they are trying to blend it out. In an ideal world you should be able to look at your car when painted and see no variation in colour ..
I your car is a Honda some of the reds have a 3 stage paint involving tinted clearcoats and this makes it tricky but not impossible to get right ? but essential agin to do spray out cards.. Another problem you will have is if you come to get the car painted again matching what is on now will be hard work !!
My advice would be to persue the garage If there is eyesite in it how can they argue ,some colours will look mutch worse under street lights so maybe worth taking it back when its dark.. camp outside and ask customers coming in for there opinion..pretty sure they will sort it for you if you put enough pressure on.
Edited by jeffc on Monday 8th January 22:35
Jeff,
Thanks for that...the car is metallic blue, and it's not a million miles off, but is noticeable. TBH I'm not even certain that (given it's metallic) they've not gone and sprayed the right colour in the wrong direction, if you know what I mean, as the colour difference is more apparent from some angles than others. They've not blended at all, just left whole panels done and adjacent panels untouched.
If that IS the case (right colour, poorly applied), where do I stand? And is there a quick and easy resolution?
AJG,
FSO is on my list...want to explore 'friendly' solutions first before escalating, so if it goes to court I can go there having tried everything else.
Thanks for that...the car is metallic blue, and it's not a million miles off, but is noticeable. TBH I'm not even certain that (given it's metallic) they've not gone and sprayed the right colour in the wrong direction, if you know what I mean, as the colour difference is more apparent from some angles than others. They've not blended at all, just left whole panels done and adjacent panels untouched.
If that IS the case (right colour, poorly applied), where do I stand? And is there a quick and easy resolution?
AJG,
FSO is on my list...want to explore 'friendly' solutions first before escalating, so if it goes to court I can go there having tried everything else.
WildCat said:
....I also find out that dealer sub-contract to what seem on eye to be "back street garage" I talk with them.. inspect their work today - und the quote.. und begin to have more thouht as to who I should trust here :wink:
This apparently small concern ist approved by the manufacturer but does little insurance only work.. but then these sharks make their deals which suit their profit margin und not the customer requirement for a fair und expert job at price most reasonable which also should impact on premium :roll:.. but insurers seem to be biggest rip off merchant along with sock puppet "repair centres"
This apparently small concern ist approved by the manufacturer but does little insurance only work.. but then these sharks make their deals which suit their profit margin und not the customer requirement for a fair und expert job at price most reasonable which also should impact on premium :roll:.. but insurers seem to be biggest rip off merchant along with sock puppet "repair centres"
That's a good point. Beware of going to somebody you think you can trust, and then finding they sub-contact the work to others, who might not get you the result you want.
Hell, ain't it a full time job just keeping things on a decent track!!
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Could it be that they have used the same colour paint, but a different paint code?
I mean have Honda changed the shade of blue slightly, kept the same descriptive name for the colour, but changed the code? I know BMW do this with some of theirs.
Bodyshop looked at the car, saw it was XXX blue metallic, used XXX blue metallic paint, but didn't bother to make sure the paint codes were the same?
I mean have Honda changed the shade of blue slightly, kept the same descriptive name for the colour, but changed the code? I know BMW do this with some of theirs.
Bodyshop looked at the car, saw it was XXX blue metallic, used XXX blue metallic paint, but didn't bother to make sure the paint codes were the same?
BiggusLaddus said:
Could it be that they have used the same colour paint, but a different paint code?
I mean have Honda changed the shade of blue slightly, kept the same descriptive name for the colour, but changed the code? I know BMW do this with some of theirs.
Bodyshop looked at the car, saw it was XXX blue metallic, used XXX blue metallic paint, but didn't bother to make sure the paint codes were the same?
I mean have Honda changed the shade of blue slightly, kept the same descriptive name for the colour, but changed the code? I know BMW do this with some of theirs.
Bodyshop looked at the car, saw it was XXX blue metallic, used XXX blue metallic paint, but didn't bother to make sure the paint codes were the same?
That is probably the main candidate for what's happened, but of course they don't want to do it again, do they?
The real question is how do I get someone to take responsibility, and who, given the situation I've managed to put myself in?!?
The responsibility must surely rest with the 3rd party's insurance company. You have tasked them to return your car to the standard it was before the collision, and they have failed to do that.
They are acting as an appointed agent of the person who was responsible for the collision, so as far as you are concerned, it is their damage to repair.
If you can get another bodyshop to take a look at it, and put in writing that the colour of the repaired area is different than the rest of the car, then I can't see how they would have a leg to stand on. You probably don't even need this.
They are acting as an appointed agent of the person who was responsible for the collision, so as far as you are concerned, it is their damage to repair.
If you can get another bodyshop to take a look at it, and put in writing that the colour of the repaired area is different than the rest of the car, then I can't see how they would have a leg to stand on. You probably don't even need this.
havoc said:
* He even said that new cars come out of the factory with wing and bonnet different colours! ANYONE seen that before?
I bought a brand new Mk 111 Ford Capri in red way back in 1979.
Under yellow streetlamps it was obvious it had been resprayed on the f/os wing,(Probably had a knock in storage) but you could not see anything in Normal daylight.
Ford agreed and fully resprayed the car again, perfect job, no further problems....
You must have read my post in the detailing forum on here and on s2ki.
I have just come to the end of a huge sage after my S was keyed. Being a pearlescent colour, I looked for personal recommendations for a bodyshop, rather than go to a "Honda approved" bodyshop, as being Honda approved doesn't mean they are any good.
Anyway, the initial colour was way out. After much discussion, the bodyshop admitted it was a poor respray, and got the paint manufacturers to make up a custom paint for my car. Well they then resprayed the 3 panels, virtually edge to edge, and it's now a perfect match.
For you, if the bodyshop are refusing to do anything, you will have to take it up further with the insurance company, who paid for your repairs. As they are refusing to assist you, it needs to go higher up the chain, and the Financial Ombudsman would definitely be a good port of call. Also the idea of getting an independent paint specialist to review your car and report that it is a crap respray would help.
I know how you feel, I just hope you can get it sorted to your satisfaction soon.
I have just come to the end of a huge sage after my S was keyed. Being a pearlescent colour, I looked for personal recommendations for a bodyshop, rather than go to a "Honda approved" bodyshop, as being Honda approved doesn't mean they are any good.
Anyway, the initial colour was way out. After much discussion, the bodyshop admitted it was a poor respray, and got the paint manufacturers to make up a custom paint for my car. Well they then resprayed the 3 panels, virtually edge to edge, and it's now a perfect match.
For you, if the bodyshop are refusing to do anything, you will have to take it up further with the insurance company, who paid for your repairs. As they are refusing to assist you, it needs to go higher up the chain, and the Financial Ombudsman would definitely be a good port of call. Also the idea of getting an independent paint specialist to review your car and report that it is a crap respray would help.
I know how you feel, I just hope you can get it sorted to your satisfaction soon.
havoc said:
They claim that the metallic paint will probably 'settle down' after a couple of weeks, and I can always bring it back as i've a 12-month warranty on the work.
That's the crux of it - does this 12 month warranty exist, and if so who is indemnified, the insurance co or you? If insurance co maybe they aren't aware that they can get it for a freebie.
Had seen your thread on S2ki last year but have to confess forgot about it Sarren. Thanks for the heads up, and nice to know that you've had a good result (pleased for you and gives me some confidence!).
Ombudsman is a call for today/tomorrow...this week has been silly with 3 different personal projects (not including jobhunting) plus a busy week at work! I think I'll sleep next year, should have some spare time then...
Ombudsman is a call for today/tomorrow...this week has been silly with 3 different personal projects (not including jobhunting) plus a busy week at work! I think I'll sleep next year, should have some spare time then...
BiggusLaddus said:
The responsibility must surely rest with the 3rd party's insurance company. You have tasked them to return your car to the standard it was before the collision, and they have failed to do that.
the angle that the insurance company would take is:
a) by removing the car from the bodyshop you accepted the quality of the work.
b) you selected the repairer. you didn't use their approved repairer, they won't offer any guarantees for a repairer that they don't recognise.
Similarly, lots of insurance companies won't offer you a hire car (under a 1st party claim) if you don't use their approved repairer.
AMCDan said:
the angle that the insurance company would take is:
a) by removing the car from the bodyshop you accepted the quality of the work.
b) you selected the repairer. you didn't use their approved repairer, they won't offer any guarantees for a repairer that they don't recognise.
I would agree with all that.
You chose the repairer - your problem to sort out any issues with the repairer, which is awkward, because you're not their customer, the insurance company is.
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