Car back from the bodyshop - how fussy is acceptable?

[Silver940]

Ok so a few weeks ago the wife got hit in the side of our Alhambra by a lady rounding a corner too fast, she accepted full liability and it's been going through the process. This was the damage:



It's a 2003 Alhambra but pre accident was in really mint condition and low mileage 59k so we were glad when they said it would be repaired. It's back today and a few things I have spotted

Bumper a slightly different shade
Damaged too where it looks like it was sprayed resting on the floor.
Overspray on door rubber and roof rubber in the rain gutter and arch liner
Couple of tiny filler dimples
arch liner still damaged
arch return lip not finished properly and with slightly wrong profile
Sanding marks the length of the drivers side sill under the paint/laquer
Sill lip should be black not silver.

So in my opinion really it should come back so I can't spot this kind of stuff, it's the sort of thing I'd spot when looking to buy a car, but how fussy can you be realistically?

We'll be calling for them to take it back tomorrow - we still have the hire alhambra at the moment so less hassle for us.

Thoughts?

[blearyeyedboy]

Well, it's a personal judgment call. But when I mashed the rear quarter of my own car- self-inflicted, didn't look properly and it was all my own fault - I couldn't tell a thing when I got it back from the body shop.

From what you're telling me, I wouldn't accept the result you've got.

[MattOz]

Sounds like sloppy work and it should be returned to pre-accident condition in my opinion. I'd be at least as fussy as you're being.

[John Laverick]

As fussy as you like!

It should be factory specification/quality and it's as simple as that.

[N Dentressangle]

Silver940 said:

how fussy can you be realistically?

As fussy as you like. It's your car.

If the problems are as you describe, then I'd definitely reject the car straight away and make them repeat the work. I would keep rejecting the car until they got it right, or gave up and passed it on to someone with some ability - there are some really st bodyshops out there.

[Silver940]

Cheers, backs up my way of thinking, quite sure a lot of people would just accept it....

[GarryA]

Never let it leave the shop and don't sign for owt until perfectly happy.

[Chucklehead]

Be careful with the hire car.. some companies will pull the plug on your hire car when it goes back for "rework". Likewise if you knockback settlement offers.

It sounds like yours needs sorted though...

[saaby93]

are you claiming from your own insurance?

[kambites]

When I got the Elise back from having the front clam replaced (and hence the paint blended back into the doors and sills) it was better than new.

[Jasandjules]

Silver940 said:

Cheers, backs up my way of thinking, quite sure a lot of people would just accept it....

Maybe because they simply couldn't be a**ed to do anything about it.

BUT there is no way you should accept a car that hasn't been repaired to a sufficiently high standard.

[y2blade]

be as fussy as you like I would be

[C. Grimsley]

Be as funny as you like, my car got hit in the side the other week and I sent that back after the replaced door being the wrong colour, imperfections etc, to start with I had no courtesy car, when I kicked off I got a free 59 plate motor, not nice but I won't take it back till it's perfect.

To be fair, the body shop have been very understanding and has been keeping me in touch all the way through, most people treat cars like a tool and are not really that bothered, then there are people like us and that's the car repairers worst nightmare, they have to do a proper job lol (just my thoughts)

Carl

Edited by C. Grimsley on Thursday 18th November 21:30

[Silver940]

Dealing direct with the other party's insurer. Car at ours but wife made sure they were aware we weren't accepting the repair until I had seen it. Will be going back tomorrow.

[Compo_Simmonite]

Silver940 said:

Dealing direct with the other party's insurer. Car at ours but wife made sure they were aware we weren't accepting the repair until I had seen it. Will be going back tomorrow.

It isn't Direct Line / Churchill is it ? They own their own bodyshops ! Common for people to notice not the best quality repair ie corners / cost cut where ever posssible.
When a Direct Line insured person ran into the back of our car they offered to fix. Told them I'd be choosing who does the repairs and not them as we were the "injuried" party.

Paul h

[anonymous-user]

A lot of people WOULD "accept" it then moan to friends/family. st work deserves to be pointed out, cars cost ££££, tell them what's what

[saaby93]

Silver940 said:

Dealing direct with the other party's insurer. Car at ours but wife made sure they were aware we weren't accepting the repair until I had seen it. Will be going back tomorrow.

Make sure you state that this is their second and final chance. After than you will be taking it to another body shop?

Who suggested the body shop was it you or the insurer?
Who has the contract? Who is paying?

[Targarama]

The colour match may be as good as they can do. Silver is notorious for being a bugger to match. The other bits sound like they need attending to though, just because its a 2003 family wagon doesn't mean the finished job should be shoddy.

[Silver940]

Saga using their "approved" repairer. I won't be accepting it until I am happy, this kind of thing really bugs me!

[MoonMonkey]

When the wifes audi had a bit of a bump earlier this year we weren't happy with the quality of repair even though we had accepted the car. Superficially the job was good (Panel fit-up etc) but they seemed to have rushed the prep work and painting which was only evident after a more thorough inspection. Got straight onto the insurer who were great and sent an independent engineer round. He agreed and picked up on a few other relatively minor issues and actually went out of his way to make sure the bodyshop put it right and then inspected it again for us before the car was handed back.