Car damaged at Dealer do I have a leg to stand on
Discussion
Hi all
First post for some advice from you wise people.
I have just had some warranty work done on my wife's car,06 1.4 Corsa. We only bought this car a week ago and they were putting right a couple of problems I had found under the Network Q warranty, All good could not be happier then.
Got the call to pick it up at 12. Get to the dealer and as I walk to the car I notice the NS rear corner of the bumper is scratched in a few places with white showing through the black and one point with the paint removed down to plastic. The vehicle did not have a check when I dropped it off but I know these marks where not there as I washed it yesterday and it has never left my drive. I told the bloke on service, he came and had a look and said he would check through the video footage from the workshop. He has just called back saying he could see nothing on the video to cause the damage and asked if it could have happened somewhere else. I have explained no and he said he will check and call back in the morning.
If he comes back and says there is nothing on our video.
Do I have a leg to stand on or can they just say sorry it was like that when you brought it in, not our problem.
Any Info greatly received
Andy
First post for some advice from you wise people.
I have just had some warranty work done on my wife's car,06 1.4 Corsa. We only bought this car a week ago and they were putting right a couple of problems I had found under the Network Q warranty, All good could not be happier then.
Got the call to pick it up at 12. Get to the dealer and as I walk to the car I notice the NS rear corner of the bumper is scratched in a few places with white showing through the black and one point with the paint removed down to plastic. The vehicle did not have a check when I dropped it off but I know these marks where not there as I washed it yesterday and it has never left my drive. I told the bloke on service, he came and had a look and said he would check through the video footage from the workshop. He has just called back saying he could see nothing on the video to cause the damage and asked if it could have happened somewhere else. I have explained no and he said he will check and call back in the morning.
If he comes back and says there is nothing on our video.
Do I have a leg to stand on or can they just say sorry it was like that when you brought it in, not our problem.
Any Info greatly received
Andy
te too!). They got a PDR guy to sort it. Take no sIgnore the fact that there may or may not be CCTV footage, you are 100% sure it happened whilst in their dealership?
They may not know how it's happened or who's done it but they will know that after so much carrying on from you, they will definately know it wasn't like that when you dropped it off.
If you were a chancer then after the first couple of attempts you'd give up but given you're genuine you won't let it go until your car is sorted or they've given you the brass to get it fixed elsewhere.
Wait until this guy comes back to you then if the answer isn't what you want write to the dealer principal then see what he/she says.
They may not know how it's happened or who's done it but they will know that after so much carrying on from you, they will definately know it wasn't like that when you dropped it off.
If you were a chancer then after the first couple of attempts you'd give up but given you're genuine you won't let it go until your car is sorted or they've given you the brass to get it fixed elsewhere.
Wait until this guy comes back to you then if the answer isn't what you want write to the dealer principal then see what he/she says.
It might not have been the dealership that did it, but it could have happened at the dealer - A dealers car park is just like a supermarket car park, in that other people use them too (customers mainly)
It wouldn't be the first time someone arriving or leaving the dealer has damaged another car and buggered off
I once witnessed someone collecting there car take the side out of a Lotus Elise, and even though they had been seen doing it, and there was matching paint all the way down the side of their car, they still denied it was them - Until they were shown the CCTV camera overlooking the car park!!
It wouldn't be the first time someone arriving or leaving the dealer has damaged another car and buggered off
I once witnessed someone collecting there car take the side out of a Lotus Elise, and even though they had been seen doing it, and there was matching paint all the way down the side of their car, they still denied it was them - Until they were shown the CCTV camera overlooking the car park!!
This is the reason why you MUST get a visual check done before you leave your keys. A quick walk round with a member of staff and jot down any damage and then sign to say you are satisfied and the staff member should countersign. That should be done to protect you and the dealership. Why people don't do this is beyond me though a busy reception with people waiting, phones going and techs waiting... taking 2 mins to have a quick walk round would be too ask of some people.
As for the damage, to echo what's been said... when you drop the key off, the dealership doesn't not thus accept all liability for your car and in fact they'll probably ahve signs up saying cars parked on their property are done so at the owners risk and no they accept no liability for any damage. If another customer hits your car, why should the dealership pay? If your car is damaged whilst you're shopping in Tesco, do you have a word with the store manager or the regional manager?
Granted if the damage was caused when being driven by a staff member or was damaged going in, whilst in or coming out the workshop then yes they would be liable. However proving it will be difficult. Many dealers will simply agree to keep the customer happy however as there are more and more people willing to take the piss, you may find you have a bit of a task on your hands. I had a chap once who paid for his service bill, went out to his car and marched straight back in saying his rear bumper was marked. I had to lie on my back under the car and look up. If we had done the damage, no way he'd have noticed. He was told to be on his way and informed me he'd never be back. Good, don't need customers like that.
As for the damage, to echo what's been said... when you drop the key off, the dealership doesn't not thus accept all liability for your car and in fact they'll probably ahve signs up saying cars parked on their property are done so at the owners risk and no they accept no liability for any damage. If another customer hits your car, why should the dealership pay? If your car is damaged whilst you're shopping in Tesco, do you have a word with the store manager or the regional manager?
Granted if the damage was caused when being driven by a staff member or was damaged going in, whilst in or coming out the workshop then yes they would be liable. However proving it will be difficult. Many dealers will simply agree to keep the customer happy however as there are more and more people willing to take the piss, you may find you have a bit of a task on your hands. I had a chap once who paid for his service bill, went out to his car and marched straight back in saying his rear bumper was marked. I had to lie on my back under the car and look up. If we had done the damage, no way he'd have noticed. He was told to be on his way and informed me he'd never be back. Good, don't need customers like that.
monthefish said:
Davie said:
If your car is damaged whilst you're shopping in Tesco, do you have a word with the store manager or the regional manager?
That's not the same thing at all; when you leave the car at a garage/dealer, you are leaving it in their care.Got a call today from the dealer, he said he has been through all the video footage and can still se no point where the car could have been damaged 
oh no I thought here it comes " sorry but nothing we can do tough titty fish face" but the bloke says "as a gesture of good will we will repair the damage" 
so it goes in next Monday.
Top bloke in my opinion.
oh no I thought here it comes " sorry but nothing we can do tough titty fish face" but the bloke says "as a gesture of good will we will repair the damage" so it goes in next Monday.Top bloke in my opinion.
The Wookie said:
monthefish said:
Davie said:
If your car is damaged whilst you're shopping in Tesco, do you have a word with the store manager or the regional manager?
That's not the same thing at all; when you leave the car at a garage/dealer, you are leaving it in their care.Though, the technician would have also done a walk round before he got in the car marking down any damage on a healthcheck sheet to cover his arse too... so he would have noticed the damage, marked it down accordingly on the job card. So, when you pick up your keys, notice the damage the advisor looks at the job card and says "The tech has noted that damage sir therefore it was there before he moved the car" and so, the damage occurred in their car park, but before any staff touched the car. Who's responsible?
You drive in, park, got to reception and before handing your keys over and signing the job sheet, you ask a memeber of staff to have a walk round your car to verify there is no damage or verify any existing damage. Thus covering both your arses. But then again, switched on dealerships will do that as part of the booking in process.
andynic said:
Got a call today from the dealer, he said he has been through all the video footage and can still se no point where the car could have been damaged oh no I thought here it comes " sorry but nothing we can do tough titty fish face" but the bloke says "as a gesture of good will we will repair the damage" so it goes in next Monday.
Top bloke in my opinion.
That is a good result, and he has done the right thing in the end. But it is just a 'I shouldn't really do this, but I'll do you a favour and fix it for you', when it should just be 'very sorry about this, it does seem like it was us that did the damage so we will fix it'. Same outcome I suppose, so oh no I thought here it comes " sorry but nothing we can do tough titty fish face" but the bloke says "as a gesture of good will we will repair the damage" so it goes in next Monday.Top bloke in my opinion.
.STW2010 said:
That is a good result, and he has done the right thing in the end. But it is just a 'I shouldn't really do this, but I'll do you a favour and fix it for you', when it should just be 'very sorry about this, it does seem like it was us that did the damage so we will fix it'. Same outcome I suppose, so .
It's called "not admitting liability" .
TBH, so many people chance it and know that if they keep badgering away the dealer will give in, particularly if it's a premium brand. That it makes me fairly skeptical of people who "claim" their car has been damaged. Most dealers I know of use a "FFS tell us if you break/damage something, we don't mind. Just don't try and hide it" policy to cut down on this sort of thing
Glassman said:
monthefish said:
they conceded and agreed to pay the excess to have it replaced.
I wouldn't have touched my own insurance for thatRich_W said:
Screens don't affect NCB. And seems that the owner couldn't PROVE they had damaged it. So if he'd argued it, they may have told him to lump it. Not everything in life is about destroying the other person at all costs...
Screens do not affect your NCB, correct (in most cases) but may influence the premium on renewal (especially given that some inscos are asking if you've claimed for a windscreen recently). I'm assuming that the dealer noted the condition of the car when it was signed into their care. This is the perfect opportunity to agree on any damage which could, potentially come back to destroy them if the vehicle wanted to chop them at the knees. Besides, noting damage may be a sales opportunity so it's well in the dealer's interest to inspect the vehicle before, and after.
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