Windscreen Repairs no-longer free?

[Puddenchucker]

The insurance is up for renewal on one of my cars, so I've been using the comparison sites for quotes. Now ignoring the fact that I can save 30% off the quoted renewal price, for the same cover, with my current insurer (WTF?!), by going through these sites, this appeared on one of the quotes I looked more closely at:



OK, it's only a tenner, so not a deal breaker, but is this something that insurance companies are now doing?

[TheEnd]

That's a tenner for a repair, the replacement is £75.

They probably have got sick of non essential repairs and replacements.

[Chas88]

I must be young, I didn't even realise you could get them free at any point.

[Vipers]

Chas88 said:

I must be young, I didn't even realise you could get them free at any point.

Nor me, thought you always paid something towards it.

[anonymous-user]

I noticed that too, just got renewal notice through today. Overall price is £89 less than last year, but excess has crept up by £200 to £700 and windscreen repairs are now £10

[Charlie Michael]

I had to replace the windscreen on my Z4M - and was told that the purchase price was somewhere near £850

Makes my £60 excess seem a tad more reasonable.

[Shaw Tarse]

Vipers said:

Chas88 said:

I must be young, I didn't even realise you could get them free at any point.

Nor me, thought you always paid something towards it.

If you have had a crack Gavin would fill it with his resin for free

[spikeyhead]

The windscreen excess on my Atom is £150

[Loose Chippings]

I have had a windscreen chip repair done free in the last 2 years. Must admit haven't checked the small print on my policy this year!

[Vipers]

Shaw Tarse said:

If you have had a crack Gavin would fill it with his resin for free

Used them, it's not invisible, and mine fell out two years later during the cold spell, they told me they couldnt repair it again as there would some residue left in.

They did put something in it though.

It was free though. Wonder what they charge the insurers.

[Deva Link]

Puddenchucker said:

Now ignoring the fact that I can save 30% off the quoted renewal price, for the same cover, with my current insurer (WTF?!),

It might be exactly the same - but it might not be. You'll often find if you're looking at insurers websites for a copy of the policy that there will be several different versions depending on when the policy was first taken out.

Some of it might not matter, but you might find things like European cover that was standard is now optional, or driving other cars cover isn't there any more.

[Deva Link]

Vipers said:

Nor me, thought you always paid something towards it.

It's always (since repair was possible) been free - I've never heard of it being charged for.

In fact it generally used to be the case that if you gave the windscreen company the chance to repair and that failed then you didn't have to pay the excess on the new screen. I haven't seen that mentioned for some time though.

[northandy]

spikeyhead said:

The windscreen excess on my Atom is £150

At least you never have to worry about your washer fluid being empty

[Glassman]

Vipers said:

Used them, it's not invisible, and mine fell out two years later during the cold spell, they told me they couldnt repair it again as there would some residue left in.

They did put something in it though.

It was free though. Wonder what they charge the insurers.

This thread proves yet again just how many misconceptions are being pushed at the punters.

To be fair, the consumer/customer/policyholder will have no reason to doubt what the 'expert' says. But what if he isn't really an expert? What if he doesn't understand the basic - yet fundamental - mechanics of windscreen repair?

What if he, the repairer, is part of an elaborate scam designed to dupe insurers and their clients into thinking that perfectly repairable windscreens must be replaced?

What if the urgency to then repair windscreens was reinforced by stating that there is never a good time to have a damaged windscreen?

Just saying.