Faulty Windscreen Heating Element

[bomberh]

I have sent my car for service with a list of things I need looking at, mostly under warranty. One of these is the passenger side of my windscreen heating elements do not work, as the screen, on that side, doesn't de-mist or clear when I switch it on.
The dealer has told me today, that he has made a warranty claim and that they will be sending an engineer to check the possible faulty elements.
I have heard on here, that this is to stop us from claiming a new windscreen when there is minor damage instead of paying via windscreen access?
Now I know there is no damage on my windscreen, none that I can see. What if the engineer voids the claim because they have found a microscopic mark on the screen and attributes this to failure of the elements, is there any redress if this happens??
Sending an engineer out to check the screen, other then the above, is this just a formality??

[MaverickV12]

I would guess that they are right..... they are not sending an engineer for your benefit, they obvioulsy want to void the claim. I am guessing that to replace a screen you won't get any change out of £1k or maybe £2k..... i'm guessing.....or more ....?

Does anyone know?

If they can wriggle on the claim, they don't have to pay it...... you can go and get your own insurance to pay for it, but beware, when I recently did it to another of my cars (not the Aston), it counted as a claim on the insurance. I replaced the full screen because of a chip, I paid the excess and they paid the rest, but it was a claim.

Being the sort of guy that does not trust a franchise dealer further than I can thrown them, personally I would serioulsy doubt if they would even send anyone out, and would question if its a stock answer "we'll send an engineer", leave it a day or so, then you get a message, "not covered, sorry", of course I could be wrong, and in a funny way I hope I am.

It would be good to get your feed back on how this problem works out

[good grief]

I bought my V8VR 12 months ago with a 2year Aston warranty. I then noticed one of the elements in the rear screen wasn't working. Contacted the dealers who got the repair agreed, which in my case involved a complete new hood as it wasn't possible to change the screen only.
If my Experiance is anything to go by I reckon you've no worries

[Glassman]

MaverickV12 said:

you can go and get your own insurance to pay for it, but beware, when I recently did it to another of my cars (not the Aston), it counted as a claim on the insurance. I replaced the full screen because of a chip, I paid the excess and they paid the rest, but it was a claim.

Could you expand on this, please?

A damaged windscreen is an insured loss, and therefore would be a claim? Or do you mean it affected your NCD?

[V8LM]

Possibly a stupid question, but is there a separate fuse? Happened on one of my cars and surprised to find (a) the two sides had different fused feeds and (b) one had blown.

[MaverickV12]

Glassman said:

Could you expand on this, please?

Sometimes if you have your windscreen repaired instead of replaced, it does not count as a claim, there is no excess, and you don't lose your NCB, like a fool I thought that a replaced windscreen might not attract the excess, or might not effect my NCB.

It was quickly cleared up my the firm fitting the windscreen. It IS a claim, it WILL effect your NBC, and you DO pay an excess, I had some airy-fairy thought that it would be lost with no excess and NCB trouble - I was wrong.

[Glassman]

MaverickV12 said:

Glassman said:

Could you expand on this, please?

Sometimes if you have your windscreen repaired instead of replaced, it does not count as a claim, there is no excess, and you don't lose your NCB, like a fool I thought that a replaced windscreen might not attract the excess, or might not effect my NCB.

It was quickly cleared up my the firm fitting the windscreen. It IS a claim, it WILL effect your NBC, and you DO pay an excess, I had some airy-fairy thought that it would be lost with no excess and NCB trouble - I was wrong.

Any claim on your insurance policy will count as a claim, glass repaired or replaced.

http://www.insurancedatabases.co.uk/default.aspx

[Jockman]

Glassman said:

Any claim on your insurance policy will count as a claim, glass repaired or replaced.

http://www.insurancedatabases.co.uk/default.aspx

IIRC even the thought of phoning them counts as a claim these days.

Get quotes before picking up the phone

Not all claims will effect NCD, though

[Glassman]

Jockman said:

IIRC even the thought of phoning them counts as a claim these days.

Even if you decide not to take it any further after a non-fault accident.

[Jockman]

Glassman said:

Even if you decide not to take it any further after a non-fault accident.

Bizarre or what

Apparently there are statistics which prove that people who have considered claiming are actually more likely to claim in the future !!!

Where's Nicknotine when you need him ??

[AMDBSNick]

A decent motor insurance policy will provide windscreen cover that will not AFFECT your NCD.

As with most things in this world; you get what you pay for

[Jockman]

AMDBSNick said:

A decent motor insurance policy will provide windscreen cover that will not AFFECT your NCD.

As with most things in this world; you get what you pay for

Or go for a cheaper one with Protected NCD for a minimal extra premium, perhaps

[Glassman]

AMDBSNick said:

A decent motor insurance policy will provide windscreen cover that will not AFFECT your NCD.

As with most things in this world; you get what you pay for

The notes provided by insurers is not conclusive enough. NCD aside, if making a glass claim will hike up your premium on renewal, they need to make this clear; equally, if there is a contributing factor to why the premium should rise - if it does - there needs to be clarification on this, and perhaps an even better reason to confirm that it is not due to making a, or number of, glass claims during the previous year.

Some insurers are asking for disclosure of any glass claims made previously. Swiftcover will freeze/suspend NCD if a windscreen claim is made.