Problems When New Screen Fitted - Where Do I Stand?
Discussion
OK, had a new screen fitted by a well know National Windscreen company at the weekend.
When refitting the mirror to the screen it would not go on properly (I even had to supply the right sized screwdriver as he didnt have one), so I had a look at it with the fitter, he tried again & managed to tighten the screw but round off the screw head at the same time, the problem was the mirror still fell off, the screw was now tight & he could find no way to loosen it.
I offered to see if I could loosen it, but in the process the die casting that the screw is in broke, making the mirror dustbin food.
The fitter popped off to get a replacement mirror & came back with a mirror that did not fit.
The well known national windscreen company are now saying that it was my fault it broke & are refusing to do any more about the problem.
Where do I stand?
When refitting the mirror to the screen it would not go on properly (I even had to supply the right sized screwdriver as he didnt have one), so I had a look at it with the fitter, he tried again & managed to tighten the screw but round off the screw head at the same time, the problem was the mirror still fell off, the screw was now tight & he could find no way to loosen it.
I offered to see if I could loosen it, but in the process the die casting that the screw is in broke, making the mirror dustbin food.
The fitter popped off to get a replacement mirror & came back with a mirror that did not fit.
The well known national windscreen company are now saying that it was my fault it broke & are refusing to do any more about the problem.
Where do I stand?
Glassman said:
Are they shrugging it off because part of the assembly broke whilst you had your hands on it?
That's pretty much it, the fitter is sayin I broke it, even though he rounded off the screw head. Sad fact is, without me hand holding the fitter all through the windscreen fitting process ho would have been unable to complete the job.They also turned up without the 18 clips required to re-fit the windscreen surround trim, thankfully I keep a personal stock of these, just in case I need a screen fitted, as I could see it being a problem. This is despite telling them when it was booked they would require these parts as they ALWAYS break when removing this trim.
The monkey I spoke to is going to talk to his manager, he actually said "I can't see there's any way we'll be replacing a £100 mirror".
Edited by R500POP on Monday 3rd October 11:09
Truffles said:
I had this a few months ago when the replacement fitter broke my mirror. They wouldn't replace - I had to buy a new one myself.
Well they can do one, I'm not forking out over £100 as it was their fitter who rounded off the screw. Bloody well know National Windscreen companys.......R500POP said:
That's pretty much it, the fitter is sayin I broke it, even though he rounded off the screw head. Sad fact is, without me hand holding the fitter all through the windscreen fitting process ho would have been unable to complete the job.
They also turned up without the 18 clips required to re-fit the windscreen surround trim, thankfully I keep a personal stock of these, just in case I need a screen fitted, as I could see it being a problem. This is despite telling them when it was booked they would require these parts as they ALWAYS break when removing this trim.
The monkey I spoke to is going to talk to his manager, he actually said "I can't see there's any way we'll be replacing a £100 mirror".
I think he shafted himself by rounding the screw off. At this point he should have accepted some responsibility, at least if he was to carry on with his attempt to refit it. A rounded screw is no good to anyone, especially if the mirror assy is to come off again (for whatever reason). They also turned up without the 18 clips required to re-fit the windscreen surround trim, thankfully I keep a personal stock of these, just in case I need a screen fitted, as I could see it being a problem. This is despite telling them when it was booked they would require these parts as they ALWAYS break when removing this trim.
The monkey I spoke to is going to talk to his manager, he actually said "I can't see there's any way we'll be replacing a £100 mirror".
Like a lot of blokes, you've stepped in to try and help and he's (or his bosses are) using this against you. To totally shrug it is poor.
It gets better.
To add insult to injury, apparently I signed to acknowledge that "customer broke rear view mirror", "it's written in the comments box sir, right next to where you sign".
"Horses
t" was my reply, "there was nothing written in the comments box". I then asked "should I have a customer copy of this as a recipt", "yes sir, but for some reason we have both original & the copy here".....hmmm, I wonder why that is.
To add insult to injury, apparently I signed to acknowledge that "customer broke rear view mirror", "it's written in the comments box sir, right next to where you sign".
"Horses
t" was my reply, "there was nothing written in the comments box". I then asked "should I have a customer copy of this as a recipt", "yes sir, but for some reason we have both original & the copy here".....hmmm, I wonder why that is.Leptons said:
I remember the time I used a well known NATIONAL WINDSCREEN company. It was the same time the fking cock sockets sealanted over the visible vin and then cut the trim back half an inch short. It looked like a 5 year old had done the job. 
I have to admit, the actual boding of the screen is a lovely neat job.king cock sockets sealanted over the visible vin and then cut the trim back half an inch short. It looked like a 5 year old had done the job. (shudder) I've got to have the windscreen out to repair a rusting surround on my MR2 Mk1. The bodyshop chap says the glassman will almost certainly break it when removing it. 
To add insult to likely injury, he also said the rust has been caused by a poorly fitted replacement screen in the past.
If I could take it to a reputable windscreen company instead, I would, but it needs to go back to the bodyshop inbetween removal and refit.
To add insult to likely injury, he also said the rust has been caused by a poorly fitted replacement screen in the past.
If I could take it to a reputable windscreen company instead, I would, but it needs to go back to the bodyshop inbetween removal and refit.
5705 said:
The bodyshop chap says the glassman will almost certainly break it when removing it.
Not THE Glassman 
Seriously, it's very rare for a screen to break on removal; I know a lot of very skilled and experienced techs/auto-glaziers/fitters and the breakages on average are less than 1%.
I can't remember the last time a windscreen/glass broke/cracked when removing.
Glassman said:
Not THE Glassman
Seriously, it's very rare for a screen to break on removal; I know a lot of very skilled and experienced techs/auto-glaziers/fitters and the breakages on average are less than 1%.
I can't remember the last time a windscreen/glass broke/cracked when removing.
Oops - apologies, Mr G! Seriously, it's very rare for a screen to break on removal; I know a lot of very skilled and experienced techs/auto-glaziers/fitters and the breakages on average are less than 1%.
I can't remember the last time a windscreen/glass broke/cracked when removing.
Thanks for letting me know about the likelihood. Not sure what I can do about this - as usual, it's all about using people you trust. I'm fairly sure that the bodyshop guy said they use Autoglass.
I'm cynical about the motivation there is for a general windscreen replacement company to do a good remove/refit job if they're not making the money on supplying a new screen.
5705 said:
Oops - apologies, Mr G!
Thanks for letting me know about the likelihood. Not sure what I can do about this - as usual, it's all about using people you trust. I'm fairly sure that the bodyshop guy said they use Autoglass.
I'm cynical about the motivation there is for a general windscreen replacement company to do a good remove/refit job if they're not making the money on supplying a new screen.
I don't think AG will be involved in this tbh - quite unheard of in recent years. Being brutally honest, many of their techs just don't have enough experience to be doing this kind of work so if the bodyshop is using them...Thanks for letting me know about the likelihood. Not sure what I can do about this - as usual, it's all about using people you trust. I'm fairly sure that the bodyshop guy said they use Autoglass.
I'm cynical about the motivation there is for a general windscreen replacement company to do a good remove/refit job if they're not making the money on supplying a new screen.
BTW - YHM
Finally got through to somebody who talks sense. He has agreed that they need to pick up the cost of the replacement mirror, since it was their fitter who caused the problems in the first place.
I am promised the cheque will be sent off this Friday, so all in a decent result, even if it took a fight to get there.
I am promised the cheque will be sent off this Friday, so all in a decent result, even if it took a fight to get there.
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