Claiming for paint work damage

[RedSpike66]

Hi All,
Looking for some initial advice on how to proceed with a claim against a car cover company for damaged paintwork due to the cover not doing what it's supposed to do.

Problem is with the second car cover I have purchased from the same company. Replaced the first one after 3 years trouble free use simply because it was getting tatty, dirty and mouldy from covering my car outside without problems for three years.

New cover identical replacement for the first, less than twelve months old, and it simply is not as waterproof nor as breatheable - the most important part of an outdoor cover - as the first one I purchased, such that when I took the cover off the car last week, the paint on the roof and wings where the cover has most contact has blistered.

I have read in several different sources that this is caused by the cover allowing water through, not being breathable enough and causing the car to sweat.

Has anyone had to make a claim like this in the past ?
Can anyone recommend a solicitor who might have experience in such claims - happy to pay for advice !!

Thanks in advance.

[Prizam]

Dear customer...

Prove it.



This will be your issue. And if you can, then you need to start small claims proceedings.

[RedSpike66]

Well I've never ever heard of a cars paint blistering when just left out in the cold and wet and other weather conditions here in the UK... Like every car Ive ever owned as I've never had a garage..

But I get your point !! I will be at the mercy of a single Judges opinion in the small claims court ??

[paintman]

RedSpike66 said:

Well I've never ever heard of a cars paint blistering when just left out in the cold and wet and other weather conditions here in the UK... Like every car Ive ever owned as I've never had a garage..

It does happen.
http://www.glasurit.com/uk/blistering

A search on Google brings up a lot of results of blistering appearing on cars that are covered up when outside, incl: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=121...

RedSpike66 said:

But I get your point !! I will be at the mercy of a single Judges opinion in the small claims court ??

That's about the size of it.

[Fish]

Micro blistering is quite common on GRP cars if left under outdoor covers. I would never use an outdoor cover if you can help it. Sags are particularly bad in the rear wing slashes if left out side as water collects in them then allows the paint to blister. Mine had it as well.

I'm assuming it is the Sag which is blistering...

Car covers are never great unless indoors and very thin just for dust..

[shep1001]

RedSpike66 said:

Hi All,
Looking for some initial advice on how to proceed with a claim against a car cover company for damaged paintwork due to the cover not doing what it's supposed to do.

Problem is with the second car cover I have purchased from the same company. Replaced the first one after 3 years trouble free use simply because it was getting tatty, dirty and mouldy from covering my car outside without problems for three years.

New cover identical replacement for the first, less than twelve months old, and it simply is not as waterproof nor as breatheable - the most important part of an outdoor cover - as the first one I purchased, such that when I took the cover off the car last week, the paint on the roof and wings where the cover has most contact has blistered.

I have read in several different sources that this is caused by the cover allowing water through, not being breathable enough and causing the car to sweat.

Has anyone had to make a claim like this in the past ?
Can anyone recommend a solicitor who might have experience in such claims - happy to pay for advice !!

Thanks in advance.

Hi Mike

Can I ask which company this was?. Send me a private message if you prefer. Just curious as I had an issue with a breathable cover that the material started to fail on after about 18 months at the end of last year, the first cover from the same company lasted over 5 years before the wind saw it off one night. Thankfully I had no damage to the car though and to their credit, a couple of pictures later & a quick telecon & I had a brand new replacement cover within 7 days. Cant say I have had any issues with the paint finish before that either & mine stays covered for weeks at a time sometimes.

Edited by shep1001 on Thursday 26th January 23:42

[TooMany2cvs]

RedSpike66 said:

...such that when I took the cover off the car last week, the paint on the roof and wings where the cover has most contact has blistered.

How long had the cover been on?

[xjay1337]

Car covers are the biggest false economy IMO.

Fine in a garage, but on the road you're better off leaving it ! They're awful for the paint anyway, swirling and scratching it, and they can trap moisture causing issues as described.

[RedSpike66]

TooMany2cvs said:

How long had the cover been on?

It's never on more than about 4 weeks.. I try to get the old girl out as often as possible... And it's never put on a dirty or wet car.

[robinessex]

My brother in law has a caravan cover for the winter, but it has a wire support system to leave about a 6" gap away from the body work, all over. Apparently to prevent paint marking/damage so I believe.