Smart repair not so smart
Discussion
Could anyone just guide me before I go getting my solicitor involved. My point is I have had a small smart repair done by a Portsmouth based franchise company and despite them coming back three times due to the work blistering it far from matches colour wise.
Having sent a few e-mails requesting a full refund the Portsmouth owner of the franchise has replied that the colour match is within 'acceptable standards' and the matter is closed.
It is not, my car is deep metallic red and the work they carried out in bright sunlight looks pearly pink, even to my untrained eye it is a very bad match to the next panel.
I have been in touch with trading standards and have a case number etc but I feel I should escalate this because I'm being fobbed off with it being an acceptable standard which it definitely is not.
For the record they have been out three times to this small repair, I paid £300 for it. In the process they have oversprayed the back of my car with clear lacquer which they did sort out.
Having sent a few e-mails requesting a full refund the Portsmouth owner of the franchise has replied that the colour match is within 'acceptable standards' and the matter is closed.
It is not, my car is deep metallic red and the work they carried out in bright sunlight looks pearly pink, even to my untrained eye it is a very bad match to the next panel.
I have been in touch with trading standards and have a case number etc but I feel I should escalate this because I'm being fobbed off with it being an acceptable standard which it definitely is not.
For the record they have been out three times to this small repair, I paid £300 for it. In the process they have oversprayed the back of my car with clear lacquer which they did sort out.
BIRMA said:
Could anyone just guide me before I go getting my solicitor involved. My point is I have had a small smart repair done by a Portsmouth based franchise company and despite them coming back three times due to the work blistering it far from matches colour wise.
Having sent a few e-mails requesting a full refund the Portsmouth owner of the franchise has replied that the colour match is within 'acceptable standards' and the matter is closed.
It is not, my car is deep metallic red and the work they carried out in bright sunlight looks pearly pink, even to my untrained eye it is a very bad match to the next panel.
I have been in touch with trading standards and have a case number etc but I feel I should escalate this because I'm being fobbed off with it being an acceptable standard which it definitely is not.
For the record they have been out three times to this small repair, I paid £300 for it. In the process they have oversprayed the back of my car with clear lacquer which they did sort out.
Guidance: don't get a solicitor involved for £300.Having sent a few e-mails requesting a full refund the Portsmouth owner of the franchise has replied that the colour match is within 'acceptable standards' and the matter is closed.
It is not, my car is deep metallic red and the work they carried out in bright sunlight looks pearly pink, even to my untrained eye it is a very bad match to the next panel.
I have been in touch with trading standards and have a case number etc but I feel I should escalate this because I'm being fobbed off with it being an acceptable standard which it definitely is not.
For the record they have been out three times to this small repair, I paid £300 for it. In the process they have oversprayed the back of my car with clear lacquer which they did sort out.
randlemarcus said:
Bang a photo up, lets have an objective view...
Very much this. We've been down this path before, the case that springs to mind is somebody who wanted to reject a new car that was "covered in scratches", which turned out to be a single millimetres-long mark in the laquer that you had to minutely scrutinize the car with bright lights to be able to see. In the event, the complainant revealed that he was a car detailing fanatic with standards well above those that most people might consider to be reasonable.Not saying that this is the same, in any way. But for sure there are huge differences of opinion in what an acceptable colour match might be. Plus as we all know, red is probably the hardest one to get right.
deckster said:
Very much this. We've been down this path before, the case that springs to mind is somebody who wanted to reject a new car that was "covered in scratches", which turned out to be a single millimetres-long mark in the laquer that you had to minutely scrutinize the car with bright lights to be able to see. In the event, the complainant revealed that he was a car detailing fanatic with standards well above those that most people might consider to be reasonable.
Not saying that this is the same, in any way. But for sure there are huge differences of opinion in what an acceptable colour match might be. Plus as we all know, red is probably the hardest one to get right.
Just to let you know I am going to book it into my local well respected body shop where under the sort of lights my detailer has (who incidentally highlighted the bad colour match) I can possibly get a professional opinion as to how far out the colour match is. Regardless of the value of the car I can assure you it is not acceptable. For the record I probably have it on CCTV as it's all over my property that the manager said he could match it perfectly I did ask him to reiterate that and that's why I gave him the job. The first attempt did match but blistered the second and third attempt did not.Not saying that this is the same, in any way. But for sure there are huge differences of opinion in what an acceptable colour match might be. Plus as we all know, red is probably the hardest one to get right.
It's a three part colour and I wonder if the fact that they did the first job in September then the second in February the paint may have 'gone off' if it was stored in one of their vans.
steveo3002 said:
this is what you get having a cowboy paint your car in the driveway , theres a reason bodyshops cost a bit more
In all honesty it was a small dink and some paint work, when the owner of this nationwide franchise came to look at it he assured me he could match it perfectly, as I mentioned I may even have it on record from the camera in the location of my car. Which is why I gave them the job.Of course now with the benefit of hindsight I should have taken it to my local bodyshop.
BIRMA said:
deckster said:
Very much this. We've been down this path before, the case that springs to mind is somebody who wanted to reject a new car that was "covered in scratches", which turned out to be a single millimetres-long mark in the laquer that you had to minutely scrutinize the car with bright lights to be able to see. In the event, the complainant revealed that he was a car detailing fanatic with standards well above those that most people might consider to be reasonable.
Not saying that this is the same, in any way. But for sure there are huge differences of opinion in what an acceptable colour match might be. Plus as we all know, red is probably the hardest one to get right.
Just to let you know I am going to book it into my local well respected body shop where under the sort of lights my detailer has (who incidentally highlighted the bad colour match) I can possibly get a professional opinion as to how far out the colour match is. Regardless of the value of the car I can assure you it is not acceptable. For the record I probably have it on CCTV as it's all over my property that the manager said he could match it perfectly I did ask him to reiterate that and that's why I gave him the job. The first attempt did match but blistered the second and third attempt did not.Not saying that this is the same, in any way. But for sure there are huge differences of opinion in what an acceptable colour match might be. Plus as we all know, red is probably the hardest one to get right.
It's a three part colour and I wonder if the fact that they did the first job in September then the second in February the paint may have 'gone off' if it was stored in one of their vans.
BIRMA said:
Just to let you know I am going to book it into my local well respected body shop where under the sort of lights my detailer has (who incidentally highlighted the bad colour match) I can possibly get a professional opinion as to how far out the colour match is.
Are you actually saying that the mismatch can only be seen under specific lights, and that you were only aware it didn't match when somebody who used those lights told you?I have not provided any photoss yet because I wanted to get a legal perspective regarding whether the matter was worth pursuing.
All the photo will show is a marked difference in colour. In all honesty my initial question was answered by Bert Bert and I think I'll just leave it to the professionals to give their findings which I'll happily post their photos and report under the correct conditions.
All the photo will show is a marked difference in colour. In all honesty my initial question was answered by Bert Bert and I think I'll just leave it to the professionals to give their findings which I'll happily post their photos and report under the correct conditions.
randlemarcus said:
BIRMA said:
deckster said:
Very much this. We've been down this path before, the case that springs to mind is somebody who wanted to reject a new car that was "covered in scratches", which turned out to be a single millimetres-long mark in the laquer that you had to minutely scrutinize the car with bright lights to be able to see. In the event, the complainant revealed that he was a car detailing fanatic with standards well above those that most people might consider to be reasonable.
Not saying that this is the same, in any way. But for sure there are huge differences of opinion in what an acceptable colour match might be. Plus as we all know, red is probably the hardest one to get right.
Just to let you know I am going to book it into my local well respected body shop where under the sort of lights my detailer has (who incidentally highlighted the bad colour match) I can possibly get a professional opinion as to how far out the colour match is. Regardless of the value of the car I can assure you it is not acceptable. For the record I probably have it on CCTV as it's all over my property that the manager said he could match it perfectly I did ask him to reiterate that and that's why I gave him the job. The first attempt did match but blistered the second and third attempt did not.Not saying that this is the same, in any way. But for sure there are huge differences of opinion in what an acceptable colour match might be. Plus as we all know, red is probably the hardest one to get right.
It's a three part colour and I wonder if the fact that they did the first job in September then the second in February the paint may have 'gone off' if it was stored in one of their vans.
This scene sprung to mind.
davek_964 said:
Are you actually saying that the mismatch can only be seen under specific lights, and that you were only aware it didn't match when somebody who used those lights told you?
No not at all, in bright sunlight it is very noticeable. Plus when they did the work it was in the shade, it was only when I moved the car back to where it is usually parked and the sunlight hit it that I noticed. If the guy had still been at my property I would have said something on the second occasion.With the benefit of hindsight the third time I should have moved the car after the work to highlight the colour difference.
The owner of the franchise has been to visit on a dullish day and said it was okay. I believe if he saw it on a sunny day (which I have asked him to) he could see the colour match.
When you see the car under the lights my detailer uses it really is awful.
BIRMA said:
davek_964 said:
Are you actually saying that the mismatch can only be seen under specific lights, and that you were only aware it didn't match when somebody who used those lights told you?
No not at all, in bright sunlight it is very noticeable. Plus when they did the work it was in the shade, it was only when I moved the car back to where it is usually parked and the sunlight hit it that I noticed. If the guy had still been at my property I would have said something on the second occasion.With the benefit of hindsight the third time I should have moved the car after the work to highlight the colour difference.
The owner of the franchise has been to visit on a dullish day and said it was okay. I believe if he saw it on a sunny day (which I have asked him to) he could see the colour match.
When you see the car under the lights my detailer uses it really is awful.
davek_964 said:
OK, makes sense. I had a problem with colour match on my car - although the opposite to you. It was perfect in direct sunshine but was much more noticeable on a cloudy day.
I have tried to take photo's of the colour difference but it does not come out very well with a phone in the sun with it reflecting back perhaps a polarising filter would work. The best way I can describe it is, in the shade I can notice it a bit. In bright sunlight my car is a deep metallic red the panel worked on looks pearly pink/red, but under specific detailer lighting it looks dreadful even more highlighted. My initial question was whether under trading terms this statement of acceptable standard is good enough for the consumer.Take a photo in sunlight and send it to them.
If they won't repair it ask for a refund.
If they won't refund use MCOL.
There is no point in posting a photo on here as no ones opinion on here counts at all, only the person who did the job, yourself and CC judge are who will decide if the job has been done properly count.
If they won't repair it ask for a refund.
If they won't refund use MCOL.
There is no point in posting a photo on here as no ones opinion on here counts at all, only the person who did the job, yourself and CC judge are who will decide if the job has been done properly count.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff