AMMD damages the car, suggests I claim off my own insurance!
Discussion
A certain well known FD collected my V8V from storage, took it away for service, then returned it with a large stone chip at bottom of the windscreen. I’m outside UK, was informed by the eagle eyed storage facility who helpfully took a pic for me. Nothing from the dealer.
Called the dealer with the evidence…. “oh dear sir, let us make some enquires”
A day later: “it appears it may have happened with our driver, it can happen to anyone sir, we are sure you understand…”
Offered two options, an “insurance approved” repair (the one where someone vacuums in some clear resin and hopes for the best) or, get this, I claim off my own insurance, and they pay the excess…
Photo attached, any windscreen specialists out there can comment? This is something I don’t have much experience of.
I find it amusing the the main dealers, who so love to identify every trivial fault on your car during a service and recommend wholesale replacement of very expensive components, when faced with something they would have to pay for instantly choose to recommend the supermarket car park £50 bodge !
Called the dealer with the evidence…. “oh dear sir, let us make some enquires”
A day later: “it appears it may have happened with our driver, it can happen to anyone sir, we are sure you understand…”
Offered two options, an “insurance approved” repair (the one where someone vacuums in some clear resin and hopes for the best) or, get this, I claim off my own insurance, and they pay the excess…
Photo attached, any windscreen specialists out there can comment? This is something I don’t have much experience of.
I find it amusing the the main dealers, who so love to identify every trivial fault on your car during a service and recommend wholesale replacement of very expensive components, when faced with something they would have to pay for instantly choose to recommend the supermarket car park £50 bodge !
No. I never thought to draw up contracts before answering “oh OK then” to their constant barrage of calls asking me to book the cars in for service via collection and return service.
I sort of assumed they would have their own insurance in place. It turns out they do not, or not anything that covers this sort of thing.
I’ve asked my own insurance company to verify in writing that a potentially expensive windscreen claim won’t negatively impact future calculation of premium (I know that it won’t affect discount), they have yet to do so.
I sort of assumed they would have their own insurance in place. It turns out they do not, or not anything that covers this sort of thing.
I’ve asked my own insurance company to verify in writing that a potentially expensive windscreen claim won’t negatively impact future calculation of premium (I know that it won’t affect discount), they have yet to do so.
Very low for such an impact is the car equipped with a dash cam that hopefully recorded the incident.
The reason I ask is that when my Vanquish went in for a service at an AM dealer the dash cam was left on and recorded the mechanic retorquing the wheel bolts and the wrench slipping with the car physically moving on the dashcam.
To make it worse on the inspection sheet it was noted that the front nearside wheel had a paint chip on it.
Even though I forwarded the AM dealer the video evidence they stated that the paint was chipped before torquing the bolts, but offered me a free service next time which I declined.
The reason I ask is that when my Vanquish went in for a service at an AM dealer the dash cam was left on and recorded the mechanic retorquing the wheel bolts and the wrench slipping with the car physically moving on the dashcam.
To make it worse on the inspection sheet it was noted that the front nearside wheel had a paint chip on it.
Even though I forwarded the AM dealer the video evidence they stated that the paint was chipped before torquing the bolts, but offered me a free service next time which I declined.
AMMD didn't damage your car, they didn't kerb a wheel, or crash into another car, or scrap a torque wrench across the bodywork, the car was damaged whilst in their care through no fault of their own. Unless of course you agreed for the car to be transported to and from the dealer in a covered trailer? It's a risk of driving a car, a stone flicks up and damages the paint or windscreen, its entirely unavoidable.
While not on an Aston, I had my company car windscreen chipped in a very low place on the screen similar to yours. It's out of line of sight so a chip repair is probably a good bet.
I had it done recently and don't even notice the repaired area unless I go looking for it. One thing to note, the Auto Windscreens guy told me that it can often happen when injecting the resin that the screen can crack as it's done under pressure, I think he had to inform of this possible eventuality just in case it did split the screen. In the end it all worked out great. But it's worth having this in the back of your mind just in case you are the unlucky one!
I had it done recently and don't even notice the repaired area unless I go looking for it. One thing to note, the Auto Windscreens guy told me that it can often happen when injecting the resin that the screen can crack as it's done under pressure, I think he had to inform of this possible eventuality just in case it did split the screen. In the end it all worked out great. But it's worth having this in the back of your mind just in case you are the unlucky one!
Edited by BiggaJ on Thursday 27th April 16:51
it is bad of them not to notify you, I would be suitably miffed too. Yes a stone chip can happen anytime, but the fact that you were not told, smacks of cheap practice.
I too think the best option is to get the glass fixed by the mobile repairers. This should be something your insurance covers with a minimal excess (£10-20"), but I would ask the garage to come up with a better offer than to "pay the excess". Also get them to agree that if the mobile repair is noticeable or not to your satisfaction then they can have the car in for a new windscreen, with them footing the bill.
I have had two screen repairs done in the past, although not on my Astons. Unnoticeable
I too think the best option is to get the glass fixed by the mobile repairers. This should be something your insurance covers with a minimal excess (£10-20"), but I would ask the garage to come up with a better offer than to "pay the excess". Also get them to agree that if the mobile repair is noticeable or not to your satisfaction then they can have the car in for a new windscreen, with them footing the bill.
I have had two screen repairs done in the past, although not on my Astons. Unnoticeable
Edited by pschlute on Thursday 27th April 15:37
Edited by pschlute on Thursday 27th April 15:40
I would be careful with the resin fix. I have had numerous chips like this and because the windscreen is now a "structure part" a chip anywhere near the black surround usually becomes a crack before long. So, if you agree to the resin injection, you are leaving the dealer free and clear if it cracks two months later.
Sorry to hear of your troubles.
I had a tiny stone chip (much smaller than yours, in a 3mm "starfish" type pattern") right up at the very edge of my nearside bottom corner windscreen on my Vantage - in such a position that it couldn't be repaired.
Most unfortunately in that severe frost we had for a few days in December last year, the "freeze/thaw/freeze/thaw" cycle over those few days were enough to reveal, once the final frost has melted, a nice crack on my screen, 1 cm to the remaining edge on once side, and about 6-7 cm away into the screen on the other!!!
I was waiting for renewal in late Feb (which was a lot less than last year!) before claiming... but haven't yet as I have been researching what Autoglass (the selected windscreen agent for my insurer) do and it's quite often pattern parts I understand - mine is an original factory heated screen, and not sure how to proceed. Needs doing though.
I would go down the route of having it repaired with resin if I were you......
edit to add after the poster above's comments.... maybe not
Catch 22 situation
Mine was (on your picture) in this location, unrepairable and cracked subsequently as below and remains so.
I had a tiny stone chip (much smaller than yours, in a 3mm "starfish" type pattern") right up at the very edge of my nearside bottom corner windscreen on my Vantage - in such a position that it couldn't be repaired.
Most unfortunately in that severe frost we had for a few days in December last year, the "freeze/thaw/freeze/thaw" cycle over those few days were enough to reveal, once the final frost has melted, a nice crack on my screen, 1 cm to the remaining edge on once side, and about 6-7 cm away into the screen on the other!!!
I was waiting for renewal in late Feb (which was a lot less than last year!) before claiming... but haven't yet as I have been researching what Autoglass (the selected windscreen agent for my insurer) do and it's quite often pattern parts I understand - mine is an original factory heated screen, and not sure how to proceed. Needs doing though.
I would go down the route of having it repaired with resin if I were you......
edit to add after the poster above's comments.... maybe not
Catch 22 situationMine was (on your picture) in this location, unrepairable and cracked subsequently as below and remains so.
Edited by Krhuangbin on Thursday 27th April 16:22
Edited by Krhuangbin on Thursday 27th April 16:25
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. It seems there’s no clear way to go.
I’m well aware of how bad some of the auto glass/national windscreen type windscreen replacement jobs can be, the one they did on my Rangie was a shocker,
The Catch 22 is that National Windscreens are my Insurance companies ‘approved repairer’.
If I go for a new screen, and insist on something pukka via the AM dealer (who outsource install, but it’s done in their premises under their supervision and with genuine parts), the insurer caps the payout to £1k minus the £100 excess, so £900, which I would also have to pay myself and then claim back.
As I’m not in the country, I have to have someone supervise the job and take responsibility to sign it off, may as well be the dealer - I can at least reasonably demand that they cough for the repair and then claim it direct from my insurer.
So much hassle over a blinkin’ stone chip.
I’m well aware of how bad some of the auto glass/national windscreen type windscreen replacement jobs can be, the one they did on my Rangie was a shocker,
The Catch 22 is that National Windscreens are my Insurance companies ‘approved repairer’.
If I go for a new screen, and insist on something pukka via the AM dealer (who outsource install, but it’s done in their premises under their supervision and with genuine parts), the insurer caps the payout to £1k minus the £100 excess, so £900, which I would also have to pay myself and then claim back.
As I’m not in the country, I have to have someone supervise the job and take responsibility to sign it off, may as well be the dealer - I can at least reasonably demand that they cough for the repair and then claim it direct from my insurer.
So much hassle over a blinkin’ stone chip.
Calinours said:
A certain well known FD collected my V8V from storage, took it away for service, then returned it with a large stone chip at bottom of the windscreen. I’m outside UK, was informed by the eagle eyed storage facility who helpfully took a pic for me. Nothing from the dealer.
Called the dealer with the evidence…. “oh dear sir, let us make some enquires”
A day later: “it appears it may have happened with our driver, it can happen to anyone sir, we are sure you understand…”
Offered two options, an “insurance approved” repair (the one where someone vacuums in some clear resin and hopes for the best) or, get this, I claim off my own insurance, and they pay the excess…
Photo attached, any windscreen specialists out there can comment? This is something I don’t have much experience of.
I find it amusing the the main dealers, who so love to identify every trivial fault on your car during a service and recommend wholesale replacement of very expensive components, when faced with something they would have to pay for instantly choose to recommend the supermarket car park £50 bodge !
The damage occurred whilst in their care. The driver not reporting it is the firm's undoing. Called the dealer with the evidence…. “oh dear sir, let us make some enquires”
A day later: “it appears it may have happened with our driver, it can happen to anyone sir, we are sure you understand…”
Offered two options, an “insurance approved” repair (the one where someone vacuums in some clear resin and hopes for the best) or, get this, I claim off my own insurance, and they pay the excess…
Photo attached, any windscreen specialists out there can comment? This is something I don’t have much experience of.
I find it amusing the the main dealers, who so love to identify every trivial fault on your car during a service and recommend wholesale replacement of very expensive components, when faced with something they would have to pay for instantly choose to recommend the supermarket car park £50 bodge !
Balance of probabilities is that you could have been driving it to them when it happened, but the reality is, you weren't ergo, it's not entirely your problem. It's theirs to fix.
From what I can see, it's a repairable break however, if it's a sub-optimal repair, your position is compromised and in that event, only a replacement windscreen will do.
FYI, a 'structural' repair should be less visible. No matter how good the repair - or repairer - they will never completely disappear; it's impossible. However, a good repair from someone who knows what they are doing (or how knows how to achieve a good repair) will make it hard to spot at a glance (but if you are looking for it, you will find a watermark-like appearance of its former self).
Here is an example: https://glasstecpaul.com/to-see-or-not-to-see/
Maybe, but there’s not much i can check, I’m not in the UK.
My best option is to entrust the Aston Main dealer to sort it out with goodwill using my insurance, and ask that they cover the additional needed (beyond £900) to ensure a proper fix. From the above posts, they might be facing a 1k bill, so it’s not going to be straightforward..
Wish me luck, next update will be on how it panned out.
Cheers
Calinours
My best option is to entrust the Aston Main dealer to sort it out with goodwill using my insurance, and ask that they cover the additional needed (beyond £900) to ensure a proper fix. From the above posts, they might be facing a 1k bill, so it’s not going to be straightforward..
Wish me luck, next update will be on how it panned out.
Cheers
Calinours
Calinours
I would have the stone chip repaired with the proviso that if it cracks at a later date the dealer will still honour the excess payment for a new screen.
Good repairers will fix it so you will hardly be able to see where it was. I have had a couple of smaller repairs than yours done and they are almost invisible and if you didn't know where they were you would be hard pressed to find them.
Our larger repairers give a guarantee.
I would have the stone chip repaired with the proviso that if it cracks at a later date the dealer will still honour the excess payment for a new screen.
Good repairers will fix it so you will hardly be able to see where it was. I have had a couple of smaller repairs than yours done and they are almost invisible and if you didn't know where they were you would be hard pressed to find them.
Our larger repairers give a guarantee.
It’s the lack of transparency (no pun intended!) from the garage that’s the fault here. Sure, the windscreen will be fine after a resin repair. Replacing a windscreen can potentially lead to issues if not done perfectly too, however small the risk is.
But I would be cautious about using that garage again. They should have instantly been forthcoming and offered a solution. Or just fixed it and you’d never have known. But to not say anything… very bad!
But I would be cautious about using that garage again. They should have instantly been forthcoming and offered a solution. Or just fixed it and you’d never have known. But to not say anything… very bad!
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