Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Thanks for the replies, to be honest it's been a bad couple of days dealing with them because they weren't honest from the start and then this guy started compounding my car before I could even open the door this afternoon and then he tells his boss to tell me to f*ck off!

I am really upset because the car means a lot to me and although that wing had 2 small scratches on it they think what they did is alright and it doesn't matter! I've poured a lot of time and money into that car in the last year I've owned it and it really upsets me that these guys accidently damaged it and damaged it even more in a failed attempt to rectify it.

Words cannot sum up how badly I feel about the situation, at least if they had crashed their van into it I'd have some more comeback!

I am now really worried that if they get their weekend painter to paint it they will only paint the wing and it won't match, I seriously cannot imagine for 1 second they will do the right thing and do a decent job and they have still damaged my car with a **** paint job that won't stand up or match the other panels

Thanks for the very kind offer prodriverules, I have a horrible feeling I'm going to have to call on an offer like that and end up out of pocket due to these ***** Why can't some people be decent and honest these days

Paul

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

I really didn't want you to be wrong but it looked like they knew what they were doing but it quickly changed to some gear, no idea and the guy wouldn't let it go If you know what you're doing you could rectify it I am sure but it was a recipe for disaster

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

Trust me when I say Paul I will see you right and it wouldn't leave you much out of pocket mate
I'm Ryan btw and plenty on here can vouch for my work being 'up to standard lol'

Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

Paul, I'd be tempted to give someone like citizens advice a ring to see where you stand, whether you could claim against them (not through your insurance) for example.

I'm no expert in this field, but I can't see it could do any harm to get some advice. They have admitted the damage, not only verbally, but by trying to fix it, in the process making the damage worse, so it's not like they can just deny it now. I also can't see what difference it makes if there were already a couple of scratches there, it's not a green light for anyone to then scratch it more.

Please try to get some expert advice before either dealing with these cowboys anymore, or pulling out of your own pocket. Good luck, and I hope you get something sorted.

Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

I've been let down quite alot over the years, do you fancy sorting a reasonably priced paint job to help resore my faith in humanity?

(sorry, I couldn't pass up the opportunity either )

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

I'm sure something could be arranged Lisa

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Thanks Ryan, I'm not the sort of guy to take the **** and I didn't want the panel painted and I wasn't looking for a freebie out of the company that caused the damage, I just want my car back to how it was before they damaged it. I imagine I'll be in touch one way or another because I can't see allowing their paint guy to make matters even worse

Lisa you've just reminded me of when I met you, did my car strike you as a scratched and chipped up sh!tter? That's the impression I got from the carpet monkey today because my wing & bonnet were scratched I wonder where those f*cking scratches came from!!!! If it comes to it I think I have enough photos of my car to show what we've done to it recently and it wasn't in the shabby state the **** from earlier was trying to paint!

I hope it doesn't come to needing legal action because who needs that when your car is damaged by some cowboys who aren't even working on your property!

Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

No Paul, it didn't. Granted, I didn't investigate your paint work with a magnifying glass but I didn't notice any scratches/chips, certainly nothing obvious and I certainly wouldn't say it was a sh1tter.

I can totally understand you not wanting to take legal action as this is not your fault, and this is why I think you need to get some solid advice from people in the know. They could advise on what options are open to you., even the chances of success should you take action, and the more info that you have on where to go from here, possibly the bargaining power you have with these cowboys. If you have a good case, which I would think you have, then the threa of action may be enough to make them settle it with you.

Ultimately, the clock can't be turned back, all you can do is proceed in a sensible manner, not rushing into decisions just because you want it sorted. I just personally think you should get advice from either a free legal eagle/CA and even Moley when you can get in touch to look at all options. I would be reluctant to allow anyone the carpet guys know near your car again, and I don't think you should end up out of pocket.

Darrell@Scoobyworx

iTrader: (5)

I just see so many people trying to take somebody to the cleaners for silly mistakes and it annoys the hell outta me, im not easily offended and very opinionated as well, but a the same time admit when im wrong and always look at things from both points of view. Yorkshire born and bred. What you see is what you get straight to the point honesty. Some people dont like it but then again most people do.

Darrell@Scoobyworx

iTrader: (5)

And after thinking a little more you go back and say that they stated "our insurance doesnt cover us for this" well im not sure but will check with my sister who has a law degree and knows the ins and outs of things like this but i think that legally as a business they need liabilty insurance against this kind of thing. There are varying degrees of liabilty cover i know this as i have it for my business and if i carried somthing from our van and damaged a car in the same way then my liabilty insurance i assume would cover me. They just wont want to claim of thier insurance.

I suggest call your insurance company for advice explain the situation and get them to follow it up for you, if you have legal cover then it should be no problem. Then your insurance will contact thers and deal direct cutting out the company who damaged your car. Get their reg number off thier van and give it to your insurance company along with as much detail about them as you can and hey presto your car goes to a garage of your choice to be repiared to pre damage condition.

Darrell@Scoobyworx

iTrader: (5)

If were pointing out my 50/50 chance was wrong then lets be **** about it. (even though i never stated 50/50 these were your words, i just stated could be either way )

Neither would it be 100-1000/1 chance either. More than 1 young to middle aged male in 100 would be competant in removing scratches from a car with compound and a rotary buffer. Certainly in my generation anyway. And maybe i am too fair on things i just think they be given a chance thats all, now they have blown it. I would offer to paint this for the OP if he was closer to me FOC (or at least he just cover materials) as thats the kind of person I am.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

I'm sure nobody will be surprised to hear that they didn't call me today as promised. I decided not to hassle them for fear of p!ssing them off and totally ruining my chances of getting anywhere so they have until Monday to sort something out and call me.

I'm fully comp on the car but the excess is £350 so it's more than the repair would probably be worth, I should have legal cover being fully comp I'd suspect. I don't buy it that they don't have insurance either, just something else that needs looking at so I can get it sorted

topshot

iTrader: (4)

They should have public liability insurance/business cover incase of damage to people/property. Its a legal requirement, saying their insurance doesnt cover it is crap.

I would speak to their boss, write a letter to them informing them of the incident and include some quotes for the work. Also notify your insurer regardless of wether you claim as they will offer advice

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

I don't want to have to notify my insurance unless I absolutely have to, I don't want to give them an excuse to increase my premiums because I already insure 2 group 20 cars

I'll get some quotes next week to repair it

topshot

iTrader: (4)

Speak to them. They will offer advice, tell them about the incident and you dont want to claim as you are chasing it through their business insurance. It wont affect premium unless you actually go through your insurer for the repair.

barnshaw

iTrader: (1)

i would not even inform my insurance of that type of damage? the increase in premium and excess would not be worth it, if worst comes to worse i would have it professionally mopped or details or resprayed, get an invoice for the work and then continue my claim with said company.

not worth it financially to pursue it through your own insurance, you might pay years down the line every renewal for it otherwise

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Exactly what I thought but the car is beyond mopping now anyway. I have heard of insurance companies increasing premiums with no claim because they decide that you are now a risk

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

http://www.publicliabilityinsurance.org/

Surely they will have Public Liability Insurance to cover this sort of thing. We have a dog wash van and I have taken out Public liability of £1 million.

I'd ask for details of their insurer and contact them direct, they have admitted liability by their actions so I'd start there rather than having a claim enquiry marker on the car insurance.

Shaun

topshot

iTrader: (4)

why? they will offer advice and the damage is then logged should evidence from his insurance be needed later.

I always inform my insurer regardless of wether im claiming from the person who caused the damage. I just ring up when its repaired and tell them. It has never affected my premiums, in fact my last 3 years have all gone down and this is insuring my impreza, r33 skyline and pug 306 gti.

topshot

iTrader: (4)

exactly, and if they dont have it they are operating illegally

SkydiveMacca

As others have said, they should have public liability insurance, and if not what does it matter from your point of view. They damaged your car, admitted it, attempted to fix it and made it worse.

Wether they cover cost of the repairs from an insurance policy or their own pocket is irrelevant. They caused damage that they now need to rectify.

They had one chance to deal with it and that didn't work. There is no way in hell I would let their 'mate' at the body shop deal with it.

If it were me, I would play nicely nicely and send them an email asking what they want to do about it next. Word it so that their reply would be an admission of guilt.

As soon as you have this, print it out and write a formal letter of complaint to the director listed for the company at Companies House. Detail the situation and include three independent quotes to have your car repaired. Give them a time frame to reply (usually 14 days) and indicate that if and agreement is not come to within this time frame that you will seek to be remunerated via the small claims court, which will include all costs.

Done.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

That sounds like very good advice thanks I will check out their website (if they have one) and check out if they even have an email address, they are a small company so it's not as easy as dealing with a big company.

I am not keen on their guy painting it because I know it'll just be a cheap substandard job considering how they are handling it so far so I'll be looking to get it painted elsewhere.

Thanks everyone for the advice and help so far, shame everyone on here is more helpful than the guys responsible

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

They dont have a website

They are not a limited company as they dont show up on Companies House

Looks like it is going to be a right PITA to get them to own up and sort it.
BUt yes like everyone has said they need to have Public Liability, even if they are a LTD or Sole Trader. Partnership due to the nature of the job they do.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

I've been searching for them and came up with that conclusion too. I think I'm going to bullsh!t them and tell them I have it on cctv if they start getting funny I might go and buy a camera/dummy camera anyway

If all else fails we can record it in a reconstruction be we'll have to use your carpet because we're not posh enough to have carpet here

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

I am not Ali Baba you know !!

barnshaw

iTrader: (1)

it will affect your premium, if you go to do a quote online now, do it normally and see the price and then do it with a non at fault accident and it goes up. for the damage pictured i personally would not delve into my excess and then risk inflated premiums to come? its easily sorted that damage!

Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

Going by what was said on Watchdog last night, it would seem that is untrue.

There were people on there who either had premiums increased or policies cancelled purely down to enquiries made but no claim. In the case of the lady whose policy was cancelled, it seemed she had made previous enquiries about something, but didn't mention this to a new insurer (that's how I understood it). It appears making a query could be just as bad as actually claiming, depending on the company.

This is why I suggested the first port of call to be CA as they may be able to advise on how to proceed. If they couldn't help, then no harm is done.

topshot

iTrader: (4)

fair enough, i suppose it depends on insurers. i have never had premiums increased but then ive only used specialist insurers

scud8

iTrader: (1)

Have you spoken to your neighbour? Would be worth mentioning that if the carpet company aren't adequately insured, or otherwise willing to pay to fix your car then you will have to claim off them for the repair. I believe they can be held responsible if contractors working on their property cause damage to a neighbours property while performing that work. They may be able to exert some pressure on the carpet fitters (especially if there is still money to pay).

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

for what it is,

if it were my car (im a painter) the full wing would be prepped the colour localised around the burn through and then just clear the full wing, you won need to blend as your no where near the doo edge, price wise if you were local to us youd be looking at no more than £70 to do it,

have you been to a bodyshop for a quote?