Dan W

My insurers use Jones & Bramley in Newport.

If you know any horror stories about them - please......not now.

Any good stories - then, feel free to share them.

Sadly when it comes to some things such as my cars I am one of life's born worriers so horror stories will give me nightmares.

Tell me nice stories - Jobs well done, happy customers and the like.

One thing I will say is that I assured them (politely) that when the car is ready to collect I wouldn't be accepting it back until I had examined the repairs with a microscope.

mervil

iTrader: (5)

Good stuff Dan, fingers crossed for a top repair, haven't heard anything of them unfortunately!

Dan W

Thanks Mervil,
I have had my fingers crossed that mine too will come back white, much lighter, and speaking Japanese but its only a relatively small repair so no chance of that.

They are going to despoiler it tho.

mervil

iTrader: (5)

Mine was an even smaller repair than yours bumper was crushed and bootlid corner damaged, insurance company wanted to replace rather than repair so I was happy with that! I paid the extra to have the rest of the car sprayed

Ti22

iTrader: (3)

Well... it could have gone to a worse place! J&B have a good name but the quality can vary, depending on who actually does the work. So long as you have a good look round the whole car (check suspension/ exhaust/ arches/ glass/ rubbers for overspray, panel gaps, in the shuts etc etc) before you accept it or sign anything then you should be ok.

Also keep an eye on the repair in the first few months after it's done. The paint will continue to harden, and the compounds they used to polish it will wash off/ weather so the true finish will only be evident 8-12 weeks after the repair.

Hope this helps!

James

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Good info mate

Black-Hawk

iTrader: (4)

Only kidding i've never heard of them, all the best

Dan W

Thanks for the info chaps.

I feel like a pet dog has gone in for surgery and I'm waiting for feedback on his progress.

I'm such a saddo

I'll keep you posted on progress. If I get any.

blueg14rep

I am exactly the same, I worry about things like that. I decide to do a job on the car, then worry if i've bought the right things. Then once started have I taken on to big a job

I ask millions of questions that i sort of know the answer for, but want to double check

Hope it turns out how you want, Claire

Dan W

Its only through being conned, ripped off overpriced, accepted poor workmanship that nowadays I am both a worrier and a very very fussy customer.

I have a page long list of things I am goin to check on my car before I accept it back.

I will be politely prewarning whoever might be present at the garage on the day I collect it that I am going to be some time checking ot over.

If I aint happy it aint coming home with me. Period.

notfub

iTrader: (4)

A bit late now but you can take you car to whoever you want to Dan. Scooby401 runs a well respected bodyshop in Bridgend and I've used Old School Engineering (CF42 5DR) for work on my scoob and the wife's CRV, both jobs top class (and I'm a fussy bugger).

Good luck and fingers crossed for a cracking repair.

Black-Hawk

iTrader: (4)

One of the boys left us today Dean......... he starts at Old School Engineering on Monday

Dan W

Bugger, I didnt know that I could take my car anywhere as they didn't tell me that.

Had I known I would have asked on here for recommended repairers and probably used Scooby401.

Sorry 401. I know for next time thought.

Black-Hawk

iTrader: (4)

No probs, you never know you may get a top job done.

Dan W

Well I'm hoping that when they see how clinically clean I try and keep the car they'll realise that I aint the type of car owner who will just say ta very much and drive off.

In that respect I hope that they do a proper job. As I said in an earlier post, because I dont know them I will be scrutinising the car for quite some time before accepting it back.

If they came recommended via here such as you were, I would be more trusting and not scrutinise as thoroughly.

Dan W

Well it been a week since the car went in for repairs.

Not a big job they said. First I was told it would be ready by end of week (last week)

I phone thursday to be told it would be ready at end of this week. My disbelief was clearly evident as the receptionist put me on hold then came back on the phone to say it would be ready this tuesday at the latest.

So I phone again at 5pm for an update only to be told the end of the week again.

I told her politely that I get a different answer every time and not too happy about that. I wasnt arsey at all just pointed out my frustration.

She said there was nobody left at the garage to get a definitive date of completion but would ring me back again tomorrow once she knows more.

I said all I want love a is straight answer. WHEN.

On a positivive note the insurance co have waived my excess which was £700.
I swear I didn't know it was that high and am convinced they didnt tell me when I put the car on cover.

I'm with the company because they are competetive in insuring scoobs. When I sold my last one i just swapped cars. I kept doing this and then put my latest Impreza on cover. so it was a monthly premium amendment. They definately did not tell me my excess was 700. I would have choked on me tea and would have asked for it to be reduced otherwise. I checked my policy and its there in black and white.
But its waived and I'll reduce it when the dust settles.

On another positive note my misses had an interview job today and was offered the job this afternoon.

Its quite a big deal as she was/is desperate to get out of the NHS audit dept she is currently in as its 'political'.

Her new post gives her the chance to move up too. She has put up with a hell of a lot of crap over the last several months so its a massive deal getting this opportunity. She even had to go sick due to poor management from one or two above her.

At last she can move on.

The icing on the cake will be me getting me car back. Whenever the **** that is.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Why not try the "I was just passing and thought I would look in" trick? It may prove positive or not. At least you will know.

mervil

iTrader: (5)

Are the other party's insurance paying for the damage? Why have they mentioned your excess?

They must be very busy, my sprayer had time to spray my whole car in 5 days then left it harden over the weekend!! Subarus aren't the easiest to strip down either!!

STI Glenn

Surely it is better for them not to rush it

She came in to the back of you her insurance sort it all out ,then no fault claim

Dan W

Because she was in a company car my insurers couldnt automatically waive excess. If she was on her own policy my insurers could have phoned her company straight away to establish if she had insurance.

In this instance they had to phone crown cars who lease the vehicle, find out which company is holding the car then see if the person driving it was insurered to do so. They then had to find out who insured the car then ask for confirmation that the person who hit me was actually driving the car and that she admitted it was her fault.

This took a few days but my excess has been waived now.

Car due to be picked up today at some point.

No entirely impressed with how long it has taken them.

They aint going to like me by time I drive off tho as I am going to seem like the pickiest fussiest ****** they ever did meet. (If I drive off)

Dan W

I dont want them to rush it but now they are saying it wont be ready until tomorrow as there are some adjustments to be made on boot.

Need to blow it over or something.

Full of confidence in them I must say.

If they had said at the outset it would take say 10 days I would wait ten days but everytime I called they would say it will be done but then when the time came it wouldnt be.

Dan W

Car finished and I have it back.

I appreciate I moaned alot but there you go.

I checked it over and under inside and out and it appears ok.


So I be happy

ozzreid1964

iTrader: (32)

bet it's nice to get her back dan

Dan W

Most definately. I even put the heating on in the garage.
I'm not joking, its part of the biulding we live in so it comes on when we pu the main heating on.

ozzreid1964

iTrader: (32)

that's one pampered scooby

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Help to harden the paint Dan

Dan W

Well I do pamper it in that respect. Its just very reassuring knowing it is literally in the room below.

And I was hoping that the heat from the radiator will harden the paint as Ian pointed out.

I've been spoiled with having such a good garage for the scoob.

Ti22

iTrader: (3)

Glad you're happy...