autoglass repair? What's the catch?

[immoral_angeluk]

We've got a chip on our windowscreen and I heard that autoglass do repairs for free as an insurance claim but it doesn't affect your no claims and there's no excess to pay...
Sounds too good to be true so what's the catch?

[anewman]

You need fully comp or windscreen cover on your insurance, and autoglass has to be one of your insurer's approved people I think. Read your insurance policy (boring I know but it should all be in there). Most people would say a chip needs repairing ASAP as it can get worse, but I've had one for nearly a year that hasn't got any bigger, but I might just be lucky.

[hm71]

MY OH has this done recently, we phoned his insurer first (first alternative) and said we'd heard a radio ad, and did they cover it, they said yes gave us a number to call and when u call autoglass they take your policy number etc.. but no charge made- he had 2 chips fixed took 1/2 hr and came to our home to do it. i assume its cheaper to fix it then pay for a whole new windscreen so it works out better for the insurance company.

[immoral_angeluk]

Brilliant.. just read my insurance policy and as I'm with churchill it's covered. Even said in the policy details about using autoglass... no excess and doesn't effect no claims. Woohoo! Got them coming out to us on saturday morning!
:T

[Woby_Tide]

as said previously, the gist is that it's cheaper to repair a chip than replace a windscreen. Bear in mind though that you'll have to sign a waiver that the chip repair process could actually crack the windscreen which would then require you to claim for it

[CHR15]

Also deoends how big the chip is and where it is.

I think a 5p piece has to cover the chip completely.

Also it can't be in the drivers field of view (draw two lines vertically from each side of the steering wheel)

[morg_monster]

No they can fix a chip in the drivers field of view AFAIK, a RAC windscreen chip guy fixed that kind of chip for me a couple of years ago for free under my Diamond fully comp insurance.

I think the drivers field of view thing is guidance on whether the chip will fail the MOT?

I was told that if the chip fits under a £1 coin the Autoglass/RAC guys can fix it like this for free. Valuable millimetres!

[CHR15]

Inflation!

[NopainNogain]

I'd certainally go for a repair, rather than have the hassle & expense of having the thing break on you!

However - I had a repair done a few years back - free, no loss of NCD as advertised, BUT for years afterwards I had to PAY EXTRA to renew my car insurance because I had "made a claim, even one that didn't affect your NCD" (and wasn't my fault, either!!) :huh:

[joshm]

We've got a chip on our windowscreen and I heard that autoglass do repairs for free as an insurance claim but it doesn't affect your no claims and there's no excess to pay...
Sounds too good to be true so what's the catch?

The catch is that the windscreen companies are taking your money indirectly through increased insurance premiums from unnecessary claims.

[roddydogs]

Post 9 is ridiculous-they dont stress the W/S in any way, they just fill the "Crack" with resin......but you still have the crack!

[sillygoose]

I have had the reverse problem, I am lucky to be excess free as I drive under companies insurance. Sometimes I have prefered to have a new windscreen but the lazy operator doesn't want to do the bigger less-pleasant job and just wants to do the 10 minute resin thing, which often makes little difference.

The dopey looking ones under a gazeebo outside DIY shops amaze me, does anyone use them? the ones around here appear to have no equipment (perhaps a tube of superglue in their pockets?) other than a deckchair and a battered old Rover. I bet they sting the insurers for at least £60 a time.

The only other thing is it may prevent water getting in and freezing (expanding), making the crack worse so I would always at least try getting it done, if only for protection, insurers know a crack can only get worse so are happy to pay for this.

[roddydogs]

sorry roddydogs but how many repairs have you actually witnessed?
Ive seen it with my own eyes many times, and heard complaints about screens "accidently cracking out" remembering the screen is stressed DURING the repair process not after. There is a resin chamber on what is called the Glass Medic "ras head" and this has an o ring around it which seals the resin chamber onto the screen. When the device is activated it sucks itself down onto the screen and this o ring is forced onto the screen with considerable vacuum pressure by the surrounding vacuum cup. It is this physical pressure RIGHT ONTO THE CHIP that can split it out at the time of the repair. Also because Autoglas are not allowed to drill a screen then the resin may not penetrate the break properly which is what can be seen in the picture here on this site www.glassdoctors.com (http://www.glassdoctors.com) this chip is just not filled because it is not drilled.
All i can say is i had no problems, didnt sign any "waiver"(autoglass)

[cajef]

sorry roddydogs but how many repairs have you actually witnessed?


Over the years I have had several chips repaired by Autoglass on various cars and they have never broken the screen yet.

[Altarf]

blah blah blah www.glassdoctors.com (http://www.spam.com/)
Funny how everytime you post it is about windscreens, rubbishing Autoglass and mentioning that website.

[daveyjp]

Mine was repaired under a gazebo in a shopping centre car park - operated by Autoglass. Excellent job. You do have to accept it may break while they do it, but there's more chance of it breaking if it's not done.

[redux]

Funny how everytime you post it is about windscreens, rubbishing Autoglass and mentioning that website.

website registrant David something

the funniest thing about this persistent spammer slagging off Autoglass is that his chip on the shoulder about them seems to extend to copying a good part of their phone number

[CHR15]

Most of his posts get his website addy removed by moderators

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=23645

http://www.mx-5.com/Community/forums/ShowThread.aspx?PostID=60829

His work doesn't seem particularly cheap at £60-£120 for a repair (not far off the price of a new windscreen).
http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=80536

[anewman]

Ooooh great debunking guys :D

You have to think though, it would make some sort of sense for a big company to make glass break then offer to replace it so they make more money. Any scam someone can get away with they'll give it a try.

[Quentin]

The op asks what is the catch - and there is one.

You must declare the claim for the next 5 years whenever approaching a new insurer for a quote. So although your ncb is unaffected, your claim record is, and consequently your premium may be increased.

[NopainNogain]

The op asks what is the catch - and there is one.

You must declare the claim for the next 5 years whenever approaching a new insurer for a quote. So although your ncb is unaffected, your claim record is, and consequently your premium may be increased.

Yep, that's what happened to me! (See post #9). Premium WAS increased :mad:

Oh, and there was no opportunity to tell online insurance companies it was a repair, not a replacement. Should have been obvious from the cost, but premium still went up!

[Altarf]

I see d4v1d sm4rt has left the building.

[Quentin]

Yep, that's what happened to me! (See post #9). Premium WAS increased :mad:

Oh, and there was no opportunity to tell online insurance companies it was a repair, not a replacement. Should have been obvious from the cost, but premium still went up!

That's part of the catch. It's still a claim, irrespective of whether it's a repair or a replacement. Both have to be paid for!