Invoice from Auto Windsreens - can they do this???

micwil

Hello

I'm looking for a bit of advice about an invoice that we've received. We needed a replacement windscreen for our car and rang Auto Windscreens for a quote. They quoted £178 which we thought was ok. When they rang to confirm the booking, they thought we might have been underquoted slightly and said that it may come to a bit more. We weren't paying on our insurance as we're trying to build our no-claims bonus up so were just going to pay ourselves for the windscreen.

They came out to fix it and the fitter had £178 on his job sheet. He did say 'oh, that seems a bit low, but as it's what's on the job sheet, that's what I'll be charging.' We paid him a cheque for the full amount and he signed the work sheet to show we'd paid.

We thought that was the end of it, but now nearly 2 weeks later, we've received an invoice from Autowindscreens for £618 and it says we need to pay straightaway!!! There's no mention of the £178 that we've already paid and they have never mentioned to us that we would have to pay any more money!

Can they do this?? We're really reluctant to pay as it's a lot of money and if we had known it was going to be that much at the time, we would never have got it done!!!!

Their billing department isn't open until tomorrow but I would really appreciate some advice before I ring them. I'm hoping that they won't be able to make us pay as we were never told that it would be this much, but any advice you can give would be really helpful!!

Thanks xx

newbie1980

imay be wrong but i th winderscreen replacement didnot affect your no claims?

bob_a_builder

Ring other windscreen companies for a quote to compare against

And it was a 'quote' not an 'estimate', wasn't it

£440 isn't 'a bit more' its a heck of a lot more !

Although I've not idea what they do cost, since its always been done via insurance

iamana1ias

micwil wrote: »

Hello

I'm looking for a bit of advice about an invoice that we've received. We needed a replacement windscreen for our car and rang Auto Windscreens for a quote. They quoted £178 which we thought was ok. When they rang to confirm the booking, they thought we might have been underquoted slightly and said that it may come to a bit more. We weren't paying on our insurance as we're trying to build our no-claims bonus up so were just going to pay ourselves for the windscreen.

Should have read your documents. 99% of the time a windscreen claim won't count against your NCB :doh:

jammin_2

Yup, usually doesn't affect NCD if you claim for glass repair / replacement.

Regarding your question, what does it say on the receipt given to you be the fitter, when you handed him the cheque for £178?

Inactive

As others have suggested, read you insurance policy document, it will most likely state that glass claims do not affect your NCB, just a standard one off charge of £50/£75 excess to pay.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Inactive wrote: »

As others have suggested, read you insurance policy document, it will most likely state that glass claims do not affect your NCB, just a standard one off charge of £50/£75 excess to pay.

£25 with NFU..;)

It might not be too late to contact your insurer and tell them you've had the screen replaced and didn't realise about glass being covered, i magine the insurance company wouldn't be paying that much anyway.

Just out of interest what car is this on as it seems a ridiculous price.

jammin_2

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

£25 with NFU..;)

Free with Quinn.

[runs and hides..]

mickeypops

I've had my windscreen replaced before and, as note above, it wouldn't normally affect your no claims...

... assuming you have Comprehensive cover of course. If it's 3rd party F&F, the policy probably won't include cover for windscreens and windows.

passatrider

So we have outlined to the OP that they could have got it done under their insurance without affecting their no claims bonus.

Now back to matters in hand..

They have quoted you the price, you have paid the price so to speak and now they have done the job.
It seems like someone is trying to cover their !!! by trying to charge you for their mistake. If you have a quote in writing and the work has been completed then they do not have a leg to stand on to be honest. It's like me going in to buy some bread in a shop, completing the transaction then being pursued down the street saying I was undercharged.

I know you must be worried but this would fall down in court if it ever got there. You may want to go and see CAB or trading standards to put yourself at ease, but in the meantime do not pay it!

HTH!

Hintza

Never ever get these national chains to do a windscreen if you are paying for it yourself. They just seem to think of a number and double it. Search out some small local independents.