Damage to car after windscreen fitted by Autoglass

Stigy

Hi all, after some advice if I may!

Just had a new windscreen fitted by Autoglass and they carried out all the necessary pre-fitting checks of bodywork etc. and marked blemishes and scuffs etc etc etc (there was a few!). Anyway, after fitting they asked me to come out to the car as they had finished (bear in mind that they fitted the new screen in a car park as opposed to right outside my house, presumably because I live on a main road). On arrival the fitter stated rather openly that the passenger door keeps "popping out" when you open it. Anyway, I didn't think much of this and had a looksy myself, only to notice a large dent which prevented the door from opening without pushing the wing in. This dent was not there before and was not on their pre-inspection sheet. When I confronted the fitter he said it wasn't on the sheet as it had happened after he started work on the car, but wasn't caused by him. Before I could do say anything else he circled the spot on his sheet, so it now looks as though the damage happened before he started work.

Anyway, here's the stupid bit on my part (I obviously had a "moment"). I signed the paperwork as satisfactory (the screen was fitted very well), even though I now have a dent in the car that wasn't there to start with, and it looks as though it was! Now I have phoned Autoglass and they seemed quite helpful and will be calling me back soon. Having said that, I feel I probably don't have a leg to stand on with this one. Can anybody in the know advise what I should do next, if anything?

Thanks in advance!

Hammyman

You'd have to hit the car with a sledgehammer to get a dent that bad.

Stigy

Hammyman wrote: »

You'd have to hit the car with a sledgehammer to get a dent that bad.

Indeed. I could maybe understand a slight dent if the door was mis-aligned, but to have a large dent (£1,000 worth according to a bodyshop!), even with alot of leverage on the door, you'd know something was wrong as soon as you started to open it, surely?

We'll see what happens. The manager said to get quotes from garages and they'll possible pay a contribution to the work. To be honest I'm looking for more than a "contribution"!

s_b

did you ask the bodyshop how in their opinion it was caused?
ie are there any marks like a car ran into it as it was turning round and the window fitter didnt see it
seems awful strange that the window fitter would have missed it at commencement of work
you do say carp park after all

Stigy

s_b wrote: »

did you ask the bodyshop how in their opinion it was caused?
ie are there any marks like a car ran into it as it was turning round and the window fitter didnt see it
seems awful strange that the window fitter would have missed it at commencement of work
you do say carp park after all

He admitted causing the damage in a round about sort of way, so he didn't try to cover it up. There doesn't appear to be any marks that would suggest a car hit it.

bingy_burge

You need to call autoglass and tell them now.

Do they not give your a carbon copy of the car sheet before they start. I am sure they are supposed to to stop it being amended once they have started.

Premier_2

Stigy wrote: »

...When I confronted the fitter he said it wasn't on the sheet as it had happened after he started work on the car, but wasn't caused by him.

So he admits it was in his possession when the damage occurred.
Did he get the details of who damaged it (not that it really matters)

Stigy wrote: »

Before I could do say anything else he circled the spot on his sheet, so it now looks as though the damage happened before he started work.

You should have been given a copy of the paperwork before you initially left it with him. He can't mark your copy.

Stigy wrote: »

Anyway, here's the stupid bit on my part (I obviously had a "moment"). I signed the paperwork as satisfactory (the screen was fitted very well), even though I now have a dent in the car that wasn't there to start with, and it looks as though it was! Now I have phoned Autoglass and they seemed quite helpful and will be calling me back soon. Having said that, I feel I probably don't have a leg to stand on with this one. Can anybody in the know advise what I should do next, if anything?

Thanks in advance!

Not a wise move signing everything was ok.
You should have at least marked the paperwork as damage existing on return.
But if the Autoglass fitter admits the damage occurred whilst in his possession, then you may be in luck.

Was the glass repair being done through insurance? If so. let the insurance company sort it out

Premier_2

Stigy wrote: »

He admitted causing the damage in a round about sort of way, so he didn't try to cover it up. There doesn't appear to be any marks that would suggest a car hit it.

Ah, the story seems to be changing. :cool:
What do you mean by a "round about sort of way" ?

Stigy

Premier wrote: »

Ah, the story seems to be changing. :cool:
What do you mean by a "round about sort of way" ?

He said it wasn't his fault, as the door had been mis-aligned and damaged the wing, although it happened when he opened the door. I wasn't given a copy of the paperwork before the work was started, and assumed this was normal practice.

Insurance company have been informed, as the work was being carried out through them.

Stigy

Okay, update for you all. The car was repaired at a bodyshop courtesy of Autoglass this week. It took about a month all in and Mrs Stigy wasn't happy initially. I honestly thought they'd write it off (There sister company 'Auto Restore' couldn't do it due to issues with seized screws, so cost was looking like in the region of £1,000!). Anyway, came back with a sniny new wing and a full valet. It's never looked so clean (paint is pastel red in colour and I'm sure most of you know what happens to red paint when it dies!). Anyway, thanks for the advice guys!

s_b

Result
well done:)