Autoglass bill for Excess

mikrt

Hi,

A few months ago I called autoglass to sort out two chips on the windscreen of my new car after seeing their TV advert about it being free, with no loss of no claims, and they sort it out with my insurer.

Anyway, after the phone call, they confirmed that they worked with my insurer, and a time/date was booked. As it turned out, the Autoglass fitter said that I wouldn't see any improvement as they had already been done, but he'd redo them as he was here.

I signed on completion and forgot all about it. Now, more than 3 months later, I get a bill off them for £10, as the difference between excess collected at the time (£0.00) and the excess which my (now ex) insurance company have told them to charge.

This seems very unfair. I wouldn't even have called them but for the advert saying it would be free.

What a con!

notbritishgas

It depends what the T&C's of your policy stated, some insurance companies may have an excess for chip repairs.

EdGasket

Admiral and Elephant have introduced a £20 charge for chip repair; hardly worth bothering now. May as well leave it as the chips may not be a problem and if they are you can just get a new screen.

mikrt

EdGasket wrote: »

Admiral and Elephant have introduced a £20 charge for chip repair; hardly worth bothering now. May as well leave it as the chips may not be a problem and if they are you can just get a new screen.

Exactly, I'd rather have paid the £75 excess and have a new windscreen.

mikrt

notbritishgas wrote: »

It depends what the T&C's of your policy stated, some insurance companies may have an excess for chip repairs.

Fair enough, but my grief is that I wasn't informed before the work was done.

InsideInsurance

The advert says "its USUALLY free". Evidently the key word is the one in capitals! Their website says:

In this section, you can find out more about how Autoglass® can repair an existing windscreen quickly - and usually FREE of charge if your motor insurance includes cover for glass damage

The terms of your policy are between you and your insurer.

forgotmyname

My policy charges for chip repairs also.

You were informed its in you insurance documents.

Excess applies.

Quentin

mikrt wrote: »

Fair enough, but my grief is that I wasn't informed before the work was done.

Worse.

Now that you have gone through your insurer you have to disclose the claim when approaching other insurers for quotes.

Next time you have a chip to repair contact a local independent to do it and pay yourself. (You will be paying for the repaurs autoglass did for years by way of increased premiums)

gmm30

On the subject of windscreen chips, I'd like to recommend this kit:

http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-windscreen-tools/glass-chip-repair-kit.html

Similar ones may be available elsewhere, but that's the one I've experience with. It costs little over a tenner, and I used one a few years ago on a car which didn't have windscreen cover on the insurance. It doesn't quite make the chip invisible (maybe it does if you're lucky), but it reduces the visual impact dramatically, allows you to pass the MoT, and keeps water (and therefore frost) out of the chip, reducing the risk of the screen cracking.

My current car does have windscreen cover, but if I do get a big chip in the glass, I'll be using this kit again, rather than going through the insurance for the reasons outlined by others above.

rxbren

you dont have to declare windscreen repairs
some insurers charge for repairs others dont autoglass have no control over if there is an excess your insurer would have told you upfront so you would have known before hand and if you went direct to autoglass they cant tell if you would have to pay an excess

Quentin

rxbren wrote: »

you dont have to declare windscreen repairs........

You do!

You have to "declare" all claims.