Paint corrosion

MoneySavingUser

Hi,

My car is at the garage for some repairs and when I dropped it off I noticed that on one of the doors at the bottom there was some corrosion.

I showed it to the mechanic and he asked if I had had work done there.

I said yes and he said they hadn't done a good job so I should take it back.

I had an accident in 2010 and it was repaired by the insurance company's approved repairer. I am not with that company anymore. But I do have a lifetime guarantee certificate from the garage (a Ford dealership).

Even though it says lifetime guarantee as it has been 3 years they might try and say it wasn't caused by the work they did. What can I do if they won't repair it?

bengalknights

You should tell them that lifetime means lifetime and that you will take it up with trading standards as there is no reason for it to corrode

MoneySavingUser

I went to the garage who did the original repairs yesterday.

The manager refused to accept that it was due to the repairs that he had done and claimed it was stone chips which had started rusting.

However having looked at the original paperwork the garage only gave me a "Repair compliance certificate"

The "Lifetime guarantee" was actually provided by the insurance company.

I am no longer with this insurance company - should this matter?

The car and the policy was in my mother's name at the time, I was an additional driver - now it is in my name and I have my own policy - will this matter?

The mechanic I spoke to in the first post says it is definitely not stone chipping and I should keep pressing the garage and the insurance company until they agree to fix it.

I have drafted a letter to the insurance company saying:

• the car was repaired by their approved repairer
• it is now corroding in the same spot
• the repairer won't admit it is their fault
• I insist that the insurance company honours its guarantee
• that the poor workmanship invalidates my manufacturer's warranty
• that the manager won't admit it is his fault and is trying to fob me off
• I am happy to make the car available for inspection by an engineer
• That they should give me a courtesy car during the period as I am being inconvenienced by their repairer's poor workmanship

Should I mention anything else?

Should I mention that another mechanic has looked at it and what he says is the problem?

Can I ask for it to be repaired somewhere else? I don't really want to take it back to the place that messed it up in the first place (they also kept it for a very long time probably so they could charge the insurance company more daily charges for the courtesy car)

Daz2009

What is the wording in the lifetime guarantee paperwork ?
Often bodywork warranties only come into force when the metal is perforated and you have had a yearly inspection......making them pretty much worthless in reality.

nickcc

Had a similar problem on a MB I used to own (notorious for corrosion) when I tried to claim on MB's 10 year corrosion warranty my claim was rejected as they only cover corrosion from the inside out and not from the outside in.

MoneySavingUser

Daz2009 wrote: »

What is the wording in the lifetime guarantee paperwork ?
Often bodywork warranties only come into force when the metal is perforated and you have had a yearly inspection......making them pretty much worthless in reality.

• Repairs/replacement of all paint, bodywork and labour carry a lifetime guarantee against poor workmanship or faulty manufacture of materials
• All parts fitted will carry the guarantee of that given of the manufacturer of those parts
• The guarantee covers the cost of rectifying any work necessary to correct body and paint defects which may arise as a result of defective workmanship or materials
• The above guarantee excludes damage caused by wear and tear, stone chips, subsequent damage and damage caused by failure to maintain appropriately.
• Lifetime guarantee shall mean for the lifetime of the vehicle
• You should make your vehicle available for inspection

nickcc wrote: »

Had a similar problem on a MB I used to own (notorious for corrosion) when I tried to claim on MB's 10 year corrosion warranty my claim was rejected as they only cover corrosion from the inside out and not from the outside in.

The manager also said this when I went to see him and claimed it is from the outside in, but the other mechanic says it is from the inside out.

However nowhere in the documentation does it state that this policy applies - nor does it say that any other terms apply apart from those listed - so if they do claim that guarantee only covers inside out I don't think they can prove they ever advised me of this.

rs65

MoneySavingUser wrote: »

I am no longer with this insurance company - should this matter?

The car and the policy was in my mother's name at the time

Which insurer?

One I know of guarantees the work for life or as long as you remain a customer.

MoneySavingUser

The original insurer was More Than/RSA