Local garage cracked windscreen (need replacement)

Legacy_user

Took my car to the local garage for a wiper linkage repair last week. Today, after putting the heater blowing up to the windscreen, I noticed around a 10 inch crack, maybe the width of something like a noodle. Took it to screen place immediately who said I definitely need a new screen. I told them that the car had been in the car garage last week for repair, and he said its common that they crack the windscreen whilst putting some of the parts back together near the bottom of the windscreen. He also said they probably knew they done it.

Repair is £120 but insurance means it will only cost me £75 so its not a huge sum but still, Im pretty annoyed my local car garage did this. Should I go to them and demand the £75?

wealdroam

berbastrike wrote: »

Should I go to them and demand the £75?

Only if you can prove that they caused the damage.

To me, it doesn't sound as though you have that proof.

System

the guy at the windscreen place said it was them who done it, they get it all the time

OlliesDad

berbastrike wrote: »

Took my car to the local garage for a wiper linkage repair last week. Today, after putting the heater blowing up to the windscreen, I noticed around a 10 inch crack, maybe the width of something like a noodle. Took it to screen place immediately who said I definitely need a new screen. I told them that the car had been in the car garage last week for repair, and he said its common that they crack the windscreen whilst putting some of the parts back together near the bottom of the windscreen. He also said they probably knew they done it.

Repair is £120 but insurance means it will only cost me £75 so its not a huge sum but still, Im pretty annoyed my local car garage did this. Should I go to them and demand the £75?

You can always contact them, however I would imagine they will deny it and therefore it would be up to you to prove they did it.

Really you should make an effort to inspect the car when you collect it. Last year I collected the car from a mechanic and found that they had snapped a part in the handbrake meaning it couldn't be put on.. this however may be more obvious than a crack in a windscreen.

System

It was only when I put the heater on, the crack emerged, and you can see it starts at the very bottom of the screen, where they were working (the plastic thing at the bottom of the screen, was removed and put back on by the garage). When putting it back on or removing it, they have cracked the screen.

OlliesDad

berbastrike wrote: »

the guy at the windscreen place said it was them who done it, they get it all the time

Unless the windscreen place saw him do it I doubt he could categorically confirm it. Anecdotal proof isn't really enough.

bris

They will deny it as it took you a week to notice it. I would deny it if you came back a week later and said I cracked your windscreen. The guy at the windscreen can't possibly say they did it and neither can you.

System

What do you think the chances of the garage giving me the £75 are? I should ask for half possible?

System

bris wrote: »

They will deny it as it took you a week to notice it. I would deny it if you came back a week later and said I cracked your windscreen. The guy at the windscreen can't possibly say they did it and neither can you.

It only emerged when I had put the heater on, before this it must have been the thickness of a hair at the very bottom of the screen, very hard to notice

System

And surely if there's any goodwill, the garage won't deny it, they will at least give some kind of offer, I've used them for years

wealdroam

berbastrike wrote: »

And surely if there's any goodwill, the garage won't deny it, they will at least give some kind of offer, I've used them for years

There really is no point in continuing to tell people on the forum that the garage cracked the windscreen, is there?

If you are so certain that they did the damage, then tell them so.
Remember though, you may be asked to prove it... but that has already been said many times.