Car wash scratched car

phingers

Hi all.
I used a car wash last week and after the wash firstly the car was still quite dirty but secondly the 'brushes' had swept scratches right down one side of the car! I usually hand wash the car so know full well that the scratches weren't there before the wash.
The garage directed me to contact the owners of the wash who in turn asked for photos plus two quotes for rectifying the paintwork - whilst at no time admitting liability.
They have now looked at the evidence and replied saying that over 100 other cars were washed that day with no one reporting problems so therefore they would not be paying to have my car sorted out.
Does anyone know if I can take this further and if so what action should I take next?
TYIA

Chrishazle

It must be 16 or 17 years ago that Honest John in the Telegraph reported about this problem - caused by broken threads in the brush and operators not changing the brushes often enough because it costs money! I remember this as I was about to PX a Rover 820 and found loads of microscratches on the paintwork, the HJ article was a week later!

Since then I have never taken a car through one of those car washes!

photome

I doubt you will get anywhere with the car wash company.

The answer as you know is never to use one, or the eastern europeans, hand wash yourself is the way to go and even then needs doing properly to avoid scratches or swirls

phingers

Thanks all. Very frustrating that they they just walk away from it. I have just spoken with an old friend and his car was apparently 'dry-washed' in a Tesco wash some years ago - the water never came on and the car was brushed to smithereens! They paid out £700 to rectify the issue no quibble. Perhaps things have changed? Hey ho. T-cut and polish it is.

ninja2302

The automatic car washes are awful for your paintwork. Read this:
http://trustedcarproducts.co.uk/posts/automatic-car-washes-and-your-paint

Find a good hand car washer.

dannyrst

phingers wrote: »

Thanks all. Very frustrating that they they just walk away from it. I have just spoken with an old friend and his car was apparently 'dry-washed' in a Tesco wash some years ago - the water never came on and the car was brushed to smithereens! They paid out £700 to rectify the issue no quibble. Perhaps things have changed? Hey ho. T-cut and polish it is.

Your friend could easily prove the damage was from no water being applied (car was completely dry afterwards) and they could probably recreate it.

As you said, the car wash owner has mentioned other people used it and haven't had an issue (that has been reported...apparently), so there is no evidence that it was the car wash that did it.

scotsbob

The fact that no one else has reported anything to the company is not relevant. It's not other cars that have been damaged, yours has.
The problem is that you will have to prove it, that may be difficult.


Could a paint shop provide a report saying the scratches are "consistent with damage caused by a car wash" I wouldn't be too hopeful but anything is worth a try.

gycraig_2

scotsbob wrote: »

The fact that no one else has reported anything to the company is not relevant. It's not other cars that have been damaged, yours has.
The problem is that you will have to prove it, that may be difficult.


Could a paint shop provide a report saying the scratches are "consistent with damage caused by a car wash" I wouldn't be too hopeful but anything is worth a try.

Would be a nightmare proving it was caused by that specific car wash, personally I never use them as its common knowledge they aren't kind to paint work

bigjl

photome wrote: »

I doubt you will get anywhere with the car wash company.

The answer as you know is never to use one, or the eastern europeans, hand wash yourself is the way to go and even then needs doing properly to avoid scratches or swirls

Have never had any problems with any of the car washes operate by Eastern Europeans.

Why would their nationality make a difference?

A careless car washer is the same no matter what language he or indeed she speaks.

dannyrst

scotsbob wrote: »

The fact that no one else has reported anything to the company is not relevant. It's not other cars that have been damaged, yours has.
The problem is that you will have to prove it, that may be difficult.


Could a paint shop provide a report saying the scratches are "consistent with damage caused by a car wash" I wouldn't be too hopeful but anything is worth a try.

Well if it was caused by a faulty part, it would be extremely unlikely that no other cars were damaged.

EdGasket

Use a bucket and sponge and clean it yourself; I've been doing that for 40 years and never had a problem. I've lost count of the number of 'car damaged by car wash' threads. The hand wash outfits might not be any better where they use a jet spray; if not careful that can take paint off in no time and/or get water in the electrics.