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Main Dealership Scratched my Car, TWICE!
So, I took my car into Mini for it's very first service 2 weeks ago. There were some slight complications when it came to them booking in it at the right branch, but we got there in the end.
Anyway, the day I took it in, I parked up in their car park, took a picture of my mileage (just in case) and had a good check around my car to make sure I was aware of any damage that was already there (just in case).
Around 3-4 hours of them having my car, my phone rang, "Your vehicle is ready for collection, everything is as it should be". Perfect
So, I popped back down to collect my car and had a quick look around to make sure everything was as it should be. Only then to notice there was a deep scratch on my passenger door, which I obviously knew was not there before due to having a good check prior to the servicing!
I went back inside, asked to speak to the manager, who was not in. I showed the member of staff I dealt with and she advised I sent in some pictures of the damage and explain what had happened so she could show her manager upon his arrival on the following Monday. I did as requested with a rather stern, yet polite email.
She finally called back two days later and said the manager had approved to get the scratch rectified and we agreed on a date to book my car into the body shop. I also requested I had a courtesy vehicle (free of charge) so it was easier for me to get to and fro with work etc.
A week later on the Thursday, my car went back in for the scratch to be repaired. All okay, took it down, courtesy vehicle was ready for me and away I went. 6 hours later, yes SIX, they called me and said it was back on site and ready to collect.. I went down, picked it up and had a look at the work they had done... well, the work they had apparently done...
I looked at where the scratch 'was' to find it was still there! And that there was also ANOTHER scratch just above it! I cannot believe it! I also discovered that there was a huge footprint in my drivers seat foot well and there was white powder all over the passenger door and bonnet of my car... I don't know for sure but I think this could be T-Cut... She told me they had 're-painted to scratch' however, I do not believe this was the case as the scratch is still there! I basically took the car in for 6 hours to have some' work' done that I could have done myself at home.
Obviously, I went back inside, spoke to the staff member who said she would call me back the day after to get in booked in again... Now, obviously I want to get the problem rectified but I have been messed around A LOT so I wish to take this up to the site manager and then after all work has been carried out, file a complaint. However, I am unsure if there is anything I can request from the dealership or if they can do anything at all to make it up to me... What are your thoughts?
All work carried out is free and the courtesy car is also free (apart from the fuel).
VERY annoyed :mad:
Anyway, the day I took it in, I parked up in their car park, took a picture of my mileage (just in case) and had a good check around my car to make sure I was aware of any damage that was already there (just in case).
Around 3-4 hours of them having my car, my phone rang, "Your vehicle is ready for collection, everything is as it should be". Perfect
So, I popped back down to collect my car and had a quick look around to make sure everything was as it should be. Only then to notice there was a deep scratch on my passenger door, which I obviously knew was not there before due to having a good check prior to the servicing!I went back inside, asked to speak to the manager, who was not in. I showed the member of staff I dealt with and she advised I sent in some pictures of the damage and explain what had happened so she could show her manager upon his arrival on the following Monday. I did as requested with a rather stern, yet polite email.
She finally called back two days later and said the manager had approved to get the scratch rectified and we agreed on a date to book my car into the body shop. I also requested I had a courtesy vehicle (free of charge) so it was easier for me to get to and fro with work etc.
A week later on the Thursday, my car went back in for the scratch to be repaired. All okay, took it down, courtesy vehicle was ready for me and away I went. 6 hours later, yes SIX, they called me and said it was back on site and ready to collect.. I went down, picked it up and had a look at the work they had done... well, the work they had apparently done...
I looked at where the scratch 'was' to find it was still there! And that there was also ANOTHER scratch just above it! I cannot believe it! I also discovered that there was a huge footprint in my drivers seat foot well and there was white powder all over the passenger door and bonnet of my car... I don't know for sure but I think this could be T-Cut... She told me they had 're-painted to scratch' however, I do not believe this was the case as the scratch is still there! I basically took the car in for 6 hours to have some' work' done that I could have done myself at home.
Obviously, I went back inside, spoke to the staff member who said she would call me back the day after to get in booked in again... Now, obviously I want to get the problem rectified but I have been messed around A LOT so I wish to take this up to the site manager and then after all work has been carried out, file a complaint. However, I am unsure if there is anything I can request from the dealership or if they can do anything at all to make it up to me... What are your thoughts?
All work carried out is free and the courtesy car is also free (apart from the fuel).
VERY annoyed :mad:
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Comments
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The scratch is still there? Or there's another one near it?I looked at where the scratch 'was' to find it was still there! And that there was also ANOTHER scratch just above it! I cannot believe it! ... She told me they had 're-painted to scratch' however, I do not believe this was the case as the scratch is still there!0 -
If you've got a Twitter account then let @MINI know about it.0
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A new car has no scratches. An old car has scratches. Scratches happen. You normally can't see them when you're driving. Don't worry about scratches. I suppose if it got scratched during a 'service' it is an indication that they may have done more than just stamped your book which is a positive way of looking at it.0
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That's a bizarre view of things.
How about - a scratch may be deep enough to lead to corrosion developing, causing the paint to become worse and the underlying metal to rust? (Unless the scratch is discovered and repaired early enough).0 -
How about - a scratch may be deep enough to lead to corrosion developing, causing the paint to become worse and the underlying metal to rust? (Unless the scratch is discovered and repaired early enough).
If it looks deep you can get your kids to paint it with some touch up paint. Kids like painting.0 -
I am merely pointing out my attitude to scratches. What's the point in getting worked up about them? They happen. You won't be able to stop them. A car is a tool of transportation. A scratch will not affect it's ability to transport.0
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Ignore all the silly trolling/summer holiday replies. I would suggest you inform the dealer you will be taking it to a decent reputable bodyshop to be repaired. Send them the bill plus compensation for the reduce resale value due to the repair. If you take it in for px I bet they would knock money off due to the repair. You could also get a decent mobile repairer to do it. Can you post up a pick of the damage? A bodyshop should'nt be using t cut!0
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Some people take pride in their property and have no wish to just live with damage like scratches on a vehicle they've spent their hard earned cash on, especially when they didn't cause them. I've never had bad scratches on any of my cars save for a cat sliding down the bonnet of a black car that left shallow claw marks and one small 1" scuff someone did to my last car in a car park. They aren't a 'normal' part of car ownership to me, they are damage that requires fixing the same as a wing mirror having been smashed off or a dent in my door. If Mini did that to my Mini then I'd be expecting a full panel respray (if the scratch is that deep which it sounds like it is) so it looked like the perfect door it was when I entrusted it to their care.
Hope they fix it for you on the next visit in and don't try to fob you off again.0
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