Trust a body shop?

bluedrop

My car is going into a (insurer approved) body shop for a bumper replacement. they said they will replace it but will need the car in the garage for 5 days.

How can I trust them - what if they steal parts or replace my engine?

Anyone here who knows how things work in garages? Are they under CCTV all the time?

droopsnoot

I doubt very much whether they are under CCTV all the time - would you like to work somewhere where your employers and customers don't trust you unless they can watch your every move? What is special about your car that makes you think someone would go to the trouble of stealing parts, or swapping your engine?

Do you have the same concern with anything else you take in for repair? Ever send clothes to the dry cleaners and wonder whether they've borrowed them for a night out while they have them?


If you have a genuine reason for concern, some dash cams will work on a motion-sensor and record even if the car isn't moving, but something in the field of view is. I have read that some garages ask for that to be switched off, though.

bluedrop

droopsnoot wrote: »

I doubt very much whether they are under CCTV all the time - would you like to work somewhere where your employers and customers don't trust you unless they can watch your every move?

Why should I trust someone blindly when its easy to replace parts and not get caught.

Regarding drycleaners clothes etc, its very unlikely for sizes and tastes to match - so I don't worry about them. My drycleaners usually bring the clothes back the same day!

Why does a body shop need the car in for 5 days just to replace a bumper?

glentoran99

How do you leave your house in the morning with so much paranoia

bluedrop

glentoran99 wrote: »

How do you leave your house in the morning with so much paranoia

With the burglar alarm and security cameras on

bluedrop

This is my first car, first damage.

Do these kind of things NEVER happen?

glentoran99

bluedrop wrote: »

This is my first car, first damage.

Do these kind of things NEVER happen?

If they did they companies would be out of business in a short time

bobbymotors

'How can I trust them - what if they steal parts or replace my engine? '

Have the school holidays started early?

davidwood123

Is this a joke?

Jackmydad

bluedrop wrote: »

With the burglar alarm and security cameras on

Which of course absolutely ensures that you won't get burgled. . .

Nothing in life is certain. Anything that can happen might happen.
You just have to weigh up the risks and get on with your life.

Risk of engine being nicked by body shop? Virtually nil. I'd seriously be more worried about the risk of being killed in an RTC driving the car there.
And I wouldn't worry about that in reality!

tho_2

Just, what?

What purpose? Why?

My dad works in a body shop repair garage, so yes, I have some knowledge. What they'll do is (and this is shocking I know), do the repair you've asked them to do and then (horror) return the car to you. Crazy crazy times. It takes 5 days because they'll need to paint the bumper to match your car, not completely replace the engine to get hold of a used timing belt to sell back to you when the elastic band they replace it with fails.