Badly fitted replacement windscreen - consequential damage to car electrics

stapler

My 5 year-old, purchased from new, fully serviced VW Golf has just suffered a major electrical failure caused by water ingress from a badly fitted replacement windscreen allowing water to flood two ECUs and damage some related wiring. The car is with the main dealer who has held off removing the windscreen whilst awaiting parts but when they do so are going to document/photograph any evidence of poor fitting/inadequate water sealing. The original windscreen was replaced in Nov 17 and again in Feb 18 as the 1st replacement cracked - both times by the same well known national company. The first fitter was very thorough but the second perhaps less so - he was much quicker and also told me that he was unhappy in his work and was leaving the company the following week(!) I have the warranty for the windscreen replacement but unfortunately it is with the car - I will try to obtain another copy. The repair to the electrics will cost a minimum of £1k - given that it would seems likely (subject to inspection) to have been caused by poor workmanship on the part of the windscreen replacement company I am wondering what, if any, liability rests with them. I appreciate their warranty is unlikely to cover consequential damage - other than perhaps that incurred at the time of fitting - but I wonder if anyone has had a similar experience/advice to offer?

agrinnall

I think if you want to pursue this with the windscreen company you need to at least allow them the opportunity to inspect before the dealer starts doing anything to the car.

Nobbie1967

agrinnall wrote: »

I think if you want to pursue this with the windscreen company you need to at least allow them the opportunity to inspect before the dealer starts doing anything to the car.

This, give them the opportunity to inspect when the windscreen is removed to remove any doubt that this is just a stitchup between you and the dealership. I think they would be liable for the damage as it is not really a consequential loss, but a direct loss caused by their poor workmanship.

stapler

Thank you - just what I was thinking. The garage has been very accommodating, halting the rectification work and leaving the windscreen untouched pending an inspection by the windscreen replacement company in 10 day's time (the earliest they could do). I will be present.

photome

stapler wrote: »

Thank you - just what I was thinking. The garage has been very accommodating, halting the rectification work and leaving the windscreen untouched pending an inspection by the windscreen replacement company in 10 day's time (the earliest they could do). I will be present.

Hope they agree with the main dealer that its their fault

I would be disappointed in having to wait 10 days though

Most of these national chains can arrange a new windscreen with very short notice shame they cant arrange to inspect as quick

TykeUK

I had a similar, though less serious, situation last year and the well known national company paid for the problems to be rectified by a main dealer.

The dealer sent an estimate to the windscreen company and they agreed quickly and were billed direct.

It's a shame the problem happened but it was resolved to my satisfaction with a minimum of fuss.

Muscle750

which company fitted your screen?