Windscreen cracked and new wiper blades

littlemoney

My windscreen is cracked and using my insurers aprroved supplier web site for the repair I have been asked if I also want new wiper blades for extra £49 as:

"Glass debris or grit may be trapped inside old wipers, which may cause damage to your new windscreen"

Is this true and reasonable or just a way of getting more money out of me. Prior to the damage I had no intention of replacing my wiper blades.

Advice appeciated please.

Brie

It makes sense to me but I'd want to have a good look at them to see if it's at all obvious.  If it isn't obvious I'd say no.  If it is obvious I'd say no and pop my car round to Halfords to get some decent blades to replace the damaged ones.   I suspect the ones on offer from the insurers are very basic ones which you could get much cheaper at any car shop or even Lidl.  

Browntoa

Complete nonsense 

Wipe them clean yourself 

Nobbie1967

Just wipe down your old wipers with a damp cloth to remove any grit or debris. A crack is unlikely to have resulted in shards of glass, but it’s a good upselling opportunity.

Mildly_Miffed

Wiper blades should be replaced periodically. I got shouted down here recently for suggesting annually, but I stand by it.

Fifty quid, though? Nope, total scaremongering and upselling rip-off.

Desmond_Hume

Mildly_Miffed said:

Wiper blades should be replaced periodically. I got shouted down here recently for suggesting annually, but I stand by it.

Fifty quid, though? Nope, total scaremongering and upselling rip-off.

I’ll stand with you. Annual. Around April, after the morning frosts are past. 

littlemoney

Thank you all for your comments. I've had a look at two local places which will supply and fit and charge between £41 and £44. I have checked my wipers and they both appear OK so I am no worse if I don't have blades fitted by approved supplier at £49.

I could buy the wipers for a lot less but the last time I got a wiper for my rear window I wasn't strong enough in my fingers to release the clip to remove the old and fit the new. I waited a year before someone visited and did the job for me so I have to pay for fitting. Halfords charge £6 per blade for a 2 minute job which I find shocking but when you can't do it yourself you have to pay unfortunately.

chrisw

Do you have to pay for them separately? I would have thought they just lumped them in with the invoice they send to the insurance company.

baser999

littlemoney said:

I could buy the wipers for a lot less but the last time I got a wiper for my rear window I wasn't strong enough in my fingers to release the clip to remove the old and fit the new. I waited a year before someone visited and did the job for me so I have to pay for fitting. Halfords charge £6 per blade for a 2 minute job which I find shocking but when you can't do it yourself you have to pay unfortunately.

Might want to just check the fittings - mine just push on/off whereas I recall an older car had metal ‘prongs’ that needed to be squeezed in to enable the blade to be removed. No family or neighbour that might help?

HillStreetBlues

baser999 said:

Might want to just check the fittings - mine just push on/off whereas I recall an older car had metal ‘prongs’ that needed to be squeezed in to enable the blade to be removed. No family or neighbour that might help?

At nearly £50 I don't think it's the blades that are being squeezed!

fatbelly

Why are you being quoted such high prices?

Do you drive something exotic?

Put your reg plate in here and see what it quotes

https://www.wiperblades.co.uk/
Or
https://www.eurocarparts.com/wiper-blades