Windscreen repair/replacement

qbazdz

Hello to everybody!

Just today, when driving to work I heard a loud bang, like a stone hit my car. Slowed down a bit, everything was fine. When I finally stopped at my car space, I throughly checked all bodywork and windows to find some chips on my windscreen in front of the passenger's seat. Well, it is fairly small (probably the size of the matchstick head) yet a bit lower down there is another 2 or 3 very little ones (smaller than a pinhead). The small ones are like a sand grain size and depth.
So I checked my insurance policy with Direct Line and found 10 quid for a repair, 60 quid for replacement excess. When I called AutoGlass they told me that as it is more than one chip the windscreen should be replaced! So I said that I want to talk to technician to find out what he thinks (not that I believe that they are actually going to push for the replacement).
I dont really mind paying this 10 pounds excess but the thing is, it is very small and if they say they need to replace it because of the amount of them I will be really p***** off!
I checked some other companies that offer that, and found these two.
http://www.glassdoctors.co.uk/freerepairs.html
http://www.a-zonewindscreenrepair.co.uk/clients/azonewindscreenrepair

that apparently can do it for FREE and it wont cost my my excess (we are talking repairs now).

As I have never dealt with this things could somebody please help me out here??
I dont know how good these two companies are and that where my worries come from.

Any help will be appreciated


THANKS!

Steve1981

If Directline say there is a charge then there will be a charge, some companies introduced the repair fee about 9 months or so backish. As you say prior to that you didnt pay an excess. when it comes to replacement the £60 xs (in this case) will only apply if you are using the approved replacers (usually autoglass) otherwise you will probably find the most the insurer will be prepared to pay out is £150 - leaving you liable for the £60 xs and the difference above the £150.

Double check the free repair as i would be surprised if DL will allow themselves to be billed and you not pay the excess as listed on your documents.

safety is key with windscreens, if it needs replacing, on the advice of an expert then chances are its worth paying the extra

Quentin

If they send in a bill to (eg) DL without collecting the excess, then DL won't pay it in full. Then it will be up to the repair company to get the excess out of you (it they are bothered about the £10).