Damage to Car - Seemingly Whilst Car at Smash Repairer

Islund on 22/11/2017 - 10:52

Oz Bargainers!

I could do with your advice please.

Took my car to a smash repairer for repairs to the tail gate and the passenger side guard - this was private work and not through an insurer.

Repairs done - drove away.

Walking back to my car at the petrol station I saw damage to the door sill on the passenger side - just where one would normally jack up the car. This is not ordinarily visible when standing beside the car.

Now i know that the damage was not there prior to me dropping the car off for I wash the car every week but, the smash repairer refuses to even entertain the idea it happened whilst the car was in their care.

Had anyone encountered a similar situation? What would be my options for redress please?

Bikies are not an option.

Automotive

Comments

  • oscargamer on 22/11/2017 - 10:55
    +3

    Yes had similar situation, except I hadn't left the shop before noticing new damage.

    You are stuck with dealing with the repairer.

    Two questions please.

    1. Does the equipment they use marry with the damage?

    2. Would they have used that equipment while undertaking the repairs they did?

    Take photos NOW and keep correspondence NOW and write down conversations NOW.

    • Islund on 22/11/2017 - 11:52

      to 1) yes
      to 2) they say they did not use it

      they also sent the vehicle to be detailed externally before I picked it up.

      when I went to pick up the vehicle it was parked beside another one. The damage would not be visible unless one was walk up to the vehicle from the side.

      • oscargamer on 22/11/2017 - 12:06

        mate - you're struggling, really struggling to get the repairer to wear this one

        does the damage affect the safety/structural integrity of your car?
        are you prepared to pay a vehicle inspector to assess the damage/your car?

  • aoeueoa on 22/11/2017 - 11:32
    +2

    Very hard to prove now and I really doubt you will get anywhere. Case of your word vs them which isn't enough to get any action done.

  • Mrbean007 on 22/11/2017 - 11:42
    +1

    As stated should of checked prior to leaving.
    I remember hearing a story.
    A guy come in to get The right hand side fixed due to a side swipe apprentice washed the car to finish it of took it out of the drive way to take it to the back of the building to park it as he was taking it he side swiped the other side didn't say anything owner rocked up and told them didn't use repair it yet.

    :/

  • Cluster on 22/11/2017 - 11:53
    +5

    I had a crash repairer last year add additional damage to my car.

    The RAA approved repairer was generally, appalling. When my car was returned after repair the side windows, headlights, and bonnet were covered in excess spray paint. Yes, they painted the windows! The car went back twice to fix damage. One time they added more damage, like trying to remove paint from a plastic part with sandpaper. They sanded down the entire part.

    The additional damage that annoyed me the most was a 5mm x 3mm paint chunk missing from the front bumper. I took the car home and immediately noticed the damage. Went straight back. The shop manager first said 'it must be a paint chip from a stone'. I denied that. How convenient to get hit by a paint chip on a 5km drove home? I said it's damage done in the workshop. He said 'my staff would immediately tell me if they damaged a car'. Umm, buddy, no. I looked in the workshop and noticed they used trolleys on wheels, which were the right height and could easily have been pushed into my car.

    Workshop manager gave in and said he's repair it. Next day… the paint chip looked like it was painted over using liquid paper by a child. I rejected the fix. They had another go and did it properly. The entire repair fiasco went back to RAA and they got involved to put pressure on the repairer to actually take care.

    I took photos of all the damage and printed it out, along with text of what needed to be fixed. I thought I was being thorough. Repair manager looked at me and said 'mate, in 30 years of car repairs no one has ever done this'. He thought I was mental. Well, as the car went back for repairs 2 times I thought documenting everything was prudent.

    Stand your ground, give the workshop a chance to repair the damage. Unfortunately you don't have an insurance company involved.

    • oscargamer on 22/11/2017 - 12:08
      +4

      "Repair manager looked at me and said 'mate, in 30 years of car repairs no one has ever done this"

      Possibly why they kept doing a sh*t job, as they had been getting away with it for years !

      Well done you

      • try2bhelpful on 22/11/2017 - 13:11
        +3

        Whenever we pick up a rental car we take pictures of what the car looks like from all angles and, particularly, any damage on it like scuff marks etc. When we drop it off we also take photos so we have proof of what condition we handed it back in. The phone geotags everything with the pictures. I know they might scream the dates have been tampered with if they do try something on, but it is good to have something to fight them with. Sounds like car repairs are in the same boat.

        • oscargamer on 22/11/2017 - 16:58

          as anal as it sounds, i do that when i get my car serviced, with the mechanics shop in the background

  • Oz8argain on 22/11/2017 - 13:21

    at least they repaird yours, they kind of just sticky taped my family car from the inside

  • [Deactivated] on 23/11/2017 - 11:41
    +1

    Now that you're aware that a jack/lift/hoist can crush a panel if placed sloppily, be very wary of tire shops, mechanics and panel shops. For that reason, wash your car before you send them to workshops. You'll notice all the cosmetic problems then.

    Also, always refuse a free car wash (from mechanics or other). Your car should already be clean. I hate to think how much sand and grit is in a heavily used sponge.

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