Copied from a thread I posted on Pistonheads, would very much like your collective opinion.
I would appreciate some advice around a situation I find myself in. I will give the background but will omit specifics since this is ongoing.
I took my car to a paint repair company for some minor work on the front driver side wing. Upon collecting my car I noticed the driver side headlight was cracked, with multiple 2" vertical cracks running almost the entire width of the headlight. I raised this to the company at time of collection. Upon getting home I noticed 2 very small cracks in the passenger side headlight at the narrowest width of the lense.
I am 100% adamant that they were not damaged before I took the car to them. The manager came to quote on the work and viewed the car about 10 days prior. He claims he wouldn't have spotted a cracked headlight at that time as was focused on the paint blemish which was no more than 12"-18" away from the headlight. I asked the guy who I gave my keys to on the day, to look around the car and point out any imperfections as this paint job would take it back to top condition. He agreed it was very tidy. I sadly fell short of taking any photos or videos at the time which of course I now regret. Note the manager who quoted on the job and viewed the car was on holiday when the work was done. A meeting was arranged for us upon his return.
I believe that the car was heated too much in the "oven" when curing the paint which had lead to the lenses cracking. The circumstances around the heating and cooling I am not aware of.
I met with them a week after the work was done and in essence they claim it was already cracked on receipt, that a trusted long term employee signed a declaration slip saying it was already cracked. Essentially it is my word versus his and the company have been extremely defensive. The replacement lights are about 7x the value of the paint job to supply and fit. I have not paid them for the work and do not plan to until I have resolved the cost of the lights. I have been advised that the driver side light would be an MOT fail. I need to stress I am happy with the paintwork itself.
I think if anyone were to look at the facts and physical evidence, plus some other comments made by the manager when giving his side of the story, which I have omitted here, which in my opinion lead to questioning the competency and processes they have in place , the conclusion would be simple and complete.
Has anyone had a similar situation happen to them and that they took to the small claims court? What was asked and what was the outcome?
Thanks for your advice
I would appreciate some advice around a situation I find myself in. I will give the background but will omit specifics since this is ongoing.
I took my car to a paint repair company for some minor work on the front driver side wing. Upon collecting my car I noticed the driver side headlight was cracked, with multiple 2" vertical cracks running almost the entire width of the headlight. I raised this to the company at time of collection. Upon getting home I noticed 2 very small cracks in the passenger side headlight at the narrowest width of the lense.
I am 100% adamant that they were not damaged before I took the car to them. The manager came to quote on the work and viewed the car about 10 days prior. He claims he wouldn't have spotted a cracked headlight at that time as was focused on the paint blemish which was no more than 12"-18" away from the headlight. I asked the guy who I gave my keys to on the day, to look around the car and point out any imperfections as this paint job would take it back to top condition. He agreed it was very tidy. I sadly fell short of taking any photos or videos at the time which of course I now regret. Note the manager who quoted on the job and viewed the car was on holiday when the work was done. A meeting was arranged for us upon his return.
I believe that the car was heated too much in the "oven" when curing the paint which had lead to the lenses cracking. The circumstances around the heating and cooling I am not aware of.
I met with them a week after the work was done and in essence they claim it was already cracked on receipt, that a trusted long term employee signed a declaration slip saying it was already cracked. Essentially it is my word versus his and the company have been extremely defensive. The replacement lights are about 7x the value of the paint job to supply and fit. I have not paid them for the work and do not plan to until I have resolved the cost of the lights. I have been advised that the driver side light would be an MOT fail. I need to stress I am happy with the paintwork itself.
I think if anyone were to look at the facts and physical evidence, plus some other comments made by the manager when giving his side of the story, which I have omitted here, which in my opinion lead to questioning the competency and processes they have in place , the conclusion would be simple and complete.
Has anyone had a similar situation happen to them and that they took to the small claims court? What was asked and what was the outcome?
Thanks for your advice