some help and advice needed

[merc man]

hi there
ok to cut a long story short, i had a non fault accident in april 2007, car was sent for repair in june 2008 (yes over a year later) and claim settled in september 2008, the car was not fully repaired in 2008. i was fed up with wating even though i paid my excess it should have been repaired regardless of fault, so i involved the FSA and this year the car was inspected and the completion of works was undertaken on the 7th january 2009, the car went in to get its paint rectifyed,front pannels re-aligned and some parts replaced. i was told 2 weeks to complete, but after a few exhange of calls the car was ready on saturday 31st thought it must be worth the wait if it was done proplerly, i went to pick it up and was shocked at the repair, the paint was just sprayed over the inner grey plastics had paint on them, paintwork was dull/flat and had swirlmarks/paint was thin(primer can be seen) along the A pillar the paint was chipped and the chips in the wing were just painted over so can be seen along with paint runs, and to top it off the front numberplate was broken,bumper scuffed, also my new headlights one was scratched and one had buffer burn marks on it,the rear bumper trims were not put in to place properly and the paint was too thin in the corners, also the heavy sanding marks in the door shuts can be seen.
This is just some of the issues that i could see.

I took pics of the problems, but the garage tried to fob me off and told me to blame the insurance company, but i should take the car, i refused to sign off on the car, and left it there.

This is the second time the car has gone in for a repair and the paint has been applied on both occations, both of which are of poor colour match and quality, and now i have even more damage on my car then before, i told the garage not to do any more work on the car untill i tell them to and also told my insurance the problem, and am awaiting a call from them on monday,

what can/should i do?
will the paint be too think if applied for a 3rd time?
what are my options?

is there any paint specialist local to me that can spare some time to asses the work/damage to my car and advise me what to do, the car is in mitcham surrey, in DWS bodyworks.

Thanks

 

[MrT]

Sounds like somewhere to avoid. Good luck getting it sorted out. In my experience, most accident repair workshops (even the 'professional' ones) do a shonky job.

 

[Piff]

My sympathies.
Who selected the body shop?
Is it too late to re-involve the insurance company or were you paid out & sorted your own repair?
Depending on who is "employing/instructing" the body shop dictates where you start.
If you instructed them, you could end up with a county court claim against them.

 

[dino645]

I'd speak to a solicitor, otherwise you will end up with a cowboy repair and no-one really wanting to know. Insurance companies can take forever becuase they don't want to know. If they have a shake then they may start pulling their finger out.

 

[merc man]

it was the insurers reccomended repairer, and the higest level of customer complaint has been made, along with a FSA complaint, this was supposed to a rectification, but it has all gone wrong again, maybe this time ill take it to mercedes. i will find out tomorow when i speak to the head of engeneering.

 

[crockers]

I am confused ...why are the FSA being involved??

 

[219]

If you are a member of the AA/RAC , perhaps you can get them to carry out a vehicle inspection and give an independent engineer's report on the condition of the vehicle ?

This will cost you but could provide invaluable evidence in the event of this going to court ; it may also just be enough in itself to push your insurer into instructing further work on your behalf .

 

[merc man]

I am confused ...why are the FSA being involved??

The FSA were involved due to the time taken to resolve the case as well as the handling of the claim, the process as a whole was/is a shambles. i had a problem with an engenieers visit which took three months, then he did not know the year of the car, and then alot of other catalogue of errors, and till this day, though a non fault accident 2 years on my car is still not retured to the condition pre-accident, has cost me roadtax and insurance while off the road/in repairs ect also i was given the car back initially with a broken suspention strut, so a dis-respect to my life as they did not authorise the garage to repair even though they knew it was part of the accident, and even when they did they only replaced one side.

i am getting a bit p***d off with the insurance and also the loan car a 1ltr matiz which is so small and uncomfortable and an ugly colour, plus i can't even put a child seat in yet alone do the weekly shopping, and its not a car that i want to put my child in when the crumple zone is the seats. I am thinking to push for a write off or a main dealer repair. as even though the car will/can be repaired i will still have to take it to mercedes to get a report about the knocking comming from the front, so yet another repair and more time without the car.

i am not a member of the AA and need to find someone local that is willing to look at the car and the defects, and let me know what needs to be done to put it right.

 

[GuyFawkes]

You see, this is why in the three no fault minor accidents that I have suffered my first response was always to go down to the local county court and file a form N1, e.g. a writ, against the driver and owner (if different, e.g. company van) of the other vehicle.

Then I say "not my problem, this is what your insurance company is supposed to be insuring you against" until I get what I want.

I have always been reasonable in what I want, but inflexible.

If you don't like my attitude to my vehicle, don't drive in to it.

 

[merc man]

what does the N1 do? as i will file one tomorw if its going to help my case!

 

[GuyFawkes]

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/HMCSCourtFinder/GetLeaflet.do?court_leaflets_id=183

 

[219]

i am not a member of the AA and need to find someone local that is willing to look at the car and the defects, and let me know what needs to be done to put it right.

You don't have to be a member to have a vehicle inspection done , although I believe as a member you may get a better rate for the service .

 

[hawk20]

Merc Man it sounds to me as though you did not go to an MB garage. MB have a system for dealing with accidents and they deal with the other party's insurance etc and you get a decent loan car. And all the work is done by an approved bodyshop to MB standards. Any complaints you can bring in MBUK if needed.

Someone backed into my brothers' A class and the dealer dealt with it all and we cannot see where the repair has been done.

Can you not insist now on having an approved MB bodyshop put matters right?

 

[Smiley]

Merc Man it sounds to me as though you did not go to an MB garage. MB have a system for dealing with accidents and they deal with the other party's insurance etc and you get a decent loan car. And all the work is done by an approved bodyshop to MB standards. Any complaints you can bring in MBUK if needed.

Someone backed into my brothers' A class and the dealer dealt with it all and we cannot see where the repair has been done.

Can you not insist now on having an approved MB bodyshop put matters right?

This is now your best bet. Whilst Guy Fawkes advice is sound - ie hold the other party personally responsible and drive the insurance company fast and furious with the threat of litigation (always works by the way) it is probably too late in your case - you have gone down the insurance route and their suppliers have let THEM down. I would ask Mb for the name of their repairer then - in writing - tell the insurance co why the exisiting repair is not acceptable - and ask that the car be removed to MB repairer for an independent assessment. Do not whatever you do sign an acceptance for the work.
I would also claim for a hire car from the insurance company as a result of their failure to manage their suppliers properly.

 

[flango]

You see, this is why in the three no fault minor accidents that I have suffered my first response was always to go down to the local county court and file a form N1, e.g. a writ, against the driver and owner (if different, e.g. company van) of the other vehicle.

Then I say "not my problem, this is what your insurance company is supposed to be insuring you against" until I get what I want.

I have always been reasonable in what I want, but inflexible.

If you don't like my attitude to my vehicle, don't drive in to it.

Great advice thats exactly what I do when I get problems, it's amazing how fast they react when that summons lands on the mat, Just issued one against national express East Coast for Injuries sustained to my wife whilst on one of their trains. N1 has worked for me everytime without fail

 

[merc man]

just an update, i got a call from the garage who now admit that the car has been damaged whilst in their car (no explanation can be given), and are willing to put it right. But i have instructed that no work is to be done on the car untill they have permission from me in writing. i have contacted MB and am in the process of getting a senior from their bodyshop, and showroom assessor, to come and look at the car and estimate the work ect, my insurance also phoned to appologise and have also said that i should go to MB and send them a estimate. apparently the garage are blaming the insurance and saying that thir is still more work to be done on the car, which is not true as the car was ready for collection on satuday,so that either means they did not do all the work or are telling porkies!

i will update when i get MB to assess the car, hopefully it will be good news, or a new MB is on the way

 

[Smiley]

They have made such a fundamental mess that I believe you have reasonable grounds to ask the insurer to authorise a new reuptable repairer to put it right - it is not one or two minor points that need to be put right - with all the list of faults that you mentioned I would not give them a second chance - they sound like cowboys.

 

[merc man]

2 cowboy jobs from 2 of the southeasts leading garages, now it will only be repaired by mercs, but that depends on the cost of the repair as the case handler did say that it could be written off due to 2 lots of repairs costing about 2.5-3k, all in all i have had to wait 2 years to be in a worse position and its a joke to say the least, so if it might be written off i will push for the value to be from two years back, and also the transfer of my reg and multimedia system (quite alot) to the new car to be paid for and any other expenses to be paid whilst i get a simmilar car. i have been looking at a few 55 reg 220cdi sport pack W203s but will see how this goes as i still enjoy driving my car as the mods i have done are just right for me.