Hi Guys,

Had the Octy parked with Purple Parking at Heathrow for two weeks in August. I chose the "Quality Service"............

On my return I checked the car over very carefully on the outside - no issues. Mileage was also the same. On getting in I noticed that the Jumbo Box cover was ajar - you know how it won't shut if you don't know how - and I guessed that the car parking guy had probably had a rummage around. I wasn't too worried as I'd purposely emptied the interior and, sadly, you half expect this.

I didn't check any further inside as I really didn't expect to find damage. I had also been flying with the kids for 8 hours and was knackered.

Drove home. Slept. Next morning, as soon as I got into the car, I noticed a horizontal scratch on the steering wheel badge. It is most of the way across the middle of the badge. It is a fine scratch but through the lacquer.

I am certain this wasn't me - neither my wedding ring nor my watch could have made this scratch. I am very, very careful with the car and know all the marks on it. Anyway, Purple Parking are refusing liability as I didn't point out the damage there and then - usual story, small print etc etc.

The badge is part of the airbag - total replacement cost nearly £400 including labour and VAT.

I have politely argued with PP's customer relations people, including their operations director, but they will not accept that they damaged the car, despite me pointing out all the obvious points about the damage being small (as in difficult to spot unless in strong daylight), me having spent hours in the air, it's not reasonable to expect every customer to go over the whole car with a fine toothcomb after a long flight whilst buckling in tetchy kids etc etc. I also mentioned that the interior of the car had been searched. They will not budge and are seemingly oblivious to customer service or their reputation.

Any ideas guys, or am I stuffed? If so, any thoughts on how I could make the scratch look better / less obvious?

Thanks, Dunc

Bugger. Says it all for customer services today. Could you not just change the badge rather than the whole air bag module?

With the badge being very close to the break points for the effective deployment of the airbag I would be careful how you go about attempting to remove / replace the badge. I can't imagine a repair being very effective. It certainly doesn't justify a replacement airbag.

I've used Purple Parking before without issues, but then, to my knowledge they never damaged the car. I'm never particularly happy about others driving my car so more recently I just leave a little earlier and park the car myself.

PP are within their rights to reject your claim as it wan't detected at the point it was handed back, however claims of your nature are often down to their discretion. I guess if it was simply a £10 badge they may have been more receptive but a £400 airbag is probably enough for them to fall back on their terms and conditions and wash their hands of the whole issue, despite loosing a customer.

Unfortunate but not the end of the world. My car has scratches where the kids clamber up onto the back seats, I see them everytime I open the rear doors but have learnt to live with the fact cars don't stay new for ever

I wonder if it would be possible to buy a non-genuine sticker that you could simply stick over the existing badge?

Cheap and cheerful (all the way from Hong Kong) but a quick and effective fix...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F16-SKODA-STEERING-WHEEL-CAP-EMBLEM-LOGO-BADGE-50MM-/320533577808?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aa14a4050

Cheap and cheerful (all the way from Hong Kong) but a quick and effective fix...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F16-SKODA-STEERING-WHEEL-CAP-EMBLEM-LOGO-BADGE-50MM-/320533577808?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aa14a4050

Please don't do that.

I know it seems like an easy fix, but if you do that, there is a none zero chance that the stuck on badge will be propelled into your head at great speed should the airbag fire. In the MK 1 I seem to remember the bag being riveted or similar on so that it won't come off. I'd expect something similar on the MK II.

There is a none zero chance that the stuck on badge will be propelled into your head at great speed.

A none zero chance sounds pretty favorable to me!

Seriously though guys, calm down. Whilst I understand attaching anything to the steering wheel increases the risk of injury in the event of airbag deployment and should therefore be avoided there are a 1001 other equally dangerous missiles currently nessled comfortably away in the interior of your car.

The kids toy in the baby seat, the umbrella on the parcel shelf, the tin of de-icer in the door pocket, your mobile phone in front of the speedo, the air fresher in the air vent, the glasses on your face, the watch on your wrist, the ring on your finger, the football strip hanging from the rear view mirror, the pound coins in the centre console, the good luck charm hanging off the indicator stalk, the tin of boiled sweets on the gear lever gator, the contents of your toolbox in the boot - the list is endless.

If the idea of a plastic cap hitting you in the face is more of a concern than a wheel brace on the back of the head then there are also flat vinyl stickers that would perform the same job of covering the scratch eliminating any nasty side effects of it becoming unstuck.

There's no way on this earth that I'd do that.

It states specifically in the handbook, and anywhere else that talks about airbags, that nothing is to be attached to an airbag module. If that is stuck on, and the airbag deploys at any time, it could well become a 200mph missile that will hit the driver in the face. Not nice.

I used to set up demonstrations of airbag deployments on a specially constructed rig, and I remember an experiment that was done with a small St. Christopher that was glued to the centre of the steering wheel, close to where the airbag module cover tears during deployment. Once the airbag was fired, that small St. Christopher was found 60feet away from the setup. That's one and a half times the length of a bus. Just imagine the force of that hitting your face, 2-3 feet away. The injuries that could cause would be horrendous.

The badges are attached in a specific way so they do not come off when the airbag deploys, and there is no way that you can dismantle the airbag to replace a badge and attach it in the way is HAS to be attached.

There are only 2 choices here, replace the airbag module, or live with the scratch.

Messing with airbags, especially for just a cosmetic badge, just ain't worth it.

Mike

I have to say I am one of the people who is paranoid about such things and even take the step of fastening rear seat belts when there is anything in boot etc nothing is loose in the car unless its of truly soft composition and of a negligible weight. Phone stays in pocket or goes in lil cubby box. But I having read this thread must confess on my mk1 fabia VRS I had a replacement badge stuck on wheel the semi common VRS one, the thought never even entered my mind! As small a chance as anyone may see it of actually happening cheers for pointing it out Mike as its nice to have attention drawn to a possible risk I was truly oblivious to much appreciated! Out of interest were your airbag demos aimed at awareness of things like crossing arms over wheel and setting seating position inappropriately for the airbags deployment etc?

ps. Dunc ........... gutted for you I know leaving it means it will annoy you every time :( what a stinker! If its just lacquer is there no chance of polishing down threw it a lil or is it a big too deep? Please no one abuse me for this suggestion but an old one I have used and worked for me on scratches on watch faces was rubbing toothpaste in then wiping off as the gritty paste texture seemed to wear it away cleanly.

I having read this thread must confess on my mk1 fabia VRS I had a replacement badge stuck on wheel.

Badge or sticker?

It seems to me there are two options:

1) A copy of the original steering wheel badge which is hard plastic

2) A vinyl sticker.

Assuming the sticker is just that, a sticker, and it doesn't exceed the current dimensions of the existing badge I can't see what harm it would do.

As others have mentioned anything hard and plastic being forced into your face is not going to be nice.

Badge or sticker?

It seems to me there are two options:

1) A copy of the original steering wheel badge which is hard plastic

2) A vinyl sticker.

Assuming the sticker is just that, a sticker, and it doesn't exceed the current dimensions of the existing badge I can't see what harm it would do.

As others have mentioned anything hard and plastic being forced into your face is not going to be nice.

mine was a thin painted metal one to sit snug on top of original without looking to ebay pikey muwahahahahahah that was option "3" I Believe I know the vinyl ones you mean though seen them on a few peoples cars sat a lil too proud for my liking at time.

Guys, thanks for your comments. The dealer did say 'on no account try to get the badge off as you may knacker the airbag'.

Will have to live with it. What I was really after were suggestions to minimize the damage. The toothpaste idea is interesting. I was thinking a wax or lacquer to fill the scratch.

Any further thoughts along these lines?

Your help is, as always, much appreciated! Great forum.

Dunc.

PS Still an awesome car all round!

Edit: And, yes, I'm getting to understand that a new car will not stay perfect for long - especially with two small kids! Once you accept that and just enjoy the driving experience & practicality, all seems well! (Silver 1011, you are spot on!)

One thing you could try is jewellers rouge. Very effective in getting scratches out of watch faces, and gentle enough not to do further damage.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item563b2efa07

At only a couple of quid, it's got to be worth a try anyway.

And thanks for heeding the advice about trying to replace the badge! The thought of what COULD happen just doesn't bear thinking about.

Mike

Maybe this is something you could try in the small claims court. Sounds petty I know but is of importance to you. Chances are that the parking co would not contest it and you may win by default.

Maybe this is something you could try in the small claims court. Sounds petty I know but is of importance to you. Chances are that the parking co would not contest it and you may win by default.

Thanks for your thoughts. Trouble is, how do I prove they are at fault?

Don't want to end up paying their costs too. It would be my word against theirs without evidence to prove it one way or the other!

Please let me know if I've missed the point?

Cheers.

One thing you could try is jewellers rouge. Very effective in getting scratches out of watch faces, and gentle enough not to do further damage.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item563b2efa07

At only a couple of quid, it's got to be worth a try anyway.

And thanks for heeding the advice about trying to replace the badge! The thought of what COULD happen just doesn't bear thinking about.

Mike

Thanks Mike. Is the badge definitely glass? The link states that the jewellers rouge cannot be used on plastic?

You say that the scratch is through the lacquer ... is it actually disrupting/damaging the paint? If not, carefully dropping thinned lacquer into the scratch may make it hard(er) to see.

Thanks for your thoughts. Trouble is, how do I prove they are at fault?

Small claims court is a civil court, so it's decided on the balance of probabilities (which would probably amount to witness statements). If either party fails to appear, then the other wins by default.

I suppose one question worth finding the answer to is, are there terms which state any damage must be reported immediately fair for minor damage such as that you've found? I'm wondering, as when you have an item delivered and you have signed for it, you are still able to report a fault if you find one, irrespective of what the supplier says, as they haven't given you adequate time to inspect the item (according to the OFT) - not sure if a similar principle would exist here, due to the nature of the defect?

Before going down this route, I would strongly recommend obtaining advice. If you have RAC roadside assistance, this includes free legal advice - I imagine the AA and GreenFlag policies include a similar benefit.

Don't want to end up paying their costs too. It would be my word against theirs without evidence to prove it one way or the other!

Unless the magistrate believes you're a vexatious litigant (i.e. abusing the process), which is somewhat rare, the only cost normally awarded is the actual court fee (used to be up to £80).

Move on with your life!