I didn't mean to have a 'told you so attitude' it's just that you can insist that your repair is done by the Main Dealers although you will not get a courtesy car without paying and the insurers won't make it easy for you. VAG also told me that your paint warranty may be invalidated. How true that is I don't know. Anyway I hope you get it sorted and keep us posted as it is a very interesting subject that can affect us all.....

I didn't mean to have a 'told you so attitude' it's just that you can insist that your repair is done by the Main Dealers although you will not get a courtesy car without paying and the insurers won't make it easy for you. VAG also told me that your paint warranty may be invalidated. How true that is I don't know. Anyway I hope you get it sorted and keep us posted as it is a very interesting subject that can affect us all.....

Sorry, I was a bit hasty with my reply.

No worries...

I've learnt to never go with the insurance approved bodyshop - the only thing they worry about is getting the labour rate cheap, simply as that (I know a few 'insiders) lol Always make your own selection based on actual customers recommendations. Good luck with getting the issues resolved.

I've learnt to never go with the insurance approved bodyshop - the only thing they worry about is getting the labour rate cheap, simply as that (I know a few 'insiders) lol Always make your own selection based on actual customers recommendations. Good luck with getting the issues resolved.

I learned that the hard way too.

I don't think I have ever had a good repair job done when it comes to body shops and paint.

All I know is that I am probably going to have to go through the same hassle I had with the passat when it was badly repaired, three body shops later and refused to pay the excess, repair was still crap after three different bodyshops had tried to sort it, two of them three are now out of business. I know not to go to the body shop with any issues, go direct to the insurance company expert, I have his number already.

Roll on the new year.

As stated in another post our previous Fabia TSI developed a paint finish fault, which was repaired under warranty by the local VAG approved shop; probably one of the worst repair jobs I've yet seen.

Could really do with a list on Briskoda (have I missed one already :wonder: ) of the 'good the bad and ugly' when it comes to these repairers; as I've found being VAG approved counts for nothing in terms of quality.

TP

Edited 27 December, 201213 yr by The Plumber

As stated in another post our previous Fabia TSI developed a paint finish fault, which was repaired under warranty by the local VAG approved shop; probably one of the worst repair jobs I've yet seen.

Could really do with a list on Briskoda (have I missed one already :wonder: ) of the 'good the bad and ugly' when it comes to these repairers; as I've found being VAG approved counts for nothing in terms of quality.

TP

Ahh nuts, that was one of the reasons I'm insured with Skoda Insurance (was also the cheapest for the package )

From experience I have has some reasonable work done by insurance approved body shops and some terrible earlier work where the steering was way out and the 'tried' everything to sort it, eventually sorted completely in 5 mins by a tyre fitter. That dangerous work was done by the same body shop.

Avoiding poor repair work is precisely why Skoda offer their add-on Ensurance policy by ensuring your car is repaired to manufacturer's standards, using original parts by Skoda approved repairers.

They claim it might not cost much more than your existing premium, as if you currently pay extra for legal cover through your present insurer, you can cancel that bit as legal cover is already included in Ensurance.

They also negotiate with your insurer to stop them insisting on their "approved" repairer, and (according to the Telegraph's Honest John) also prevent you being hassled by accident compensation claims companies.

I've no experience (thank goodness) but it sounds as though it may be worth considering. Of course, if you do buy it, you'll never need it!!!!

My repair has been done with all genuine parts, I have seen the receipts, the problem is Ray Charles bolted them back onto the car! I have a family of mice living in the gaps!

James

I wish you well in pursuit of a significant improvement of your car repair. I think you will need all your strength and resolve.

About 15 years ago my wife's Astra was rear ended by a dustbin cleaning van loaded with water for his round. It shortened the car by about 2 inches. I was initially relieved when the insurers recovered it to a VAG repair centre rather than Vauxhall. I inspected the car on its return to home, initially it was delivered to SWBMO's office.

I typed a four page A4 letter listing and describing the faults and overall state of the car.

We eventually got it sorted but it took months.

Can't see the photos, but after having my last Freelander "rebuilt" following an accident I actually refused to accept it from the Bodyshop when I went to collect it. Like yours the wing and bonnet hadn't been fitted correctly and there were numerous other faults. They tried to tell me I had to accept it, but after I spoke to the insurance company and described some of the faults they soon changed their tune. I kept the hire car for another couple of days whilst they "corrected" matters.

And as for VAG Dealer Body Shops.......................the one in Shrewsbury couldn't even fit the rear door foils properly!!

I think that using any VBRA Registered Body Shop won't affect the manufacturers paint warranty.

I've never seen a car that's been repaired to a point I can't tell. I see cars like this everywhere and it's something I can't unsee.

I had my Tiguan bumper corner repaired by 'scratch repair at your home' franchise. I couldn't tell. And I'm picky....to the point of obsession.

A door repair by a body shop stood out a mile though. The guy that did the bumper wouldn't do the door as he said I would not be satisfied. I think he would have made a better job than was made though.

Well, to add a little insult to injury, not only is the body panel fit atrocious, but the air conditioning pipe has been rubbing on the auxiliary belt and has rubbed half of the aluminium pipe away!

Question is I can only get the car back to them on 4th January and have places to go between now and then, if I leave the A/C off will it be ok with no gas in the system?

Well, to add a little insult to injury, not only is the body panel fit atrocious, but the air conditioning pipe has been rubbing on the auxiliary belt and has rubbed half of the aluminium pipe away!

Question is I can only get the car back to them on 4th January and have places to go between now and then, if I leave the A/C off will it be ok with no gas in the system?

I wouldn't carry on using it at all, but would be on to the Insurance Company immediately, demanding the car is picked up and a hire car provided forthwith!

If it is rubbing that much it has also damaged the drive belt, even if you can't see the damage.

I agree with Graham. Give the insurance grief, that's what you pay them good money for.

Fred

Car goes in on Friday, I have been assured that the A/C compressor will not engage without gas in the system, I have this in writing (email) so if it buggers anything they can fix it.

So Friday will be a panel refit so it looks like a Yeti and a replacement A/C pipe fitted and a re gas.

Picked the Yeti up from the return visit to the body shop, looks better but why can't a body shop get all the bits back in the right place? It seems if they make one part fit well another part has to not fit so good.

Bumper fit really well but headlights didn't, now headlights fit but bumper gaps are not so good, looks like it will always be a compromise.

I think the moral of the story is to take the car to the bodyshop you want it repaired at (that you have already used before etc)

The ins co want you to used there "approved" bodyshop for one reason only, the've screw'd them to the floor on price.

James

I think we sent the Astra back twice. I did look right eventually.

Body shops are screwed on price....but they still make a good living

Keep at them