So I had a stone chip recently which turned into a big crack which is an MOT fail so I contacted my insurance company to get the windscreen replaced for a £75 excess. I had this done before with National Windscreens in Elephant and Castle no problems so I thought this time would be the same. Admiral inform me that they are working with Autoglass now and it’s a mobile only service. So I arrange a date when I can work from home and the tech arrives and replaces the windscreen. So far so good, the work looks ok and I sign it off. Later when I come back to the car I notice that the scuttle panel isn’t sitting very well at the edges so I open the bonnet for a closer look and discover pieces of engine trim just left lose in the engine bay. Not even lose on their fittings, just left lying about. In addition the scuttle panel isn’t sitting flush with the windscreen so the clips which hold that in place have probably been damaged. I phone them up and they are going to send someone out to rectify the work under warranty. It may need a new scuttle panel which will probably be a 3rd appointment. Unless the tech decides he thinks he can fix it with glue.
So if you have a windscreen replaced by Autoglass I’d recommend purchasing a camping chair from Argos and sitting there while the work is carried out then subsequently inspect every inch of the job, all around the windscreen and where the scuttle panel meets the glass. Then have the bonnet up and check everything is in place before signing it off.
Better still take pictures or video of how it was before the work was done so you can be absolutely certain. I also know that these issues aren’t just a characteristic of having a screen replaced because last time at National Windscreens there were no issues.
They were featured on Watchdog a few weeks ago- loads of people are having problems and the issue is that most insurers insist you use them, so they are effectively a monopoly.
I had to have my my car resprayed because the fool that worked for them decided to scratch my car broke various parts of the car they also fuked up when they tried to repair the damage they had done my car was black they sprayed the window surround and fixed the damaged parts brought the car back to me & the colour was a very dark brown
Then had the cheek to blame my car as it was only a few weeks old and they had never worked on one before
To say I gave the numb nuts manager both barrels was an understatement then his boss got it And I told my insurance company they only people who could touch it was the dealer I brought it from
I like the camping chair idea (other stockists blah blah blah) probably sound advise for whenever and whoever does work on your pride and joy.
We repaired the chip in the Astra windscreen (its OK its not a Volvo) with some cheap as chips two pack goo off eBay. Step by step instructions followed and the jobs almost a proper job, you can still see the chip but its sealed from water ingress and ice forming and has been what it is as it is for about 7 years now.
Might be worth a trip to Argos in time for the warranty call out.
Warranty inspection is booked on the 15th as that’s the earliest Saturday they could do. Apparently they bring a new piece of glass and all the things they need in case they need to redo the job. They also check to verify the damage is caused by their work and not other damage to the vehicle. I’ve also requested they send a different technician.
I think all the retaining clips are lost or broken though so it may not be fixable in one visit. Volvo advised that a full set of clips is £10 so that may be an option.
I’ll buy my camping chair at the weekend. Why do people keep wrecking all my things?
Never trusted them after their “chatty” radio adverts came out…
“Mr Miggs had a chip in his screen but chose to ignore a few weeks later it went bang and he ploughed into a primary school killing 126 toddlers…don’t let this hapeen to you call Autocrap today!”
