Mid-week Rant

[Connor]

How the f*ck could you not notice that from the drivers seat?

[C.A.R.]

Hey! It was raining lol, it's pretty hard to see when the wipers are going back and forth!

We've had storms and that recently, then glorious sunshine, then storms.. Very tropical. Not good being in an office in this weather

[C.A.R.]

Shit just got complex, yo'

So, got a phonecall from the MD following my post on Pistonheads. Very apologetic etc. Says they will find out about whether my insurance covers windscreen replacement or not and they will help me out with my excess. Fair play!

I check with my insurance co...

Sure enough I have windscreen cover. £80 excess.

Phone matey boy up to let him know.

Calls me back. "We'll replace your windscreen for £40 + VAT, just don't mention anything on Pistonheads"

Hmmm.

Now, am I being a c*nt or does that seem a bit naff? Helping me out with my excess I had assumed meant they would pay the £70-80 fee. As I said, I was going to replace the windscreen anyway, but at £40+VAT @ 20% he's really only offering me - wait for it - £32.00. WOW! Amazing! Where do I sign?!

No, wait a minute.

I'll pay VAT but he won't be. It's still going via my insurance company, so what have I really gained? The van now definitely added to my collection of stone chips as per the previous picture, so I've not really done anything wrong. Imagine how peeved I would be if this was a brand-new windscreen and this was the only chip in it?

What do you think? Am I being unreasonable? I don't think I should be getting charged anything for damages which I'm not responsible for, just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Toms306]

You already know what I think so I won't go there again lol.

But you say damages you're not responsible for.......but surely you're never responsible for stone chips on your windscreen/bonnet...... The van driver isn't really responsible either.....I'm sure he didn't aim the stone.

You were gonna change the window anyway as you already said...now you've got half the money off it......IMO take that.

[Connor]

I have no idea what the other chips are like, but for ny point ill assume they're only small and would pass a mot, therefore you won't need to replace it, therefore you don't have to spend any money, but that chip up there looks to be in "zone a" or very close and looks to be bigger than the 5mm allowed. So therefore that chip is the only reason you NEED to get the windscreen replaced

[C.A.R.]

I see your point Tom - however it's still £48 I don't have when I'm due to move out with my girlfriend in 2 weeks time at massive expense and the car is overdue a service!

Connor - Yes the previous chips were one in each lower corner of the screen and one 2/3rds of the way up the passenger side, this one is dead central! All the others were outside the sweep of the drivers' side wiper blade. This isn't.

One part of me feels bad but the other part thinks, wtaf, I don't deserve this sh*t, I knew I needed a new windscreen in the future but for the near future it would've done fine - Would've passed MOTs as pointed out.

[Connor]

Well even in zone b, its too big, so its still a fail. Id get them to fit a new windscreen without going through your insurance, as i think you can only claim for a windscreen/window once... And what happens if you get another chip after a new one is fitted? You have to foot the bill for another new windscreen

[Scott]

Say no mate, he's hoping you'll be happy with something rather than nothing and is trying his luck. As said, the drivers are the face of the company, and the PR implications of a National Windscreens company vehicle driving dangerously across hatched markings causing stone chips to other road users' windscreens is far worse than the £40 + VAT he's offering. You've already caused enough of a stink by putting it up on forums to the point that he's called apologising. As much as you could be lying about it, you've not called them up demanding they fix it, you've provided details and sent them a polite email to inform them.

I'm summary, tell them to f*ck their couch.

[Connor]

Exactly, the fact that you've been asked to not post about it, means you have the upper hand

[4WayDiablo]

Well if he said I'll do this and that but DONT mention it on PH forum then your one up
He's given his game away a little I think
He's worried about the implications if it even gets semi viral and covers a few forums bringing his company into a bad light
I'd try take it further like you say its not your fault

On the other side they could shrug it off and just say...pove it was him,prove that van drove like he did. And you couldn't really answer

[Jenkosowls]

Even if he turns round and says prove it was us there is still the ops thread on the forums and they cant afford even just one person to doubt the company as that person then tells another and so on. It's the age old Chinese whispers that spread and make things complicated

I think it's cheeky saying don't mention anything else where! Just kicked himself in the balls there!

[Scott]

Even if he turns round and says prove it was us there is still the ops thread on the forums and they cant afford even just one person to doubt the company as thatvone person then tells anither and so on. It's the age old Chinese whispers that spread and make things complicated

I think it's cheeky saying don't mention anything else where! Just kicked himself in the balls there!

I heard the driver was also doing 80 in a 20 past a school while on the phone

[Jonny b]

We have a sticker on the back of our van, if anyone's driving like a tit then we will bollock them but I had someone phone up complaining that he was cut up and given a load of abuse, well it was me driving (director) basically the knob tried to push in and I didnt let him, then he gave me loads of tailgating flashing of lights gesturing me to pull over!!!! So I did when I got out and ran to his car was going to knock him out, he quickly locked his doors and sped of ha ha hard man, so it can be abused, think he just felt a bit of a pussy and thought I'll have him

[Dum-Dum]

I imagine you'd be the first person to moan if the man turned up late to fill your crack.

Hahahaha PMSLMFAO

Id rep you so hard for the above if I could

[Jonny81191]

I'd make him replace the screen FOC, at your convenience, otherwise you'll put it all over the internet!

[C.A.R.]

On the other side they could shrug it off and just say...pove it was him,prove that van drove like he did. And you couldn't really answer

You say "prove it" but I have this email from their Head Office and here is an extract...

Within an hour of receiving your e-mail, the driver had been identified and questioned regarding the driving complaint. He was aware that the incident had taken place and has been left in no doubt that such behavior is not acceptable.

:?

Got an email from his receptionist, saying that she will get him to call back this morning. Basically going to grovell, I simply can't afford £48 this month what with the big move planned for 2 weeks time and other things (anniversary being another!)

[Niall]

Anniversary? Are you supposed to spend money on them things?

[C.A.R.]

Yea man, if you value your bollocks?

I am constantly putting up with her shit proclaiming that I'm not 'romantic enough' so hopefully I'll manage to shut the grumpy cow up by surprising her on our anniversary. Who knows. Women are very hard to please.

[C.A.R.]

Right, had another response.

Now offering to 'repair' the chip, if it's feasible.

Not sure what to say to be honest. The stance changed from, "we'll sort out your excess" to "we'll cover under half of it" to "we'll repair the chip FOC"

All the while I've said nothing more on PistonHeads.

Really not sure what to go back with. A pitchfork?

[Jonny b]

f*ck that I'd want a new screen or nothing, and carry on posting on piston heads

[C.A.R.]

Here's a link to the PistonHeads thread

[Ben Jay]

That lepton Guy is a proper knob! lol

[C.A.R.]

That lepton Guy is a proper knob! lol

Tell me about it, I just ripped his post apart.

[mark_airey]

That lepton Guy is a proper knob! lol

Tell me about it, I just ripped his post apart.

he deserves several had punches to his face TBH! what a prick he is though! I bet he's 36, drives a 1.1 fiesta and lives with his mum...............

[Niall]

Tell me about it, I just ripped his post apart.

he deserves several had punches to his face TBH! what a prick he is though! I bet he's 36, drives a 1.1 fiesta and lives with his mum...............

Nah BMW driver I reckon. Wears a cheap shirt, lary tie and fake oakleys everywhere he goes!

[C.A.R.]

Fookin' ell, took all bank holiday weekend to get a reply, but finally got a sarcastic response this lunchtime.

This included such gems as this =

"Windscreen damage is a fact of life; it happens all the time otherwise we would not have a business. Would you expect a bodyshop to repair the damage to your car if one of their vans had kicked up a stone causing a paint chip on your bonnet? Would you expect another driver to pay for a replacement windscreen if you had noted their registration number when their vehicle had flicked up a stone which had chipped your windscreen?"

Now, I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that having already admitted to driving over a cross-hatched area of road not intended for driving over, the resultant damage to my car isn't just a 'fact of life' it's the result of someone elses' lack of patience and decision to drive dangerously.

I find that reply a little bit sarcastic, do you? I've replied anyway, stating that if it hadn't have been a company van I'd have just supplied the local Police authority with the numberplate so they could pursue the driver for driving without due care and attention or whatever.

I'll keep you posted anyways.

[declantg]

Thats extremely sarcastic, when i worked in customer services if i sent a reply like that i would get fired on the spot.

Is this the boss speaking to you know?

and if they have admitted to the driving with no care etc etc then they are surely on grounds to be done for it.

Post the rest of the message?

[Niall]

Just keep up with the threats of posting these things all over the Internet. That's the beauty of social networking and forums. It can very easily destroy the reputation of a business in hours!
Personally I think they are wankers after the way they repaired a stone chip on my car. All you need is to get a load of people like me to put this on the net and before you know it, there rep is going right down hill!

[Connor]

Id post that on piston heads, as he clearly didn't like you bringing it up on there

[Scott]

As above. That's a pretty rude response considering you were polite in your initial contact and didn't actually expect them to do anything, you were merely informing them of an employee poorly representing their company in a company vehicle.

Also mention you were asked not to post it on PistonHeads.