Where do I stand?

Steedie · 30 Aug 2013 at 09:46

Morning all,

I got my XF in February, and upon picking it up, I noticed a number of stone chips in the windscreen, a couple in the drivers line of sight, and some on the passenger side. I told them I'm not happy and want the windscreen replaced on the grounds that the chips in my line of sight are an MOT failure.

They told me to wait until my MOT, which was with Jaguar (I get free MOTs for life so go with them), which was the following month. Come MOT time, it got an advisory for the chips and they just repaired them and told me it's fine.

I wasn't happy at all but they insisted that if they are a problem in later tests, they can replace the windscreen, and if it's deemed an MOT failure next year, again, they'll change it. Unfortunately I didn't get this in writing.

This morning, I woke up to this

In the middle of that crack is the chip, and it just seems to have cracked from the chip outwards overnight. God knows how, there was no frost/cold temperatures overnight. However it happened, it's happened and I'm extremely angry

Can I force them to replace the windscreen or am I stuck with the bill? I know it's only £75 through my insurance, but it's the fact that the chip shouldn't have been there in the first place!

I've got a feeling I'm going to have to pay out as they'll just say that it wasn't their fault that it's cracked

Any advice guys?

Theophany · 30 Aug 2013 at 09:59

Speak to them first and see what they say? No point getting aggro over it until you have an official line from Jag really.

Steedie · 30 Aug 2013 at 10:01

Oh I know, but I wanted to see whether I had a case to go to them before doing so. I don't want to go there and get laughed at

4T5 · 30 Aug 2013 at 10:03

Find out who done the chip repair as it will more than likely be a subby & hopefully he will guarantee the work or at least advise them to change the screen.

Theophany · 30 Aug 2013 at 10:04

Well from what I've seen and heard (my old man has an XFR) the network have been very good in keeping customers happy. Personally, I'd speak to whomever you usually deal with and remind them about their promises and that you understood that the work would be carried out should this situation arise. You took them at their word and in good faith that they would follow through on their promises and now is their opportunity to do so.

Failing that, take off your shirt, flex your guns and adopt your boxing stance.

Steedie · 30 Aug 2013 at 10:12

Cheers guys, I'll ask them about the repairs and who did them. Jaguar have been excellent with me so far to be fair, just this is a massive annoyance

The guns could be an option though

Theophany · 30 Aug 2013 at 10:13

If the guns approach doesn't work, bench one of the mechanics (or better yet, your XF).

Linkex · 30 Aug 2013 at 11:46

Heres what I would do. Figure out what, if anything, I have in writing.
Go down to the dealer and have a friendly chat about the problem. If there were any verbal agreements, I would mention them at this stage.
If they don't resolve it to my satisfaction, I'd go to the 'Ok, but we agreed this in writing' (If I have something)
Failing that, options are to go legal, or to take the hit on insurance excess. Personally I would take the excess unless I had something written in stone that they were failing to live up to.

Finglonga · 30 Aug 2013 at 13:24

Steedie said:
I know it's only £75 through my insurance, but it's the fact that the chip shouldn't have been there in the first place!

Not just that, insurers now ask if you have had any glass claims in the last five years and load the premium accordingly.

Steedie · 30 Aug 2013 at 13:27

Finglonga said:
Not just that, insurers now ask if you have had any glass claims in the last five years and load the premium accordingly.

Really?!

I had to claim for my windscreen 3 years ago as well but I've never been asked about it

Livid!!

Dave L · 30 Aug 2013 at 17:12

Finglonga said:
Not just that, insurers now ask if you have had any glass claims in the last five years and load the premium accordingly.

Whoa! Thats a new one on me!!!

Mr-White · 30 Aug 2013 at 17:25

Finglonga said:
Not just that, insurers now ask if you have had any glass claims in the last five years and load the premium accordingly.

Really ? When I inquired about this with my insurance company (Admiral) they said that it didn't have to be specified when getting a quote.

MW

miniyazz · 30 Aug 2013 at 17:50

Finglonga said:
Not just that, insurers now ask if you have had any glass claims in the last five years and load the premium accordingly.

Not on comparison sites - glass is usually excluded.

Amos91 · 30 Aug 2013 at 20:03

miniyazz said:
Not on comparison sites - glass is usually excluded.

Confused.com asks for glass repair/replacement in the claim section.

Admiral loaded this for me when speculative quoting on confused!

Finglonga · 30 Aug 2013 at 20:07

Churchill, Direct line and Adrian Flux asked if I had any claims for glass excluding chip repairs and I had two I had to declare. That was last November, presume they still do as this......

Orionaut · 30 Aug 2013 at 20:57

Personally I regard windscreens as a "Wear and tear" item! Just like tyres!

Sub-MOT fail damage is like a part worn tyre! One will inevitably accumulate minor damage to a windscreen over time in much the same way as tyres wear.

Sometimes you get the big one and have to buy a new screen! Sometimes you run over a broken bottle! Faeces Happens!

Would you make an insurance claim because of it or just suck it up! I have never understood why people feel that insurance should cover windscreen damage or why a second hand car with (Non MOT-fail) chips in the screen is somehow faulty :confused: