Last year, after having a car accident, I had to replace most of the body kit. Due to the body kit parts supplied unpainted, I’ve decided to re-paint the whole car into totally different custom colour. As most of you know.
Due to multiple delays in paint job, the paint job wasn’t 100% satisfactory, as no windows were taken out to paint the car as it should be, there were unpolished patches left on the rear spoiler, front bumper, the rubber round every window looked like it was melted/ cutted. The door handles from inside were missed and left unpainted. As we were running out of time, the car was not in a driveable condition and we had to deliver it on a trailer to the show. After the show it was taken back to the garage to put all the parts together and finish outstanding job. In total the whole process took almost 4 months, instead of 3-4 weeks.
The budget was discussed before hand - £3,000. I’ve been quoted at 2 different companies £2,500.
At the end of the paint job they have demanded payment of £7,000 in cash – which I paid, though I was very shocked to hear the total amount. As soon as the payment was done – they released the car, which was still finished unsatisfactory. But they were keep promising to take it back as soon as they’ll be a bit more free to put the car right. Which never happened. Later no one was taken my calls, or returning them.
After 4 months – I started noticing some strange marks on my car. On the roof and sides of the car, there started appearing some sort of air bubbles, under the paint. Obviously, when driving this sport car – some parts (as in a normal car too) might flex during driving. So, where’s the side skirts were attached to the body – the paint cracked. Which suggested, that those parts were not painted separately but as a whole. After hot weather started it became even worth, the paint on the top of the roof started literally peeling off as a one big lump of laquer.. I’ve been told before, that they painted and put a lot of coats of paint/ glitter/ laquer – something like about 40 ! coats.
Obviously, because it wasn’t done properly, due to weather conditions – its started to show up.
So I told them to sort my car out and I did say that I’m not paying anything. I’ve never seen anywhere, that people spend £7,000 on paint job, wait for it to peel off and pay another £2,000 to put it right again. I understand, that its quiet a good way to ‘earn’ money – though its not what should be done under Trading Standards rules.
Now, in the last few weeks, my car stays outside, covered with some piece of old plastic cover with lots of big holes in it. As my car has windows taken out, and the paint stripped to the bare metal – after rainy long days, the carpets in the car were wet, outside there some patches of rust started to show up. Inside of the car is filthy dirty, and in general the car is in a very poor condition.
You could imagine what I feel like, those people have no shame whatsoever. I had no other choice but to speak to my friends. Who offered me to come with me and talk to the paint guy. He had a chat with him as man to man, and the paint guy has agreed that the car should be done urgently, he promised that my car will be back into workshop on the 4th of Aug and be ready to collect on the 20th of August. His writing on his personal business card, does confirms that. On that day, the 2nd of August – I took pictures of car sitting outside, to show in what condition it is after all these months, the look of the plastic cover that does nothing to protect from weather.
On the evening of 4th of Aug, I learned that my car still outside and still covered with that useless piece of plastic. When I asked, why my car is still outside, he replied that I’ll find out why from a letter from his solicitor. Knowing that I’m going away, I had to wait till I get back. As soon as I got back – I checked my post box, to find out a letter from him, not a solicitor – where his ridiculous statement says that I have to pay £2,000 (that was never discussed or agreed in 1st place) and where he says he painted my car but its not allowed to drive???... In his words, its looks like I should have just looked at my car and use my legs or imagination if I need to get to some places???
In his letter he wrote: ‘However this car clearly was used as on road vehicle’… WTF?? Should I have been using it as an off road helicopter??
Its look like he’s trying to blackmail me – perfectly knowing that the car is now not in a drivable condition he puts out an ultimatum that I have to pay another £2,000??
Now I collected my car last week.. It broke my heart when I saw it again..
See it for your self..
I’m with no car since 25th of April, so almost 5months now..:thumbdown
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