Has anyone had a customer claim you damaged their vehicle?

[CGlenn]

I am currently dealing with this issue and RLI has said they will cover the damage. I guess it depends who you talk to and what exactly the situation is.

[BestQuality]

I did a retail job on a small chevy P/U. It was a star break. I must confess it was a pain to repair. I met the wife and she showed me the break and signed the liability waiver. (Yes I use one. . .If they refuse to sign I walk) Anyway she signed and as she walked away I got a sinking feeling. . .I should just leave now. Something bad is going to happen.

I dismissed the feeling and went to work. he crack was tough one of the leggs started to run it moved about an inch. I had to drill it and pop a mini Bull-eye. After about 45 minutes I finnally reached the curing stage.

Incidently I used a torch lighter on this job because the wife told me she washed the windshield and I used the lighter to warm the glass and evap the water.

When I was done there was a small black speck in the center of the break but sometimes that happens. I took my money and moved on - By the way I charge 49.00 I don't see how you guys can make a living charging less.

Two weeks later I get a call from the husband - He's Livid yelling I ruined his windshield the repair lloks like hell and no other tech will atempt to fix it now. He demanded I buy him a new windshield.

I told him that the other techs wouldn't fix his windshield because it was already fixed. I further informed him that if he was not happy I would refund his money.

He demanded I send someone to re-fix his windshield. I told him I couldn't do that, unless the damage had spread there was nothing to re-fix. I told him since he was unhappy I would refund his money.

He screamed some more - I Hung up the phone.

He called back - Informed he was going to sue me and take my license and put my family in the street. Yadda Yadda Yadda - He also told me his Family Owns "Bakers Burgers" (It's a local chain, pretty good too)

Needless to say this conversation was going nowhere fast - He finished by telling me he was going to rent a car and sue me for the cost of the rental and a new windshield.

My final response was " I'm sorry you're unhappy, I've allready refunded your money there's nothing else I can do. Have a nice day!"

I hung up on him.

How's that for a story.

I will not buy a windshield for a customer nor will I pay for incidental damage - Unless it is clear I did something stupid. I carry Liabilty insurance from RLI but I won't use it unless I have to.

Most people are reasonable and some people are just un-happy idiots, but I won't part with a dime more than just giving a refund.

Let them sue. It'll have to go to small claims and even if you lose you won't be out more than if you paid up front.

PS - I snuck over to the guys house and took some pictures of his vehicle just in case we go to court - The repair was so good It's better than the picture I use in my advertising.


http://WWW.BestQualityGlassRepair.com

[GlassStarz]

The sad part is he probably railed at the wife twice as bad as he did you some people are jerks and also some of our competitors are quick to throw the "Thats an aweful repair" card it somehow makes them feel bigger but they only suceed in making people distrust our industry. People who bad talk me get a visit everytime and I guarentee its the last time