There are many automotive reasons why an individual would take their vehicle to an auto body shop, and repair is the number one reason. Auto body repair can stem from vandalism, auto accidents, or everyday wear and tear. However, sometimes the repair that is sought is not what always occurs and even worse is that the repair may not even be done correctly and become worse than what you took it in for. If this is the case for you or someone you know, then you will be glad to know that there are a few steps to take when accident repair goes wrong.
Get it all Documented
From the time you take your car in to the time you pick it up you should be documenting the entire process. That way when you begin to hear something failing again or your car acts up as it did before, then you will have a good timeline for the issue. If the problem is a noise then make sure to take video and capture the audio of it. Also, if other family members are involved, then have them also document their experience of it all.
Express your Concerns
After you document that the problem is continuing, you need to make the repair shop aware of the ongoing issue. Most repair shops will provide a guarantee that covers their service and repair. You need to make sure that your shop provides one, and if there is, then ask if they can fix it again. Make sure that their estimate matches what they gave you prior to any work that was begun. If you notice inconsistencies, bring it to the shop’s attention. If you feel like the clerk is not giving you the results you deserve, then request to speak to the shop manager or owner.
Solicit for Money Back
As you speak to the shop manager, it is important to communicate all of the facts, proof, and inquire about how the shop plans to resolve it, whether it is offering to redo repair or refund repair. Explain your concerns and solicit for your money back if a guarantee is not offered. Bring your evidence to light and if their pricing differs from other shops that conduct the same repair.
When you do this, you can expect the repair shop to answer by making another attempt at the repair for free, by charging less, or in rare cases will decline altogether.
Seek Legal Advice
If all of your reasonable attempts to get the repair redone, fail, then you have the right to seek counsel from an attorney. An attorney will be able to advise you of your options for legal action and begin the process for compensation.
Inquire about a Shop’s Experience
It is never a good idea to go with a collision repair shop whose repair work you have not seen or whose experience you have not learned about, especially if they cannot provide a warrantee or guarantee on the work provided. By taking your vehicle to a shop that will gladly provide evidence of their work and communicate openly, the chances the service and repair is reliable increases.
What It All Boils Down To
Nobody likes to get shoddy service let alone having to get the same repairs done for a second or third time. This is why you need to keep the above points in mind if you ever experience it. Examine the honesty of transparency of the shop, learn of their capabilities and experience, and choose a shop you trust.