Garage damaged car door

Low Energy Eng

All,
What are your thoughts/opinions on how I should proceed...
Dropped my car into a garage to get the timing belt done, got a call that evening to say the tb was finished but they have dented the car door and asked me to come look.
The arch that the top of the window slides into was bent downwards in the shape of a V, it was bent about 3-4inches
I was given a temporary car while they said they'd replace it
Spoke to them the next day to see what the status was, I got someone who wasn't to sure but they were going to replace it with one from a brakers, I wasn't to happy about it but if the colour matched I said I'd accept it.
Got a phone call this evening... The car is ready, I asked what exactly they had done...
"Em we weren't happy with the replacement door so we repaired yours."

What are your thoughts?

Now I owe him 100 for the tb, I bought the kit myself from Seat as I wanted original parts so I owe him for the labour...

mickdw

What car is it & how old?

Bring someone with you who can spot this kind of stuff and see if its a suitable repair.

dharn

well they were upfront about it, they could have done a quick bodge job and you might never have noticed it until much too late if it looks ok to you then im sure its ok

Low Energy Eng

mickdw wrote: »

What car is it & how old?

Bring someone with you who can spot this kind of stuff and see if its a suitable repair.

It's a 07 Seat Ibiza

Anan1

I'm not an expert, but I would have thought that bent window frame = new door?

johnos1984

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm not an expert, but I would have thought that bent window frame = new door?

Correct.

Did they cut the frame from another car and weld it on by any chance?

NEW DOOR time I think or good used one

sheesh

Doesn't that mean that now you have an accident damaged door unless they replaced a panel as part of the fix I do not think it is suitable.

Low Energy Eng

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm not an expert, but I would have thought that bent window frame = new door?

Thats what I thought, just need clarification
Its a structural thing then?

johnos1984

Low Energy Eng wrote: »

Thats what I thought, just need clarification
Its a structural thing then?

Yep.

Door frame and door skins can be purchased seperately for cars if the damage is superficial.

The frame must be straight otherwise you will have water leaks, wind noise and possibly a weakened door in the event of an accident. The door could flex and pop open in a crash or be difficult to open afterwards

working fool

well they where honest and told you about the damage .
if the repair is good enough you should offer to pay 50% for the origonal work done .
a lot of dents can be teased out by paintless dent repair now .
maybe get another dealer to look over the repiar

Low Energy Eng

johnos1984 wrote: »

Yep.

Door frame and door skins can be purchased seperately for cars if the damage is superficial.

The frame must be straight otherwise you will have water leaks, wind noise and possibly a weakened door in the event of an accident. The door could flex and pop open in a crash or be difficult to open afterwards

There is nothing more annoying than wind noise (apparent from the weakened door in an accident )
So it would be reasonable to insist they replace the frame, not the entire door?

Anan1

Low Energy Eng wrote: »

There is nothing more annoying than wind noise (apparent from the weakened door in an accident )
So it would be reasonable to insist they replace the frame, not the entire door?

If it were my car, i'd want a new door. New as in new.;)

Edit: BTW, if you have any doubts about their ability/willingness to do the job properly, you're perfectly entitled to bring it elsewhere. They have no automatic right to be allowed to fix it themselves.

L-M

Anan1 wrote: »

If it were my car, i'd want a new door. New as in new.;)

Why? What's wrong with a door from a scrappy/ a painted used one?

We're all going through though times, I wouldn't be forcing that kinda of thing on a garage when a used one would do they job IMO

-Chris-

Any pics OP? I'd be interested to see exactly where/how bad it is!

Shattered Dreamer

They can't charge you for damage they caused, that would be illegal. Talk to Citizens advice if you the garage tell you otherwise.

Low Energy Eng

Went to view the repair job and told them I wasn't happy with the result some of the welds had split not only at the top of the door but down towards the door panel and there was a slight warp on the door frame, I was pretty annoyed they tried to flog it off the way it was repaired, but they've agreed to replace the door now.

Ive no pics I'm afraid, sorry

Anan1

Low Energy Eng wrote: »

Went to view the repair job and told them I wasn't happy with the result some of the welds had split not only at the top of the door but down towards the door panel and there was a slight warp on the door frame, I was pretty annoyed they tried to flog it off the way it was repaired, but they've agreed to replace the door now.

Ive no pics I'm afraid, sorry

Are you sure you're happy for them to do the work? After what you've told us so far, i'd have my reservations.

Low Energy Eng

Anan,

They've lent me a megane to get me by, if I'm to take my car from their forcourt I've a feeling they might try wash their hands off it. At least if I have the megane I have something of theirs that would influence them in getting the job sorted.
I'm also thinking leaving it with another garage would get quite awkward, I'd have to be getting money from one garage to pay another and I'd be the middle man, unfortunately I see this being very messy.
So I've made a point that they wont be getting their car back until I'm satisfied.