Machine car wash has just scratched my car

TheKaiserChief

I just got a car wash by a machine here in Galway City a few hours ago. I won't name where. It's only when I got home that I looked at it. It hadn't done a very good job in cleaning it.

However, when I looked closer I realised that the car wash has scratched my car in many places on the bonnet, doors and the rear.

The paint work beforehand was in excellent condition bar some marks on the bumper, but now there are white long swirl scratches from the machine all over it.

I have the receipt, nowhere on it are terms and conditions. But not sure if there are some on the premises. I have used this car washed before and no issues.

I tried to ring them but no answer. I don't have time to call into them this evening and explain it, but I can tomorrow.

I have loads of pics of my car before this as it's my pride and joy, now it's ruined cosmetically and has really devalued and depreciated after this.

Where do I stand on this?

Thanks.

Marcusm

That's a well known effect of using those long term. However your paint must be very thin for it to be visible from a single wash.

TheKaiserChief

Marcusm wrote: »

That's a well known effect of using those long term. However your paint must be very thin for it to be visible from a single wash.

Maybe so, but these marks are all new and are very noticeable. In fact a lot of the paintwork is destroyed after it.

PatM65

Sorry but "pride & joy" and "machine wash" are two things that just don't go together for me.

Hopefully the marks will polish out for you.

godtabh

prove it and away you go

Donal55

Normally a big sign affixed to machine saying: 'not responsible for aerials, mirrors, paint etc'

freshpopcorn

Donal55 wrote: »

Normally a big sign affixed to machine saying: 'not responsible for aerials, mirrors, paint etc'

To the best of my knowledge these signs nearly always exist!

shaunr68

freshpopcorn wrote: »

To the best of my knowledge these signs nearly always exist!

I'd suggest that they have no legal basis though. If the car wash machinery damages your property then they are liable, regardless of what some home made, misspelled sign written on the back of a laminated fag packet might say.

The problem of course is proving that their machinery caused the damage, especially after the event, when management will quite understandably claim that the scratches must have been there beforehand.

PCeeeee

TheKaiserChief wrote: »

I have loads of pics of my car before this as it's my pride and joy, now it's ruined cosmetically and has really devalued and depreciated after this.

Is this the 2003 Civic you have posted about before?

Samuel T. Cogley

Why do I have Denning and some colourful quote in my head - exclusion clauses... but need to go to work. I'm sure someone will be along presently. Small Claims Procedure would apply and would be my suggestion.

Ah yes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Spurling_Ltd_v_Bradshaw

TheKaiserChief

Apologies PatM65, I was in a rush and needed it clean. I don't usually go through it with my car. The reason I trusted it was because I used it before with cars I wasn't too bothered about. I was wrong. Mistake made, point taken.

I went back down since, didn't meet manager but he rang me back and said he is investigating and will be back to me.

There is no disclaimer sign up that I can see, and on my receipt there is no terms and conditions that I can see.

PCeeeee wrote: »

Is this the 2003 Civic you have posted about before?

No.