After a bus had a slight altercation with my parked car, First has offered to have my car repaired at their expense, but only at Charlotte Motors on Artisan View in Heeley.

Does anyone have any experience good or bad with having body work done at this particular garage?

Only scratches to paint/plastic - no dented panels or anything like that.

My car is only a year old and I am a little anxious that any garage doing work on it is good and competant.

Thanks

Dont know anything about Charlotte motors.I'm not 100% sure about this but If your car is only a year old you might be wise to check if any work done on your car affects the warranty or anything like that............It's just a thought.

That was my first thought. I called the manufacturer and they confirmed that as long as the garage performing the work was 'insurance approved' then it would be fine.

If first have said they will repair your car at thier expense, then they have admitted liability !!

I would be telling them " I accept the offer made to repair the damage your bus caused my car, but I will get 2/3 quotes for the work needed and you can then decide which one you wish me to use. If you find this unacceptable, you will then of course be hearing fom my solicitor/insurance company"

That way you can decide for yourself where to take it for repair

jan2002

I used Charlotte Motors some time ago as they were handy for me and approved by my insurers. They did a fine job and I was happy with it.

That said I don't think First are in a position to force you to have it repaired anywhere. If you are happier going elsewhere then I would suggest you tell First that and if they aren't happy go through your insurers.

However going through your insurers doesn't mean you will get it done at the dealers as insurers tend to have a list of approved garages that they want you to use.

Taking pictures of the car prior to the repair for comparison afterwards is a good idea, even better if you have pictures pre-bump.

Like I said though I had no problems with the work Charlotte Motors did.

Charlotte Motors did a first-class job for me when I had an accident.

I was told to go there by my insurers, and I have no complaints whatsoever.

Thanks everyone. I'm happy to use Charlotte Motors if they do a good job, which it sounds like they do.

First told me that they admit no liability and if I take it to my insurance then they will reject the claim!

i would be careful if you still have bodywork warranty from the manufacturer. this can be invalidated in areas which have been repaired ouside of their network.

if you think they cant check, just see mercedes who have a device to check the thickness of the paint on your car before they do warranty work (and thats from experience).

best to check first, and see if the warranty will be affected.

Yeah, I thought of the bodywork warranty too.

They told me that as long as it's an 'insurance approved' garage doing the work then the warranty would remain intact.

Originally posted by keithmdw
Yeah, I thought of the bodywork warranty too.

They told me that as long as it's an 'insurance approved' garage doing the work then the warranty would remain intact.

who told you that? the car manufacturer or the insurance company? there is a difference between the two. :)

Originally posted by 1Man&hisBMW
who told you that? the car manufacturer or the insurance company? there is a difference between the two. :)
Renault, the car manufacturer.

I would get it in writing if you can! :)

You got a Renault now?

Oh and... Charlotte Motors screwed up a car of my mates and it was illegal ... good luck!

Originally posted by burny
You got a Renault now?
I have had Renault cars for the last 3 years of so now. Not sure I ever mentioned it on here though. Curious!

Originally posted by burny
Oh and... Charlotte Motors screwed up a car of my mates and it was illegal ... good luck!
Please, do tell more...

Well my mates car was broken into by some lads down there not far from Artisan View actually and they bodged both front doors and kicked the hell out of the front of the car damaging underneath and the front bumper.

After phoning Charlotte Motors they asked him to take it down there which he did... think it was about 8 days in total though i'd have to check with him but they basically bodged it with fibreglass and stuff... didn't look at the damage underneath or anything.

When he picked it up it really did look sound... no problems at all - well you couldn't see any!

Then the police stopped him near Meadowhall and the fibreglass had somehow come away and was falling off taking alot of the underneath of the car with it.

Not good... can check with him on exactly what but it werent good and the police obv. weren't impressed with him.