The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

So need a new windscreen on the Superb, small stone chip and crack, one of those things. Simple, or so I thought.

I have to use Autoglass who confirmed that they won't fit a genuine Skoda screen, Skoda said if you don't fit a genuine screen your cars warranty is invalidated. This makes sense, if a water leak caused by a badly fitting windscreen screws up your electrics why should that be covered under warranty. A quick scan of some VW and Skoda forums confirms this happens A LOT and that's on cars with non heated screens!!

Skoda also said that it will need to have a new rain sensor fitted (£206 plus VAT) as they are specially bonded to the screen. Also because the screen is heated (£409 plus VAT for the screen!) and has the radio aerials integrated into it then it has to be correctly connected up and code checked to the car.

I trust the dealer and knowing how these cars work with the CANBUS systems etc... then what's being said by the technician (not a salesperson) I spoke to it all makes sense. He also explained that they take the car to National to have the screen removed and fitted and thats all they do, the dealer does the rest of the work.

Problem is that Swiftcover are insisting that we use Autoglass who obviously can't do the job, if I want to go elsewhere then they will only pay £100.

So I have an insurance provider that provides me with windscreen protection from a company who can't do the job!

The car isn't just some leased company car or financed vehicle that we don't care about, we saved a lot of money to buy it and we intend to keep it so why should I let non genuine parts be fitted to it, it's not like it's 5 or 10 years old.

Hmmmmm, time for a search on consumer rights.

Friends had a screen fitted to their Golf, it leaked and wrecked the electrics. They fought hard eventually settling with Autoglass to write off their car. Only had a couple of screens in my driving career. One on my car and one on the wife's. Both BMW's, neither was a BMW screen but both identical in every way as they were made by Pilkington, just no BMW logo.

Can the 'screen be repaired, as opposed to replaced, without affecting the Skoda warranty?

No fraid not, it has a crack down to the base of the screen.



I have been told to tell that that windscreen replacement is a specialist job that requires a dealer to do.

What was the outcome of this one James?

I have an Octavia which is still under warranty for another 16 months so would be interested to find out should a similar thing happen to me!

Regards

Matt

Hi Matt, yes, I just haven't done anything about it yet!

I managed to speak to swiftcover and the guy told me that I can give National Windscreens a call. I'm going to go down to my local centre in Aldershot though as apparently the call centre staff are appalling.

I shall keep you all updated!

So we have a happy ending, or an ending where I got what I wanted because I stamped my feet and shouted loud enough!

Swiftcover refused to authorise the repair to the car through both Autoglass and National even though we are fully covered and I made sure to follow all procedures (logging calls etc...) saying that the cost of repair was outside of approved limits even though there's nothing in the policy booklet about it!

I eventually spoke to someone who was half decent and they told me that because the claim is so close to the renewal and it is an expensive windscreen that they would delay delay delay until the policy lapsed. They would then simply refuse to pay out even though the original claim to do the windscreen was put in when the policy was live essentially pushing the claim to a new insurer and that there was nothing that she could do.

They got so fed up with me they said that they would only talk to the policyholder which is my wife as it's technically her car, bad move on their part!!

So she just logged a formal complaint, giving all of the call details etc...

About 24 hours later I was called by someone and they told me that as long as I used Autoglass that they would approve the claim. So I thought sod it, I'll try them again, requested a dealer screen rain sensor etc...

Before booking we were careful to ensure that my wife got her proof of no claims printed off before they tried any funny business.

Spoke to someone at Autoglass who had a brain and got everything ordered and booked in, the chap came out on Sunday to do it. I have to say I was very surprised. This guy was extremely professional (he did have a black eye though!!), the correct screen was in the van, didn't need a rain sensor in the end because I have the type that clips to the screen rather than being bonded to it (he explained that some do and some don't).

So now I have a new screen, it doesn't leak and everything works. The DAB radio now gets a better reception strangely!

And we have changed our insurers!

Just need some new wiper blades now.