Pedders Dandenong

[racecreed]

I went to pedders dandenong to replace brake pads and one of the employees or the owner himself crashed my car into a metal bench after they finished the job.

They tried to tape it up so I can drive it. Crazy, I ended up with no car maybe for months now and need public transport.

I wouldn't go there anymore for sure, the owner Colin even tried to persuade me to drive the car home with damaged hood grille bumper and side panel. I refused. Colin even told me this accident in his workshop is a regular thing happens every 3 or 4 months. Which is a lie.

I am thinking whether I need to get a solicitor or not. As Colin is getting a friend to panel beat the car and I don't trust the friend.

My car resale value is going to be low. I hope you all avoid pedders dandenong. My christmas and new year plans are ruined now.

[mad082]

Do you have insurance? If so, get it processed through them so you get the repairs done properly.

How bad is the damage? If it is only minor panel damage then it should be fine to drive as is. they would've had to have hit the bench pretty hard to do any serious damage. I hate to say it, but it kind of sounds like you are over reacting a bit. They would've had to have hit the bench at high speed to make it so you are without a car for a few months

And find out who the friend is. If they work for a panel shop then the work should be done to a reasonable standard.

I doubt your resale will be affected very much unless your car is absolutely perfect and the damage is major. There are plenty of cars getting around that have been crashed that you would never know they had.

[mad082]

Oh and the cost if a solicitor would probably be more than the cost of the repairs.

[D_I_F]

Soo you can't drive it because they have damaged suspension?

What's the issue?

Drive it to your panel beater get a quote send the workshop that damaged your car a copy with a letter of demand or better yet if you're insured lodge a claim.

Once it's fixed it will make no difference to your resale value if they do a good job.

[Serpandrew]

photos of the damage?

[Frosty]

photos of the damage? if its as bad as you say they are entitled to repair the damage

[luke gtr]

Even contact their head office and see what they say.

they should have managers who deal with this kind of thing.

[SMOKEYV35]

Give them the option - either say that you'll go and get three quotes, and they can chose the cheapest - and keep it out of insurance.

OR

If you have full insurance, contact them and explain what has happened - if the owner has admitted he is at fault then it's a simple matter of getting your car repaired through the normal channels and your insurance company will waive your excess and pursue Pedders (their insurance company) for the damages.

Whatever you do, don't get it done through 'his mates' - you will guaranteed get the cheapest patch up job going, and if it's not done through insurance you won't get a warranty on the repairs.

I like the first option - It's a win/win. You can chose a reputable panel shop, and Pedders don't take a hit on their insurance premium. But if they want to play hard ball, then just get your insurance company involved and they can take care of the headaches - after all, that's what you pay them for remember?

P.S. Most unusual first post ever.

Edited December 17, 2012 by SMOKEYC34

[Cowboy1600]

I can see why he doesn't want to drive it. the moment he takes it out of the shop they will turn around and say it was fine when he left.

I would get in writing from the owner that the damage was done by them. once got, take it away, go to a panel beater you want and get a quote. Send him the quote.

Alternatively, as has been said, simply contact your insurance company and give it to them to handle assuming you have one, of course.

[racecreed]

After I heard the big crash at the waiting room the whole family took nearly an hour to tell me.

they obviously tried to patch up the car so it looked less damaged and the owner just calmly acted as if it is not a major thing he said he damaged customers car once a month lol.

But it took nearly 4 months before I got back the car and many phone calls

and I still had to pay for the brake pads when I picked up the car.

If I took the car home as suggested by the owner, I am sure he would deny everything or claimed for less damage.

The new pedders brake pads are squeally as well.

And the panel install is not as spot on as the factory install,

and the foam behind the front bumper is missing

It must had been thrown out when it broke apart after the crash.

Just beware if you go to fix your car this thing can happen to anyone and they don't care about you as customers.

Even pedders head office only told me it can't do anything because all it does just to provide a licence but everything else is in the hands of the licencees to come good.

I wouldn't go back that is for sure.

[Cowboy1600]

I feel that you simply handled this very poorly. If you have insurance, you should have just got them onto it.

If not, I would have taken photos of it, got them to sign a bit of paper stating they were responsible for the damage, then taken it to a panel beater of your choice, got a quote and handed it to Pedders to resolve. There's no way you should have let them take care of it.

But you live and you learn.

Actually, I imagine by now you have some form of paper work where they have basically admitted liability due to the fact they have at least attempted to fix it. I'd go back to them, tell them the job they did was rubbish and you will be going to your panel beater and getting a quote to fix it properly. They will then be presented with the quote and expected to pay it, lest they end up in court.

[Trex]

^^ this. If you don't have anything stating that they were liable for the accident, you don't have anything.

But if you do. They have the right the fix it a second time, to your standard.

[GTR-N1]

It's taken a year and a half to come back to SAU, when in fact you received perfectly good advice in the first place.

To recap...

1) get proof and/or acknowledgement that damage was done onsite by a staff member

2) Get your own insurance company to fix your car whilst the company sees the workshop at fault

3) your insurance company will claim from the workshop's insurance company or from the workshop itself if their insurance has lapsed

NB #3) is what Pedders D'nong was most afraid of!

[ARTZ]

No Bull!