Workshop In Townsville (shonks)

[Guest 90gtr-x]

Just thought I would share my experience with all in relation to recent accident damage repair done by a workshop here in Townsville in the hope that it will save someone else getting stung by these shonks

I got a quote from them to replace the front bar which was damaged when I ran over a dead roo, I was claiming under my * insurance policy and as per most replacement parts on the car I wanted a new bar rather than fixing the broken one, Not an unreasonable request you would think and they went ahead and bought it from parts supplier.

Monday 18 Sep 06

My Brother in law and Wife dropped the car down on Monday around 11am.

Tuesday 19 Sep 06

Received a call from Manager at the workshop advising that they had run into a problem with the bar and that it didn’t fit. He asked that I come down and have a look.

Manager showed me that because I had the intercooler mounted behind the support that they could not remove the support to fit the new bar, he also showed me that the bar was quite poorly made and advised that the insurance company would not pay for the massaging of the bar into an acceptable condition. He suggested that they could repair the existing bar to which I advised that I did not want a broken bar put back on the car. He then went on to point out that the indicators were different, I advised that I would source the correct ones.

Manager advised that he would get back onto the insurance company and the parts supplier to determine the next course of action and come back to me to advise before any work was done.

Thursday 21 Sep 06

I have heard nothing from the workshop so have sent the following email:

G'day manager,

Just wondering what is the latest re the front bar dilema with my car. I have spoken with the supplier and expressed my dissatisfaction with the bar and advised that you would be in contact with him. I have done a bit of research into the fitment of the front bars on these cars through Ausrotary forum and it would appear that most if not all aftermarket bars require the front bar support to be removed as you suggested.

I am no expert on mounting these but would it be possible to cut the fibreglass ducts to fit in to the bar, the large middle one is way to deep at the moment to enable the intercooler to obtain clean draft even with the drawthrough fans on. Obviously the top of the centre vent will need to be cut so that the intercooler can draw air through. A simple steel bracket could then be fabricated and bolted to the centre vent upright on either side and then to the front bar support. The stock brake ducting can be removed in favour of the new bar as I will fabricate an alternate system when I get the car back. I can supply series 5 indicators to fit the bar, obviously this is not the insurers problem. Can you let me know if the headlight flasher panels fit the bar as I will source these also if they don't.

I remember that you told me there was a bit of fat built into the quote to massage the fibreglass bar as they were never supplied perfect. But this bar from my point of view should be replaced at the suppliers expense as it looks like a crap job and I wouldnt be happy with any less than a perfect job. Its his problem, not Yours, mine or the insurance company's. He told me that they were made in China but I got the feeling that there were good and bad jobs, this bar is obviously BAD.

Friday 22 Sep 06

Still no response, I will give the workshop until Monday and then ring them.

Monday 25 Sep 06

Rang the workshop this morning to ask what was the latest update on my car. Receptionist asked if that was the one with the problem with the front bar. She went away to ask then rang me back to advise that the old bar had been repaired and that it was just waiting for paint. I asked her who authorised the repair as I had discussed the matter with the manager and he was going to get back to me. She advised that the manager had received authorisation from the * Assessor to proceed with the repair to the old bar.

I rang the insurance company, and advised that I was not happy with this situation, and asked why I was not consulted. The the insurance company rep read out a conversation that Assessor had written re conversation he had had with the manager. It quoted the manager as saying that I had asked for the new front bar, which is correct, and that if there were any additional costs on top of the quote that they were to be borne by me, which I have already stated is not a problem. Assessor also wrote that the manager would contact me to advise this.

Rang back the manager, who reiterated that the Assessor had told them to proceed and he thought from discussion with manager that I had approved of this and that is why they didn’t ring. Advised the manager that this was not the case and why would it be, when I had sent the email to them on Thursday which he then told me he had read. Asked him why this had not been acted upon and he told me that they didn’t do modifications to vehicles. I told him that they should have made me aware of this last Tuesday and I would have taken the vehicle elsewhere. He then went onto say that the quote was not for the new front bar but to get the new spoiler. Advised the manager that this was not the case and I had told him that I could not source this, ( seems he now has selective memory loss) and as such had sourced a similar replacement which he has then quoted on telling me that there was some fat in the quote as no Fibreglass panel was supplied in perfect form.

The manager went onto say that the bar that was supplied was sub standard and needed work and as such they approached the insurance company assessor who told them to repair the old bar.

I have again rang the insurance company and asked for the assessor to contact me as someone here is lying trying to save themselves..I am NOT happy.

Wednesday 27 Sep 06

The insurance company assessor has returned my call and advised that he never told the workshop to go ahead with the repair and that they have subsequently made the decision to do the repair the way that they wanted to rather than how me (the customer) wanted it done with new parts. Assessor has told me that He will give me the front bar but could do nothing about the workshop doing the repair as they wanted. He told me that it would take a couple of days to get the car back..So I left it to hear from the workshop.

Thursday 5 Oct 06

Rang the workshop as I have heard nothing from them and feel quite annoyed I have now decided that I will take the car to another shop to have the front bar done the way I want it but as a matter of principle I am going to make sure the repair is spot on even if it will be coming straight off once I get it. Anyway spoke to the receptionist who told me that the car was actually ready to pick up. So I went down with my wife to pay the excess and pickup the car and the front bar. As soon as i drove in I could see that the front bar was a different shade of white than the rest of the car and they had not put the rubber seal into place properly when they had bolted it back together. I pointed this out to the owner, who arrogantly suggested that there was not a problem...I mean you should see the difference it stands out very noticeably.

I told him that he had better fix it and afetr some argument he agreed that they would repaint it and fix where it had not been fitted properley, he told me it would be ready next week.

Monday 23rd Oct 06

Still no word from the workshop so I rang them to be told by owner/manager that they were not going to repaint it and had buffed the car instead, in fact they had not even rectified the fitment. I told him that I was sending my wife down to pickup the front bar, I was taking it to another shop. My wife went down and they refused to let her have it as I hadn't paid the excess of $500-00 even though they still had my car. These guys are bloody fools as well as liars. I rang the insurance company to ask what I could do about it and they told me that they would get the assessor to ring me.

Wednesday 25th Oct 06

Still no word from the assessor so I got back onto the insurance company, finally spoke to assessor who advised that he had spoken with the manager at the workshop and they told him that colour does match which I know it does not. Assessor has now told me to pick the car and the new front bar up and pay the excess which I am not happy about as the workshop have not preformed any repair that I have asked for. But I see no alternative exept in having the satisfaction of knowing that word of mouth is the best weapon against this business and the number of car forums with enthusiasts like us that I can tell about my story and hopefully keep others away from these shonks.

Names removed - Revhead

[raZ1911]

thats some bad luck, the workshop sounds botchy

Edited - Revhead

[predator]

I am not so sure here.. It looks like the insurance company is the one pressuring the shop not too proceed with the repairs as they do not think that the chosen part by the customer is not to their standards. To me, I'd be more pissed with them?

There may also be some issues with the shop (or it seems the insurance company) not wanting to modify the bar, or in any way touch something that may come back to haunt them if anything else happened. As an example, there was a later accident, in which the modified bar was found to be partiarly responsible. Who was responsible for modifying said bar? at the end of the day, probably the original body shop, or would it be the insurance company for authorising this change? Either way, for whoever makes the decision, it's a big risk.

A grey area in most ways.

Sorry mate, but given the tone of the thread I've removed the insurer's name too - Revhead

[Mud]

Hard luck mate.

When in Townsville I recommend and use Kev Douglas for all my crash repairs.

[arbess]

sounds like some bad luck mate. there is a few out there just to make a buck, and same with insurers.

hope you get satisfaction somehow...

[Revhead]

Topic cleaned up and business names removed as per the forum guidelines. If you have to discuss names, keep them to PM.

[shanef]

have you contacted a solicitor? That may well be ur next course of action

[Guest 90gtr-x]

Hard luck mate.

When in Townsville I recommend and use Kev Douglas for all my crash repairs.

Mate can you let me know where this guy is, what is the name of his shop as I will need to take the car to someone that CAN do as I ask. Shannons are not impressed with workshop (pm me and I will let you know who they are) and are sending another assessor out to inspect the so called repair, I am sure he will have no trouble identifying the problem when I lift the roller door.

The workshop is the biggest here in Townsville and I would think that they would be protective of their reputation..Word of mouth is a strong recommendation or deterent.

Edited October 26, 2006 by 90gtr-x