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Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 12:02 pm
by jeff jackson
Hi all,
I need my windscreen replacing on my Plus 2. I am insured via Peter James with KGM insurance.
Due to a mistake, KGM put me through to AA Windscreens as their "approved supplier"
I spoke to AA about the glass (top tinted blue) and the trim, including the corner pieces. This I did on 2nd May.
The chap was going to phone back to confirm that the glass and trim was in stock. He did this on the Tuesday, and confirmed they would be coming to fit the screen on the 9th May. I had a day off work and waited.
I then had a phone call around 11 am saying they were not coming because they had "lost" the glass.
OK, so I arrange for my wife to have a day off work and be in for the following Friday 16th May. I phoned on Tuesday and Thursday to confirm that they will be turning up on the Friday.
1pm Friday, my wife gets a call to say they are not turning up because they had "lost" the glass.
As you can imagine I am quite irritated, I have to cancel the MOT and arranged for them to come today. So I have another day off work and wait. I get a phone call at 11:30 today to say they are not coming because they have "lost" the glass.
I suppose after this rant I want to make you all aware of the total and utter incompetence of this bunch of cowboys. I want you all to be aware that if any of your insurers (for your daily driver or for the Lotus) say that they have AA Windscreens as their approved supplier you should avoid them.
This is not a reflection on Peter James, I have had very good service from them, it was a slight mistake with the insurer KGM putting me through to the AA. The approved supplier to KGM is National Windscreens!
I have now phoned National to get the car booked in.
Lets see what happens now!

Kind regards
Jeff 72+2

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 12:12 pm
by ken ob
Very annoying.
Presumably 'lost the glass' means they cannot locate a screen.

Ken

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 1:09 pm
by alan
i hope they can do a better job than CARGLASS who are also crap :mrgreen:

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 3:33 pm
by 69S4
It amazes me that they could even find it before they lost it. What are the odds they'd have turned up with a M100 screen anyway.

All of the big national companies are less than useless if you have anything slightly unusual and they're set up to deal with company fleets with the bills going through an insurance company. Some low life put a hammer through the rear screen of my (old) LR Discovery this time last year and Autoglass wanted two weeks and ?950 to replace it. When I said it would be me paying they said ?650 if you pay now but it'll still be two weeks. Like the old News of the World reporters I made my excuses and left.

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 4:08 pm
by elansprint
Jeff have had the same problem with Ginetta but fortunately one of our members George Douglas owns Mobile Windsreens at Bristol and has helped out many a member
Ian

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 6:52 pm
by jeff jackson
Hi Ian,
It's encouraging there is someone around who is helpful.
Unfortunately I am in Dorset without an MOT - Needs a windscreen, so I can't get to Bristol.
Worth bearing in mind though.
Thanks
Jeff

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 8:20 pm
by Awelon1
Hi All
My experience of AA windscreens is excellent. Windscreen cracked early this year,insurance claim made and AA windscreens made contact. Ascertained (I)model 2S 130/5, (2) tint colour and (3) the fact that it was a bonded windscreen. Windscreen delivered two days later by AA guy who confirmed that it needed their specialist classic fitter to come and fit. Appointment made for their guy to travel from Bristol Area to North Nottinghamshire. Guy arrived on time, inevitably in removing old screen bright trim was damaged, no problem they ordered and paid for new bright trim from Mattys. Guy travelled again from Bristol on agreed date, windscreen and trim fitted. A very professional job by an obviously very experienced guy. Talking to guy was very interesting as he described the many different classic cars he had sorted, travelling over most of the UK.

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Tue May 20, 2014 4:22 pm
by jeff jackson
Forgive me for being cynical, but I did tell AA Windscreens that I would come on to this forum, one that I have been a member of for many years and warn people on here about the total incompetence of AA windscreens, managing to lose the screen for my Elan not once, but three times.
Funny that Awelon1 joined yesterday and says how wonderful AA windscreens are.
Forgive me, but do you work for them?
Jeff 72+2

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Tue May 20, 2014 4:43 pm
by William2
Have you tried Miles Wilkins for your windscreen, I think he normally holds stock??

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Tue May 20, 2014 4:55 pm
by jeff jackson
Now there is a thought. I had forgotten about Miles.
Funnily enough I have just had a worrying call from National, telling me that the windscreen is has to be made to special order and will take 4-6 weeks. Once again, talking to the bloke at National, he doesn't really know what an Elan is. I had to tell him he needs to order the trim as well. He knew nothing of this.
I'm sure Paul Matty or Susan Miller keeps stock as well?
All too late to phone them now of course.
Kind regards
Jeff 72+2

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Tue May 20, 2014 6:58 pm
by Awelon1
In answer to the question; no I do not, and never have, worked for the AA. I posted to the forum for the first time so that other Elan owners are aware that equally the AA are capable of achieving excellence.

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Tue May 20, 2014 8:15 pm
by jeff jackson
Well lucky You.
I have been party to total BS and incompetence from the AA. Once; I can understand - because these things happen. But three times? Come on.
Still find it strange that you only joined the forum yesterday.
I hope you find this forum a useful source of information for your Elan.
Jeff
72 +2 owned for 20 years.

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 12:55 pm
by cal44
Jeff,
in your first rant you referred to the glass company as a bunch of "cowboys".

Here in the America cowboys helped make us great and continue to do so. Come on over for a week of range riding and fence mending......oh' and sleeping on the ground.

Draw....you sidewinder :lol:

mike

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 2:28 pm
by DavidLB
paul matty has a screen fitter near him who travels. they fitted mine ok last year, i was 60 odd miles away

Re: Windscreen Woes UK

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 2:32 pm
by john.p.clegg
Brokeback Mountain?

John :wink: