Miata Mailing List: November 1995, Message #138
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   From: kjwalker@rsoc.rockwell.com
Subject: Bad, Bad, Body Shop
   Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 16:59:21 -0500

     Excuse me while I vent a little... 
     
                   << AARRrrghgghghgh   #@%#$#!*&  >>
     
     Thanks.
     
     After I got TIC-TAC back from the dealership (remember the pothole 
     from hell?) The original mud flap (which had been cracked in the 
     accident) was jerry-rigged back in place until my new one could come 
     in.  Well, my new one came in today, and boy was I pi**ed when I took 
     off the old one...
     
     Two HUGE scratches were still there (already starting to rust) where 
     the mudflap damaged the fender when the wheel slammed into it, and it 
     turns out that the fender is bent because the new mud flap's holes and 
     screws don't match the holes in the fender unless you bend the mudflap 
     (thus the crack in the old one).
     
     Anyway, I drove it straight to the body shop that the dealership uses 
     (didn't even bother with the dealer  ...yet) and showed it to them.  
     Their response?  "Well, we knew the mudflap would cover them 
     scratches, so we didn't bother with them."  I was furious.  I asked 
     him about straightening the fender down there and he said, "Well, I 
     can get a mallet and see what we can do!"
     
     BARBARIC...  Insolent... Crude... Jeannie, please help me with further 
     words to describe...
     
     The body shop (League City Body Shop on Hwy 518) pointed fingers at 
     the Dealership's QA dept.  I told them that I didn't buy that and that 
     they should stand by their work.  They are willing to try and fix it 
     since its the insurance company that will pay them (they'll just open 
     another "discovered damage" form I guess).
     
     My dilemma:  If I go to a reputable shop, I have to pay since it would 
     be a "new claim."  If I take it back to League City, my insurance 
     would cover it as an extension of the first claim, but I don't want 
     those cavemen to touch my car.
     
     Any suggestions?
     
     kjw &
     TIC-TAC