I recently collected my XJ-S Convertible from a local specialist who has gone over the car with a fine toothcomb to make sure everything is 'right' and set to make the car last another 20 years (waxoxl, some new track rod ends, gearbox mount, etc, etc).
It also needed two new rear wings and he did a superb job fitting these (they are huge and specialist things) with photos taken during the job. At the same premises he had a guy who ran his own company doing paintwork, so when the wings were replaced this guy resprayed them. Whilst it was there he also agreed to sand down and polish the whole car and in doing this he skimmed a bit too much off the bonnet on the bonnet bulge edges as the paint beneath was too thin and I contributed towards him to respraying this too. The paint guy I paid seperately.
On excitedly going to collect the gleaming fully sorted car I see the rear wings and bonnet are a different shade of black to the rest of the car. I am not happy and the paint guy's excuse was that he matched the plate to the VIN. I was so disappointed , but was in a rush to get to work so took the car home to mull over.
On closer inspection after I got the car home I saw the quality of the job is very poor; dimples, pinpricks, blobs of green in the black, 'orange peel' in patches and old paint showing through. I wrote a letter to him saying I was not at all happy and I spoke with him on the phone just after I collected the car and he agreed that he would have my car back and he would 'sort it out' All sounds positive and a call was promised after 2 weeks. It has now been 5 and no call back.
In the meantime he and the mechanic have parted company over the paint guy not paying his part of the rent, and the paint guy has just moved to a new premises, but has no land-line and does not return my calls on his mobile. His excuse for not calling me last time was that he could not afford the credit on his phone. Not a great excuse as he can afford rent on a premises I presume.
I want to give him the opportunity to put it all right, but what is the correct proceedure I should follow, so if he won't do it I can get it done elsewhere and bill him for it?
Do I need to get an independent report on the paint job? Where would I go to get that done? How much would it cost? Do I need a solicitors letter to be sent to him?
Any advise would be greatfully appreciated!
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