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[Ironingboard]

Has anyone had any run ins with national windscreens?? I just had my windscreen replaced and I'm not a happy person, there is a 4 mm gap around the outside seal of one side of the windscreen, guy said it didn't matter, the seal was only for show  

The fact that I can push the windscreen down so the gap disappears doesn't seemt worry him and that "me touching it could have damaged it in the first place". Also said the new rubber seal which should have been replaced was damagd in transit........ thing is I seen the guy cutting it to shape and him bitching that he cut it too much  

Compliained to my insurance company and they said to get in touch with national windscreens office to see if they can fix it. 30 mins later same guy phoned me back to say that there was nothing wrong with it, seal was in that state when the car came in

What do I do now, already complained to my insurance company but they will do nothing until monday. Anyone else had a problem getting their windscreen replaced?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Has anyone had any run ins with national windscreens?? I just had my windscreen replaced and I'm not a happy person, there is a 4 mm gap around the outside seal of one side of the windscreen, guy said it didn't matter, the seal was only for show  

The fact that I can push the windscreen down so the gap disappears doesn't seemt worry him and that "me touching it could have damaged it in the first place". Also said the new rubber seal which should have been replaced was damagd in transit........ thing is I seen the guy cutting it to shape and him bitching that he cut it too much  

Compliained to my insurance company and they said to get in touch with national windscreens office to see if they can fix it. 30 mins later same guy phoned me back to say that there was nothing wrong with it, seal was in that state when the car came in

What do I do now, already complained to my insurance company but they will do nothing until monday. Anyone else had a problem getting their windscreen replaced?

Yes.....RAC windscreens......5 goes to get it right.....bloody useless!

The non-gen bits they use dont fit properly!

[Turk]

Call in again and ask to speak with the manager. If he's "not available" then request he contacts you a.s.a.p regarding a Trading Standards issue. That should get a certain part of his anatomy twitching a little and your phone ringing pretty soon.    

When you do get to speak, advise him/her that you are giving them another chance to rectify the issue before passing it over to Trading Standards.

If still no joy, Trading Standards will be happy to look into the matter. That's what the service is there for.

I had the wrong rear window fitted by Autoglass a few months ago as they had fitted the earlier non "hi-level" brake light jobbie, but in all fairness they replaced the window no problem.

[Agemo]

You could try a pressure washer on it, if you have a leak then that is proof it was not done right.  

[jonathanh]

there are a few ways of attacking this.

1. photograph the state of the seal/screen as it is. Evidence is always useful.  you say that you can push the windscreen down to move the seal: this means that it is not bonded.  windscreens are bonded in for structural rigidity.  you'll get a leak at the least and probably worse

2. find out who else your insurance company uses for windscreens.  For example, if it is autoglass then take it in there and get an opinion from them, in writing if possible (see below)

3. take it to another national depot.  Spin then a yarn that you've just bought the car - insurance doesn't cover windscreen and you want it checked.  ask their opinion - I bet they'll say it needs work.  Get them to produce a written quotation of the problem and cost for you.  Just something like - can you jot that down for me.  If they do it on letter head paper great, if it is a scape of paper,  just ask them to jot their name down and phone number.  all you need is enough to say National windscreens in xxxx say it is a load of rubbish and produce the evidence

4. if you paid an excess direct to National on credit card then phone your credit card company and put the transaction in dispute with them as well.

5. complain to the insurance company, write to them and enclose pictures.  It is their contractor who has not done the job properly.  With any evidence from 2 or 3 above the insurance company cannot claim the work is good enough.  You pay them to 'insure' your windscreen should be replaced and they need to do it properly  

but as someone else said the first move is really to go to see the boss there and give them chance to sort it out.

[Alex Wood]

That must have made your blood boil: you've disturbed the screen by touching it! I had my screen replaced by National Windscreens in Dartford for £50 excess yesterday and when I got it home and took the tape off I realised that down both pillars the seal is just sitting onthe screen rather than the screen sitting in the grooves of the seal. The trouble is they'd most likely break the screen trying to reposition it so I'm going to ses if it leaks before taking it back to them.

[willyboy]

RAC Autowindscreens replaced the one in my 2.0CD  about 2yrs ago,#It wasnt bad but it wasnt as good as i thought it would/should be, they seem to rush like mad to to do them think its a race between fitters!!
They put it in (not like for like) but similar anyway think its coz they used the old outer seals is what makes em fit poorly [ think you ought to wreck the seal before you take it in mind you saying that its probably not covered by your windscreen cover] :-? as mine sort of is raised up at top corners(the outer seal)I have to give it a smack it stays down for a while then up it pops ...Next time i get one done where ever it is I'm going to watch em & take some pics on how it fit previously, as my V6 lookin scratched  

[Alex Wood]

One of the fitters told me the trim costs £160 and, obviously, isn't supplied with new screens so wouldn't be covered by your insurance.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Hes talking crap....its 30 quid +vat......I had it priced up when mine was fitted for the 5 time....

The big problem is that they replace the plastic channel around the edge of the screen with cheap pattern items which when you inspect it, is not good.

My semitrained eye noticed that this trim had poorly formed clips and fails to retain the rubber propably due to a very worn out tool used for the pressure moulding and as such it does not stay in at all well.

Been there, bought the T-shirt, got the book, starred in the film!

[Marks DTM Calib]

One of the fitters told me the trim costs £160 and, obviously, isn't supplied with new screens so wouldn't be covered by your insurance.

Not true either, they are contractd to fit a screen to the OE spec.....and that includes renewing any trim tha is damaged.

Reality is that its not generally the trim at fault but the plastic channel it clips into.

[Ironingboard]

One of the fitters told me the trim costs £160 and, obviously, isn't supplied with new screens so wouldn't be covered by your insurance.

Not true either, they are contractd to fit a screen to the OE spec.....and that includes renewing any trim tha is damaged.

Reality is that its not generally the trim at fault but the plastic channel it clips into.

Yeah actually I took my car to auto windscreens to get a 2nd opinion and the guy said exactly the same, he said the plastic fitting that goes around the glass doesn't fit properly, so in my case it was rushed and didn't sit on the glass correctly, so the rubber seal that clips in it doesn't fit right and looks sh**

I actually got in touch with the head office and they told me to head out to the Glasgow office on sat to see if they can fix it..... unsure if thats a good thing or not. Not even sure if I should buy a new f**kin seal just incase the screw it up.  

[Alex W]

Are National Windscreens a franchise operation? If so, you'll just keep getting the same guy that did the original bad fitting. If thats the case you'll have to go to the national management and threaten to sue them. I had similar trouble with Dyno Rod, the local franchisee was an a***hole. I had to go through the national sales people before I got any joy.

[duggs]

Same problem here..recently.

RAC Autowindscreens used the old trims when replacing my wind screen and there were gaps everywhere. NOT to mention that the new one was "heat resistant" which buggered up my SatNav.

In fairness, without a qwibble they replaced the windscreen again AND installed brand new trim. Looks great now.