I Can See Clearly Now (Autoglass)

Member Name: nixtee

Product:	Autoglass
Date:	01/09/09 (127 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: New windscreen, no cracks or chips, came when they said they would.

Disadvantages: Don't come out over bank holiday weekends.

I was driving home after taking my Granddad for a meal for his birthday and a chipping flew up as another car passed me. The chipping hit my windscreen (do they ever hit anywhere else?), but I couldn't see any additional chips in the screen (there was already 2 or 3 small chips in my windscreen). I parked up at the local supermarket and popped into to get some supplies, however when I got back to the car and sat in the drivers seat I could see a crack which most definitely hadn't been there before! It came down from the middle of the top of my windscreen in a 20 - 30cm arc. I wasn't impressed! I think the chip must have spread when I shut the car door to go into the supermarket.

As soon as I got home I found my insurance details and called Direct Line as my car has full comprehensive insurance. As it was past 5pm on a Saturday during a Bank Holiday weekend, I was told that it would be Tuesday at the earliest before Autoglass could come out. I wasn't thrilled at this, but fully understood and felt better when the operator told me that as long as the crack in the windscreen didn't interfere with my view there wasn't a problem and that the glass would not shatter in on me. I was given the option of them coming to my home to replace the windscreen or going to my place of work. Since I work from 8.30am until 4.30pm I asked if they could come to my place of work, so that I wouldn't need to take any time off (it didn't occur to me to ask if they could come after work!). I just had to pay £75 excess and Direct Line would cover the rest of the cost. I gave my card details over the phone, along with 2 contact numbers (mobile and work) and my work place address so they could find me. I was also asked if there was anywhere I could park my car under cover at work in case it rained. I told the operator that there was a possibility but that I would need to ask at work on Tuesday morning, so the operator said Autoglass would phone to confirm this if it was wet. I was given a time slot of between Midday and 4pm on Tuesday and that it would take 2 hours.

Tuesday arrived and at 12.45pm so did the Autoglass van. I was slightly surprised because it was absolutely tipping it down and they hadn't phoned to confirm if I was able to park my car under cover. As luck would have it, we had enough space to park my car in the loading bay of the building and this also gave the Autoglass man enough room to set up my new windscreen and his tools as needed.

After I had parked my car under cover, the Autoglass man asked me to stay with him for a few minutes while he made a pre-work inspection of the front of my car. Basically, they do this to insure that no marks made prior to the work can be attributed to them. He made his inspection (which came back with no marks!) and asked me to sign a sheet to say I'd seen him do the inspection and agreed to the service. The Autoglass man then told me it would take him around 45 minutes to complete the work and that he'd come and find me afterwards, so I left him to it.

True to his word, almost exactly 45 minutes later the Autoglass man came to say he'd finished fitting my new windscreen. Again, he needed to do a post-work inspection and needed my signature. He showed me the windscreen and I could see no new marks had been made to me car. The Autoglass man then explained that I shouldn't drive my car until after 2.30pm (which was about an hour away - not that I could leave work until 4.30pm anyway!) and that I shouldn't pressure wash it for a few days. He then gave me my car keys and an "Advice Note" (a bit like an invoice) which had my details on and what checks he'd made (including checking my windscreen wipers, the vehicle exterior and interior etc). He told me it was now fine to park my car outside, but not to go anywhere in it just yet, then he went on his way.

Getting into the car after work at 4.30pm, I noticed just how sparkly clear my windscreen was... It seems such a long time since it was so clear! The rain (which was still pouring) just ran off my windscreen with ease. One thing I did notice though was the smell of glue/sealant, but I kind of expected that (I simply drove with the window down a bit).

Autoglass turned up during the timeframe they said they would and did an excellent job. The Autoglass man was friendly, efficient and knowledgeable, and I was happy that Direct Line had chosen them as one of their service providers.

Obviously, I hope you never have to use Autoglass, but I certainly had no problems with them fitting my new windscreen and I'm pleased with the work they've done.

Summary: Top notch job!