Toyota approved body shop - a tale of caution…..

[Flatcoat]

This is not a RAV specific issue but a word of caution regarding alleged Toyota approved body shops. My wife pranged the front of the RAV last October in a low speed parking shunt. The repairs were approved and the car booked in to the insurers approved body shop that also had Toyota and Lexus approval. The repair was finally carried out in December. About 2-3 weeks after collecting the car I noted a panel gap issue between the front grille/bumper and driver side wing. Took it back and booked it in for rectification. Went to collect and no improvement. ‘They are all like that, it’s the way they are made makes it difficult to return to as new’…… Evrn showed me a 10 year old RAV with poor panel gap as evidence why my 2 year old repaired car should be acceptable, apparently. I went to my supplying Toyota dealer and spoke with the body shop manager. He took one Quick Look and rattled off a list of faults including dodgy paint on the new bumper/grille. 
I contacted my insurer, sent photos of the car along with comparison photos of a new RAV. The assessor was instructed to visit who also agreed the repair was sub standard and I could take the car to the body shop of my choosing. After delay due to holidays the car was finally booked in, stripped down. The new grille/bumper was partially held on with double sided sticky tape; the driver side wing is bent as a result of trying to fit the bumper/gtille; the vertical front ‘sub frame’ that attaches to chassis legs and onto which the assembly is located is bent; the parking sensors have been glued instead of fitted with clips; the new bumper was clearly not prepared correctly and the paint is peeling off (see photo). 
in my view the original repair was fraudulently carried out. If I had ignored it come trade-in or sale time I would have been selling an accident damaged car. The original body shop is part of a very large premium dealer group who - subject to forum rule - I would like to name and shame. The body shop now repairing the car is Burrows of Doncaster and who are proving immensely helpful. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

22 minutes ago, Flatcoat said:

The original body shop is part of a very large premium dealer group who - subject to forum rule - I would like to name and shame.

Go ahead.

[Flatcoat]

The body shop who made a mess of the repair is Evans Halshaw of Leeds. They were given a chance to rectify the problem and didn’t. 

[forkingabout]

I'm not a fan of insurance approved body shops - they have a never ending list of cars to repair so don't really care about reputation & mainly do poor repairs.

Used to be a NON insurance approved body shop near me, took at least 6 weeks to get booked in as they worked from reputation & word of mouth from many happy customers, all the mini cab lads used to go there to. They refused to do any insurance repairs as they wasn't worth the hassle for the money they would pay. 

 

 

[Flatcoat]

I will also be notifying Toyota of the need to review their approved body shop. Behind this is also the huge amount of time I have spent making endless and often lengthy phone calls, to-ing and fro-ing to the respective body shops and simply should not have had to deal with this. Totally unacceptable. 

[Paul john]

Im sorry but my experences with my insurance bodyshop (LV) was CRAP with a capital CRAP

they swirled the paintwork and fkd up the ceramic coat.

many arguments later Toyota Approved bodyshop sorted it.

btw Evans Halshaw are probably your problem also dont go near ABL OneTouch

[Flatcoat]

I know EH are the problem. So far my insurer has been quite reasonable. 

[Haliotis]

Ironic, isn’t it?  Insurers have boosted their premiums annually, claiming that the increases are necessary because of the repair costs for modern cars, then maximise their profits by fostering rubbish “authorised repairers” on to us!

[Paul john]

1 hour ago, Haliotis said:

Ironic, isn’t it?  Insurers have boosted their premiums annually, claiming that the increases are necessary because of the repair costs for modern cars, then maximise their profits by fostering rubbish “authorised repairers” on to us!

Just because they are “authorised” does not mean they are “any good”

[ToyotaFanDriver]

I've said it before and I'll say it again... The entire car insurance industry is a scam. Its mandatory to have the cover, so they charge whatever they feel like, have massively drawn out processes in claims where each step someone is making money and then have the audacity to say they need to raise premiums to cover "costs". Approved body shops are just another component of this con.

[AndyN01]

I'll come back to trying to choose the "the little guy" who has been around for a while, can't fit you in for several weeks and is completely happy for you to have a good look round, chat about what and how they are going to do something and treat you as a person not a blank cheque.

Never been a fan of "insurance approved" because, if you actually chat to the bodyshop, the Insurance Industry have them over a barrel for what they will and won't pay for and how little they will accept as an appropriate hourly rate for the time and skills being used.

And anyone who is a "professional" simply charges for something and, as above, it doesn't mean they're any good at it.

Hope it all comes good very soon.

Andy.

[Cyker]

I've had both positive and negative experiences of 'Insurer approved' repairers.

When I was with eSure, they sent my Yaris Mk1 D4D to Rye Street Group and the repair was really half-arsed - Extensive use of Epoxy resin to 'fix' things, some pieces missing, bonnet out of alignment and not closing properly etc. I went back to them outlining my issues and they did remedy some of them, but said if they'd replaced everything instead of epoxying the cost would have written off the car...  

By contrast my most recent bonk I was under Adrian Flux, and they sent me to an independent repairer near me who have a good reputation. They did an impeccable job repairing my squished rear end, and the only blemish was they mounted the boot protector plate in the wrong place, which caused the boot lid to rub against it so much the edge started rusting. I didn't notice this for months (In fact it was a work colleague that noticed it!), and I took it back there expecting a fight, but they just booked it in to be remedied, no fuss, and fixed everything! I don't think you'd even be able to tell it'd been rear-ended they did such a good job!  

 

[Flatcoat]

I now finally have my car back fully repaired by Burrows Bodyshop in Doncaster. A particular shout out to Mark, the body shop manager. 
Who do I contact at Toyota UK to report Evans Halshaw, the initial Toyota approved Bodyshop to? Their repair was dire and fraudulent and had I not been vigilant would have gone without challenge. Burrows also found damaged parts had been reused and others incorrectly fitted. 
The implications are significant to the extent how many other customers are driving incorrectly repaired vehicles and that could find themselves in difficulties in the future? The insurance company has been very good and did offer a £300 gesture of goodwill. I will however be asking what action they intend taking against Evans Halshaw. It is unfortunate I completed their customer satisfaction survey before this saga unfolded.