Matrix Meanderer Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Disaster struck on Thursday when a stone hit the bottom of the windscreen and a horizontal crack quickly ripped halfway across the screen. Clearly a new screen is required. Ringing Autoglass to book the replacement on Easter Saturday I was told that this is a "special" and of course those fitters who can do this "special" work are not available until next Tuesday :-S Good job we could drive home from North Wales so we can wait at home rather than on a CL! I've had Autoglass repair stone windscreen chips before and they usually do a very good job with simple chips using their fancy kit. However, our Fiat has a full set of Remis cab blinds and so I began to wonder if the fitter will remove the front blind him/herself or if I will have to do it before the windscreen can be repaired. I assume that the windscreen cannot be replaced without removing the Remis blind - or can it? Does any forum member have 'previous' on this problem and if so - did Autoglass remove the front Remis blind for you before starting on the windscreen replacement? My windscreen excess is £100 and I don't want that price to escalate to include the cost of a new front blind *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 My Hymer B674 (an A Class, so a big windscreen) suffered damage and my insurer put me on to Autoglass- who delayed and made excuses and eventually I got the insurer to allow me to go elsewhere. I discovered that Autoglass have closed all their depots, lost half their fitters and become a "mobile only" company, working entirely from vans, so all repairs done outdoors. I would switch to someone else if you can. I used a local specialist company who did the job in their workshop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 We had a windscreen replaced on an x250 several years ago and the idiots that came to fit it made a real pigs ear of it. They do not seem to have the same calibre of fitters that they used to have? It was not central and we had lots of wind noise from the top n/s corner. We had them back twice to refit it as the first time made no difference - different guys each time - and the second time they broke it getting it off and had to go away and get another one. Good job we were at home. We had Remis blinds and I seem to recall removing them if only to avoid damage although I also seem to recall them saying they could work round a fitted blind. Best way would be to phone them and ask what they want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Autoglass fitted our A-class windscreen last April at their Warrington branch although as Stuart says, they are closing many of their depots and becoming 'mobile'. The intention was to keep Warrington as a warehouse though I don't know what has happened in the last twelve months. I know Autoglass refitted a windscreen with Travelworld letting them use the workshop in Telford. There was no damage to my van or the screens. Not sure how much say you will have in who you use if your insurer is paying. From even earlier experience, two mobile fitters had no problem fixing a screen to my Fiat cab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 We had Autoglass replace the windscreen on our previous van, low profile Renault Master, there was no problem at all with the Remis blinds, the fitters that came were from the HGV Division in Leeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrypartridge Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 My personal experiences with Autoglass have all been entirely negative. Their customer service is non existent and attitude ,IMHO, very poor. They obviously get most of their work from insurance companies, presumably by being cheap. I would never willingly choose them. My understanding is that if your insurance company uses them all you have to pay is the excess. Autoglass invoices the insurance company for the rest. If you go elsewhere AS YOU ARE ENTITLED TO, you have to pay it all and claim the amount, less excess, from your insurance company. That is what I would do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muswell Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 My experience with Autoglass has been very good. On the last occasion a quarterlight was smashed on a Sunday in Verona. Red Pennant called Autoglass who called me straight back. They couldn't replace that day because Carglass didn't work Sunday. First thing Monday I got a call from AG to say the insurance had been cleared and Carglass would call me. Ten minutes later Carglass phoned and made an appointment for that afternoon in Brescia. By 1600 we were on our way with a new quarterlight and a friendly chat with the fitters.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matrix Meanderer Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 Thanks for all the feedback and helpful comments. I am now checking for local windscreen companies that will be competent to work around the Remis blinds. However, might use Autoglass if they can confirm their ability to do the job when I speak to them tomorrow. I will let you know how I get on :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 We had a windscreen replaced in our Fiat PVC by Autoglass without a problem, we too had Remis blinds fitted and they were very professional in ensuring that they didn't damage/mark them in any way. What company has your insurers told you to use? You often don't get a choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leake Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 We needed to have ours replaced second time out with our new Warwick XL in Scotland. The insurance company arranged it for us and to my surprise a couple of very compident fitters from AA Glass turned up to do the job. Done with the blinds in place with no problem. Most interesting watching how the job was done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagrid Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 I had the windscreen replaced on our Hymer by Autoglass, they used Autoglass Special Projects which is the division which deal with trains, coaches and busses, the screen was ordered by them direct from Hymer and fitted competently without removing the blinds, this was in 2014, I don't know if things have changed since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 I'm just looking at my screen, the blinds (which are a real pain, l'd ideally have curtains any time) sit around 60mm behind the windscreen and should be no problem for bonded screens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matrix Meanderer Posted March 29, 2016 Author Share Posted March 29, 2016 My insurer is Allianz, through Safeguard (Swinton). Safeguard have a commercial partnership with Autoglass which is where you are directed in the first case. Appointment for screen replacement is Thursday and the telephone conversation I have had with Autoglass gives me some comfort that the job will be done well and without the need to remove the front Remis screen. Interestingly the local Fiat dealer who undertakes my Ducato service uses Silver Screen Windscreens a Cambridgeshire company. Final update after the job has been done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matrix Meanderer Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 Final post: Job very well done by Autoglass Specials, two very competent fitters with clever bit of kit for cutting out the old windscreen. They used a customised wire cutter operated manually around disc wheels and cogs by a handle. Although this was sucker attached to the inside of the windscreen, the wire was set up on the outside of the glass and pulled through to cut the adhesive. So no need to remove the Remis screen, just the interior mirror. All done in less than an hour and they even re-positioned my dash cam cable. Only minor issue was nearly cutting through the dash alarm cable to the sensor. Not a standard fitting of course but no problem. £100 insurance excess paid electronically with instant emailed receipt and guarantee. So after this excellent job I thoroughly recommend Autoglass. Hope this tale helps other forum members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Very pleased for you. It's always good to know the outcome when people have tried to help posters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leake Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I was impressed by the wire cutter used to remove our broken screen. The wire is square in section rather than round to help it cut better. Very clever bit of kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Auto Glass did mine 12 mths ago and never removed the blinds on a x250. 2 Fitters in my drive by their own choice their depot only a mile away, No problems happy with the job done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 I suffered another windscreen chip yesterday so I used my insurer's (LV) website to link to Autoglass to arrange a repair appointment. So far so good, it was easy to do and Autoglass handle the paperwork with the insurer as well as doing the repair. I'll report again after the repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Well, I have only ever had good experiences with Autoglass. Three times now we have picked up a chipped windscreen travelling back through France - albeit spread over a number of years. The last one was this March and I contacted Autoglass direct as soon as we got home a few days later. They dealt with my insurers (Comfort) and arranged to come to the house to effect the repair. There was a little doubt as the chip also had a couple of cracks just beginning to spread from the main chip but it was beneath the required size and in a position on the windscreen that could be repaired so he went ahead. I did have to pay a £10 excess which I have not had to do previously. After the repair the position of the chip could still be made out on close inspection but whilst away a couple of weeks ago we noticed the cracks had started to spread a little more. Further examination showed that the surface over the repair was now slightly ragged where it had been completely smooth before. Called Autoglass who sent the Specials fitter out (repair done by one of the car fitters) and he confirmed the repair had not worked so they would arrange to fit a new windscreen under warranty. The warranty for the repair or replacement of glass is for the length of time you own the vehicle. Yesterday, a team from the Specials department came and started to take out the old windscreen but before they fitted the new one noticed a blemish that appeared to be within the laminate. The fitter was not happy with it so called the office to see if the nearest branch (Darlington) had a replacement. They had none in stock so they went all the way back to Gateshead for a replacement, returned a couple if hours later and fitted the screen. If I had had to have a new screen fitted originally in march I would have paid £75 excess but there was absolutely no charge as it was under Autoglass warranty. Now that is commitment and service. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the general Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Well i used auto glass couple of weeks ago ,chip on basic transit PVC , the guy in call centre didn't seem to know anything about types of vehicle, he told me after being on hold for 15 mins ( while he was taking advice I suppose) I need a specialist repair ??? And I would be called back sometime in the next 4 hrs !! Still when I got the call after 2 hrs or so , an appointment was made following day , fair enough . Technician did a good job , bearing in mind I live on a busy road and he had to put his work bench on the pavement !!!! Not very professional to say the least , and to reach the chip had to struggle standing on fully locked tyre . I asked him what would happen if I needed new screen he said would have to wait for good weather !!!! Because as discussed they have NO PREMISES . I found this very poor , and if I had a choice no way would I use them , surly the insurance companies should insist on a better service than that . Is that right that you could get any work done by who you want ref screens pay and then claim back minus the excess , I expect would have to read the small print. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 the general - 2016-09-20 5:30 PM Well i used auto glass couple of weeks ago ,chip on basic transit PVC , the guy in call centre didn't seem to know anything about types of vehicle, he told me after being on hold for 15 mins ( while he was taking advice I suppose) I need a specialist repair ??? And I would be called back sometime in the next 4 hrs !! Still when I got the call after 2 hrs or so , an appointment was made following day , fair enough . Technician did a good job , bearing in mind I live on a busy road and he had to put his work bench on the pavement !!!! Not very professional to say the least , and to reach the chip had to struggle standing on fully locked tyre . I asked him what would happen if I needed new screen he said would have to wait for good weather !!!! Because as discussed they have NO PREMISES . I found this very poor , and if I had a choice no way would I use them , surly the insurance companies should insist on a better service than that . Is that right that you could get any work done by who you want ref screens pay and then claim back minus the excess , I expect would have to read the small print. ? A somewhat different experience to mine but I guess it comes down to our individual expectations. For each of the three repairs we have had done over the years they have been carried out at home where we are fortunate to have a driveway with a carport over the Motorhome. When they came to do the replacement this week it was damp and drizzly to start with and there was some doubt as to whether the job would go ahead as dampness is not the best thing for the bonding process. I certainly wouldn't have wanted them to proceed had the weather not dried up and I suspect this would apply to any professional windscreen repairer not just Autoglass. We had to wait for the 'Specialist' fitting service as they carry out most of the commercial windscreen services including anything from vans to HGV's and buses. The guy who did mine explained that although it is possible for a single handed fitter to fit the new windscreen (and certainly to effect a repair) it is not ideal even with a standard panel van as once the aperture has been primed and the bonding sealant put on the windscreen accurate positioning is critical. Best done with two people given the size of the screen being handled. This is particularly true of Motorhomes with overcab protrusions. I assume that once you have identified the vehicle is a Motorhome they would want to ensure someone from the Nearest Soecials depot is assigned. Although the local Autoglass repair facility closed in Middlesbrough there are still some premises - my nearest one is Darlington but the team came from Gateshead - either location would have meant considerable travelling time for me to have either the initial repair or subsequent replacement carried out in their premises so I am grateful they could carry it out at my home address. I can only assume that the majority of windscreen replacements have traditionally been carried out at locations other than their depots so it probably seemed sensible to reduce the number of expensive premises. So, overall I am more than satisfied with the service I received and am guessing that the process would not have been much different if I had chosen a different windscreen service. I am also not sure if others have the same warranty policy to replace a windscreen free of charge if a repair they have carried out fails during the time you own the vehicle. In short, I would use them again. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Progress report on an Autoglass repair: A man and van turned up as arranged but then his pump kit failed, so he had to ring in to report failure and ask them to rearrange. Nice enough chap but the repair kit was clearly very old and battered, so no wonder it failed. Somehow it looked like he had drawn the short straw and was driving the spare old van with the dodgy kit. After the weekend another man and van turned up and this was a very different experience - sharp and efficient, had the job done in no time. Good job too, you can hardly see a blemish where the chip was and the surface is perfectly smooth over the repair. I would still resist using Autoglass if a windscreen replacement was needed but for chip repairs there is at least a chance of a good service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Another Autoglass experience to report ...... Having had a successful windscreen repair on my MH in September I took it out for a run yesterday and suffered another chip. Less than 15mm in diameter so should be repairable - so I booked a repair with Autoglass on line. Quick and easy, got an appointment for the following morning, paid my £10 excess and got a confirmation email. Really quite impressive. Then the phone call. A young woman who clearly had limited training, was working off the computer script and was completely inflexible. Hadn't a clue what a motorhome was but was adamant that my "request for service" had to be referred to the specialist vehicle division, which was now closed for the weekend, so they would ring me on Monday. Not interested in the fact that I'd had a repair by the mobile technician less than a month ago - she was sticking to the computer instructions and my appointment was clearly being cancelled. So I rang again this morning. Got a bloke who was understanding and helpful - and beat the system to get an ordinary mobile techie to come this afternoon. I'd told him that if a windscreen replacement proved necessary I would take the vehicle elsewhere anyway (because they didn't have workshops) and that seemed to make a difference. let's hope the repair actually happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 The Autoglass man turned up on time and completed a windscreen repair. He didn't get as much penetration with the resin as last time so the star-shaped damage is still visible from inside but he did restore a smooth external surface and I was assured that the repair was strong. I've had experience of three different Autoglass technicians during the past three months which must be quite unusual. They came across as being of different calibre and this probably influenced the outcome; certainly the second attempt at the first repair delivered the best result. The first stage of the repair is to use an impacting/probing device to open up the front of the damage, to allow the resin to get in. They then apply a volatile etching solvent to the damage and immediately fit a vacuum head over it, with a low level of suction is applied to extract the fumes and dry out the crack. After a times period a higher level of vacuum is applied to suck out as much air as possible. The resin for the repair is already in place in a cartridge which has been inserted into the vacuum head and once the air has been sucked out for long enough the cartridge is pushed in to release the resin. The vacuum head is then removed, a hardening agent applied and a curing lamp fitted over the damage, again for a timed period. Finally the lamp is removed and the smooth flat surface of the windscreen is restored by scraping with a razor blade. A special polishing substance is applied and scrapped off with the razor too. Finally a window cleaning spray is used with a paper towel to clean off and shine up the surface. When Autoglass repair a windscreen in this way they guarantee the integrity of it for your ownership of the vehicle and will replace the windscreen free of charge if the repair fails. The repair system looks reliable and although skill is required in the first stage (opening up the damaged area) after that if the technician users the timer correctly, it should work well. So the technician part of the service seems to work well. Autoglass's administration system is however less certain in delivering a good repair promptly. The Call Taker I spoke to yesterday clearly needed more training to recognise vehicle types and Autoglass needs to be more flexible about referring a motorhome job to their specialist lorry/coach team. I still wouldn't use Autoglass to replace a motorhome windscreen, which I think needs to be done inside a workshop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 But it's probably going to get harder and harder to find a company with premises locally. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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