Windscreen replacement minefield

Vince2

Member
Messages
192
Need to replace the screen on my 2015 Discovery. I’m with Admiral and windscreen replacement is covered, or so you would think. Had some warning on this topic about Autoglass replacing the Pilkington original with a Chinese made one. So booked it online and stipulated I wanted original Pilkington glass. Turned up at their fitting depot and checked what they were planning to fit and it was indeed the Chinese made item. I refused it, called Autoglass and they said Admiral reserve the right to use alternative parts when the vehicle is more than 5 years old. Extra cost if I want to order the Pilkington is an EXTRA £802!! ( on top of the £115 excess)
Scoured the documents they sent me when I insured it and nowhere does it mention this ‘5+ year get out’.
Anyone had similar experience that might help me?
 

mowlas

Member
Messages
1,728
Sorry no experience of this. Have you tried contacting Admiral directly and challenging what you were told by Autoglass upon inspection of your small print?
 

Vince2

Member
Messages
192
Sorry no experience of this. Have you tried contacting Admiral directly and challenging what you were told by Autoglass upon inspection of your small print?
Talking to a human at Admiral is near impossible. They use virtual assistants etc. When I finally did speak to someone, they said someone from their ‘team’ would call me back to discuss it within 24/48 hours. That was Wednesday!
Did a virtual discussion with someone yesterday and again they said someone would call back. We‘ll see but I’m not hopeful of a call.
I have since found out insurance company’s have by law to make the vehicle as it was before the incident.
 

Kiwibrit

Member
Messages
257
They are awful to deal with, unfortunately, unless you speak Indian languages. Insist that they order in the Pilkington and give you a date.

Also, be warned that they will send debt collectors to hassle you as soon as you don’t renew your policy - they set them for auto renew by default. I sold a car and so I didn’t renew policy; just let it lapse. I thought it was threatening spam across all my devices until an extremely rude and threatening scouser called me to demand loadsamoney that I now owed Admiral. Took ages to get Admiral to call them off - they are now on my blacklist.

Shame, as being from RN & RNZN background, I thought it would be cool to use Admiral!
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,554
Think Autoglass can only do what they’re told by the insurer

I quote:
'Yep - check the small print in your insurance policy - he is absolutely right although to be fair the glass may come from numerous suppliers not necessarily china - he should have been advised at the beginning that it he wanted original glass then we have to get approval from the insurer and some will and some won’t !'

C
 

Vince2

Member
Messages
192
it’s not just windscreens. I think they reserve the right to chose whatever part needs replacing.
I believe LV insurance are the same.
The crack on my screen was done at about 70mph on the motorway from a large object. God knows what the same thing happening to a ‘cheap’ screen would have resulted in.
 

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,445
Do You think that there is a market for other manufacturers to make maser windscreens? Mine was replaced by a pukka one.
Eb
 

happydaze

Member
Messages
561
I suppose 'cheap' windscreens are a bit like 'cheap' insurance.

Everything's fine - until damage occurs...
 

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,308
Personally I wouldnt touch autoglass with a barge pole , pulled my first masser DG52 out of there and ended up taking it down to Marranello Egham who did a fine job with all original glass, probably fine with used mondeo's and vans and the like ..............but there working practices at milton keynes depot left a lot to be desired
 

Koz

Member
Messages
495
They are awful to deal with, unfortunately, unless you speak Indian languages. Insist that they order in the Pilkington and give you a date.

Also, be warned that they will send debt collectors to hassle you as soon as you don’t renew your policy - they set them for auto renew by default. I sold a car and so I didn’t renew policy; just let it lapse. I thought it was threatening spam across all my devices until an extremely rude and threatening scouser called me to demand loadsamoney that I now owed Admiral. Took ages to get Admiral to call them off - they are now on my blacklist.

Shame, as being from RN & RNZN background, I thought it would be cool to use Admiral!
Yeh as unfortunately India only has approx 125million English speakers. Making it the second largest English speaking nation in the world.
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Personally I wouldnt touch autoglass with a barge pole , pulled my first masser DG52 out of there and ended up taking it down to Marranello Egham who did a fine job with all original glass, probably fine with used mondeo's and vans and the like ..............but there working practices at milton keynes depot left a lot to be desired

Unfortunatly most of the MD I have worked for still use AN Other company for windcreen replacement including sometimes Autoglass etc so you can still be in unsure of what you get!
 

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,308
Unfortunatly most of the MD I have worked for still use AN Other company for windcreen replacement including sometimes Autoglass etc so you can still be in unsure of what you get!
In my case the car was delivered to autoglass as per my insurers instructions , the screen was removed in there working bay , I just happened to pop down on the off chance the car was ready as I was buying tiles from the Topps tiles next door .......... only to find that there was residue glass all over the dash, down inside the vents on the seats etc no internal dust sheets were used ........i was shocked and took loads of photo's , reported back to Autoglass head office with said photo's , they took full responsibility and asked me what i wanted to do ................it was then I said I would rather it was done at a Dealer and given the sympathetic treatment a car of that stature deserved , they said okay and agreed to pay all the costs for Marranello to complete it including trailering it there and back ...........Marranello then had there own independent guy
 

RoaryRati

Member
Messages
1,584
We had to replace the windscreen of our S2000 - Mr RR read it was vital to get OEM as non-OEM never fitted properly and were forever going back to be replaced...... I think the insurance company was Privilidge - they would pay the £300 for the non-OEM but not the additonal £500 or so for the OEM (which we went for and it's fine). Autoglass were not looking forward to the job but were amazed when checking the seals - the OEM's were really flexible compared to the non-OEM hence the job was a dream and we've had no problems. (Meanwhile Cherished Vehicles - the insurance company for my Spyder - paid the full cost when I had to replace it's windscreen and that was many many £'s more than the max it declared it would pay - so that was a win)
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I'd like to replace the windscreen on my M140i.
Not because of any stone chips or cracks, but because after over 75k of mostly fast roads and motorways it's like the sky at night in low sun expecially.
Covered in mini impact marks. I think it is actually dangerous and a condition that is not picked up at MOT etc.
Had the same on my previous high mileage BMWs too.