went into a car wash in peckham - discovered paintwork had come off, any advice?

[trinidad]

Hello all, 

visited shine peckham hand car wash for the first time on Friday 13th October, after a recommendation. It cost me £18.00 for a clean inside and out. Told the guy collecting the money, this was my first time here. He spoke to the guy with the jet wash in his language. After seconds of starting, the guy collecting the money got angry with the guy jet washing, and grabbed him, I was shocked. He spoke again in his language, so was unable to understand what was being said.

On Tuesday 17th October, I discovered some paint had come off from my car. It must of been the jet wash, as there was a hole. I drove back to the car wash on Wednesday 18th October. I showed the guy collecting the money of the paint coming off, asnd informed him this was due to the water pressure of the jet wash. He took no responsibility what so ever, and came up with various reasons, including one may of keyed my car on the street, the paint was very thin on the car, and even infromed me I had not visited the car wash. I asked him when the boss was around, he told me the following week, but did not know the times. I asked for a contact number or telephone number, but he told me he did not have this infroamtion.

Eventually he advised the boss will be at the car wash on sunday 22nd October between 10am - 4pm. I told him I will return between 11am - 11:30am.
He advised me the company does not take full responsibility of cars while on site.

Not happy at all, will never use this company again.

[kp4]

Sadly, the same happened to me in the Nunhead’s car wash about 3-4 years ago. I did notice it before I was about to leave so queried it. They did not want to take any responsibility; however, they had a CCTV so it was recorded and showed clearly when the paint came off. I can tell you there was lots of arguing.  The main guy called the person who used the power wash and was suggesting they pay me £50 or something like that and it will be deducted from his wage.  Then, he was blabbing away about paying taxes and pensions etc. because I queried if he has an insurance in place.

I did not take the money as I felt it was unfair for the guy to pay it from his own pocket and left. When I had the car repainted (£300) I was told the paint should not really come off when power washed. (I have a second -hand car and I know it was in an accident, so I gathered the repainted job was done cheaply to sell the car)

Now, when I visit a car -wash I ask to reduce the pressure or to stand farther away so the pressure is reduced.   I also do think that all car washes should have an insurance to cover any damage to the cars.

Good luck with it, I hope you will manage to get some sort of compensation from them.