Damage at the Local Supermarket Car Wash
During a routine visit to the automated car wash at my local Tesco, the tail spoiler and brake light of my vehicle were severely damaged. This incident was not unique, as staff at the location noted that such damages are common. The cost to repair my car is estimated at £750. Despite this, Tesco has denied responsibility for the damages, referencing a maintenance report by their contracted service provider, which supposedly found the car wash to be fault-free. Furthermore, Tesco declined to share this report with me, citing their company policy.
JM, Dumfries & Galloway
A quick internet search reveals that many drivers have experienced similar issues with Tesco’s car wash services. Tesco consistently responds to these complaints with a standard letter from their legal team, claiming that the car wash was inspected and no faults were found, and that no similar complaints had been reported. Additionally, a disclaimer posted at the car wash entrance states that Tesco is not liable for any damages unless they are due to a malfunction of the car wash equipment. This disclaimer was also cited in a response to another customer whose vehicle was damaged when a wash arm dislodged.
Despite these repeated incidents, Tesco maintains that there is no universal policy to dismiss claims for damages. They assured me that each claim is evaluated individually and informed me that their staff perform daily checks on the car wash machines, which had reportedly shown that the machine in question was operational and in good condition.
Given this situation, I am left with two options: file a claim with my insurance company or pursue legal action. Should I choose the latter, I will need to send Tesco a formal ‘letter before action,’ which will outline the damages I am claiming and give them 14 days to respond.
If Tesco does not respond favorably, I will gather all relevant evidence, including photographs of the damage, proof of payment for the car wash, and the repair estimates. I will then proceed to file a claim under Scotland’s “simple procedure” in the sheriff courts. For individuals in England and Wales, a similar claim can be made through the county courts.
We invite readers to send us letters, although we cannot respond to each one individually. Please contact us via email at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or by mail at Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Include your daytime phone number. All letters are subject to our terms and conditions and may be published.
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