How to prove garage scratched my car

My car's clutch broke Friday a week ago and i took it in to a GM garage in Isando as they were the only GM garage in the Kempton area open who had technicians and so on who could look at my car and maybe have it fixed the same day. They couldnt fix it the same day so i had to leave my car there and i was only able to go and collect it this past friday.

While at the garage i noticed that my airbag light was on and i had no hooter so before i took it i showed it to them and they said they would order the new airbag and have it fixed free of charge(while trying to fix my clutch they broke my ignition and had to replace it) but didnt notice untill i got home that there was a small dent en quite a few scratches on my bonnet that wasnt there.

is there anyway for me to prove that they scratched my car?

i already phoned them this morning and asked them about it and to follow up on the airbags that they need to order and they guys said thats impossible that there are scratches on the car as no one drove the car......but that he would speak to the mechanics who worked on the car and will phone me back.

When I take in my car for a service I have them walk around the car and have them make note of any existing damage. If anything is different on my return then there is the documentation to prove that any new damage is their fault. This method has been successful for me as I've had someone drive my car into something and I was able to get the dealer to respray the bumper by using the documentation as leverage.

In your case it would be difficult to prove or convince them that they did anything wrong in terms of the body work

Darn, most of the scratches will probably come out with a bit of polish, but there is one scratch that wont just come out if you polish the car and then there's the dent.....

Dont most garages have those "You leave your car here at your own risk. We are not liable for damages, theft etc etc" signs hanging about? If that is the case they dont have to pay out, although the right thing is to fix it at their cost...

Cant remember if there were any signs on the walls. will have to look when i take my car back so they can fix the airbags and hooter.

Are dents/scratches over the front wheel arches? This is where the mechanics lean when they are working in the engine bay. They are supposed to use protectors that stop paint being scratched etc, but you know how lax these places are...

If it is over these areas, ask if they routinely use such protectors, and have a look if they are being used on the other cars in the workshop...

no the scratches are on the bonnet itself. as though something was put on it and dragged off. soe of the scratches also have like circly scratches like when one dries your car in a circle type motion( if that makes sense).

I received my car back with a apple sized dent in the door sill. only noticed it 2 weeks later and too late to prove or do anything about it. My advice is to take photos of your vehicle the day before and/or as already suggested, have them walk around the vehicle and note any obvious dents/scratches.

Their reply will always be "it was there before we got it" because as Carte Blanche has shown, many car dealership staff are a bunch of clowns who abuse customers' cars and don't own up to any damage.

Just_Ice said:

Dont most garages have those "You leave your car here at your own risk. We are not liable for damages, theft etc etc" signs hanging about? If that is the case they dont have to pay out, although the right thing is to fix it at their cost...

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Yeah those signs aren't worth the plastic they are written on. It's like putting up a sign: "I am not liable if I kill you" etc. etc.

Won't hold up in court, if they are found negligent they WILL pay.

the dealership must do a check on the car when it comes in according to a ticksheet to verify what the latent defects on the car are when you brought it in ... eg, scratch on left fender etc ...

if the dealer has not make a big fuss about it and get them to repair it ... (even if they got that parked at your own risk k@k) ... i did it got my rim repaired, since then the dealership has the ticksheet thing ...