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I have a space in the car park, where I work, lucky me. It is owned by the County Council that I work for. I could not park in the space I usually do, as I was in late one day, back in April. Where I parked was in the multi storey part and it rained really heavily that day.
When I got back to my car, it had chalky residue on the roof, which had dripped down on to the driver's door as well. It carried on raining so when I got home, it looked like it had washed off. The next day it was back as it had dried out, gave it a quick look and it seemed to be moving but did not have time to wash the car.
I washed the car at the weekend, at the jet wash and by hand again, managed to get some of the marks off but still have three, one is about a foot long, another is smaller and a couple of marks about the size of a 50p are not shifting either.
I took it to the garage, who gave me an estimate for £850 to repair, as they will have to strip the paint off, respray and blend. The insurance excess is £250.
I asked the property team, nicely, if it had happened before, could they advise what anyone had used to remove it, they ignored me, until I was more persistent and said they would examine the specific space in question. I took photos of where I had parked, nothing has changed and it is the lime residue, that has come out the concrete. So I am expected to pay £250 as they will not acknowledge the damage.
Shortly after the first set of emails were acknowledged, they put up non liability signs, fortunately I have before and after pictures to show they were not there, when my car was damaged but it does not help me as they are ignoring me, my insurance company are happy to process a claim but want me to pay the excess, which I think is a bit off.
I see it as neglegence because the car park is obviously not fit for use, well not the two spaces, where lime drips out the concrete, when it rains.
Can anyone advise as my solicitor has not been much help, I hoped a letter from him, might nudge them along but he just told me to go through my insurers. I do not want another claim outstanding in case I have an accident and lose my no claims protection, which I have done well to earn over the last eight years.
I would contact your insurers to find out if they are prepared to claim off the council for the damage. I would do it in writing. If they are then it is normal practice to have to pay your excess when the car is repaired but if the insurers manage to claim the full amount off the council then your excess will be refunded.
If the insurers are not prepared to claim off the council then it is up to you if you are prepared to claim off your own policy and pay the policy excess.
Hi, I would always advise trying to rectify damaged paintwork before ruining a car by having refinishing work done. The first step is to try T.Cut, most marks are removed with that. In the case of lime, be prepared for some serious rubbing. If not, talk to a friendly bodyshop and ask if they would run over the marks with their polishing mop. Marks which have eaten into the paint can normally be removed by wet flatting with 2000grit paper and mopping out, probably about an hours work what you describe. If that fails a diluted soloution of oxalic acid normally does the trick.
You would be surprised to see what defects can be repaired by "flatting and buffing", where most people would think only a repaint would do. I always attempt to improve faults in original paintwork rather than have paintwork done on my sales cars as no matter how good the painter, it always devalues the cars.
It may be worth taking it to a detailing place - the good ones know a lot about paintwork and a full detail would be way cheaper and the whole car would end up looking good, not just the roof.
Thanks for your advice. I did look in to T-Cut for metallic cars and after serious washing, rubbing and getting some of the marks off, the bad ones stayed put. It happened in April but now I have more detail from your suggestion, I will try a repair bodyshop, before the insurance route. I do not want it to get nasty, as it is where I work and the parking is a benefit. Thanks again.
Thanks, I did get in touch with my insurers who said they woudl contact my employers and ask them to pay the excess, before the work was undertaken, possibly without liability, as they stuck the signs up, as soon as I asked about the damage to my car. I just felt I should not have to pay the excess and also have a claim on my policy. Thanks again.
T Cut for metallics is really hogwash to tell you the truth. This harks back to the days (seventies) when metallics were a single layer paint and t cutting could shear through the metallic particles and give you black patches. These days all metallics and almost all solid colours are finished with a two layer process finishing with a clear see-through coat so any cutting back merely reduces the thickness of the clear, so will not affect the colour. As long as the lime hasn't penetrated too deep into the clear it should be possible to remove it. As I said before, if your car is relatively new, I would try to get the marks rectified rather than repainted, especially as now most bodyshops are using water based paint and the longevity of it is still in doubt.
Hi, as long as the damage hasn't penetrated more than about half of the thickness of the clear, I am sure a flat and buff done by an experienced person should work. Look what this man does: Miracle Detail
Painting a roof on a car is never a good idea, when coming to sell it any motor dealer will spot it instantly.
Damage to Car Paintwork in Council Car Park
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Originally Posted by ktz32
