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A bodyshop lost an irreplaceable part of my Ford Capri - what do you advise I do?

I've owned a Ford Capri Injection for 23 years. In October 2015, I delivered my car to a local restoration bodyshop in order to have a bare metal respray carried out. The proprietor notified me that he would employ a glass fitting company to remove the front windscreen and the rear hatchback glass - which is bonded into the frame. He explained that the rear window would be taken away by the company and placed into storage. On completion of the work on the car, the company would duly refit the glass panels. The car was finally painted approximately one month ago. Three weeks ago, I received a phone call from the individual who carried out the work on my car. He notified me that he had contacted the glass company, who claimed to have no knowledge of removing the rear window from the body shop. They denied being in possession of it. I've attempted to obtain a replacement rear glass panel to no avail, they are no longer manufactured. As far as I'm concerned, the liability for the loss of the glass panel rests squarely on the shoulders of the proprietor of the restoration workshop. On discussing the situation with him, it is apparent that he permitted the glass company to leave his premise with my glass panel, without obtaining any form of receipt. Do you have any advice?

Asked on 25 August 2017 by Pete Clarke

Answered by Honest John
Your dispute is with the bodyshop with whom you have a contract and who you are paying for the work. Since you did not directly pay anything to the glass company, there is no contract between you and them. It's up to the bodyshop to obtain and successfully fit the replacement screen. If he can't, you can use Small Claims to sue him for the cost of obtaining a replacement rear screen, even if one has to be custom made: www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/overview
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