Scratches on car door. Pls Advise!

[CMS]

One idiot lorry driver had reverse and scratch against the driver side door of my car. He sped off before I could stop him, leaving behind few deep scratches measure about 15cm long. Part of the car paint chipped off too.

Anyone can recommend where to do the touch up of the scratches and respray of the driver side door. Thanks

[Joseph27]

deep scratches measure about 15cm long. Part of the car paint chipped off too.

 

hard to touch up ... Got to respray the whole door go paint shop n get a quote

[Roller96]

Recently I rented a car for two days and when I drove back to return it, some scratches were found above the rear wheels (see image), much to my surprise. I thought I might have bumped into something or some other car scratched against mine when I parked.

 

Anyway the company to my expectation did not care how the scratches came about and held me responsible so I quitted explaining. They wanted to charge me SGD280 for these scratch marks but eventually I gave up my $200 deposit and paid another $40 (total $240) to settle it.

 

I don't really understand the market rate for re-painting the rear part of the car but does $240 sounds reasonable to you guys? I mean I heard the companies nowadays are competitive and can repair these common scratches at slightly over $100. I can't help feeling cheated in some ways but just my luck to kena this.

 

I also feel the rented car is at least 4 years old (ford monteiro) and already had several scratches and marks all over the bump and rear so they are just waiting for another fellow like me to scratch another mark to accumulate the damages before sending to its workshop for a full repair. This way they can fix all the scratches at cheaper rate.

 

Anyway it was a really bad experience at this car rental company call Falcon Air at Sin Ming Road. Although I do also admit I was at fault for not checking properly before returning and perhaps should try getting more quotes from other repair shops, I feel they are not honest with me as well because the car itself already had full of scratches and marks when I took over. I'm quite sure they fined the other clients as well previously for those scratches but they did not send for immediate repair after collecting the money. They can simply wait for the car to be in really bad shape and do a one-off major re-paint, which could be cheaper. Yet they can earn more from these accumulated fines.

 

Do be extra careful for those who think of renting from this company in future. I have experiences with other rental companies at Sin Ming but sometimes they would waive off the minor scratches and polish them instead and don't charge regular clients. Falcon Air is more petty and calculative in this aspect and don't really care about individual client relation.

 

Edited November 27, 2012 by Roller96

[Alg]

$280!!!! Please, can just polish off easily.

[Roller96]

That's why I somehow feel I've been overcharged, though I'm not expert in this area. If you see the photo, the scratches can possibly be made less obvious and I do agree re-paint may be needed. But then again the whole car as I mentioned have so many other marks already.

 

Sometimes the consumers kena 'tok' into pieces like carrots but what can we say when the staff are in cahoots with each other. I should really have asked for quotes from other workshops to confirm the charges. The lady still asked her workshop guy to assess the damage who confirmed that $280 is already very 'Cheap'! I said they could have charged lower base on the minor scratches and do a major re-paint since the car already sustain so many 'injuries' before me (at least the whole car is in one good piece). He still asked me 'Would you wait to do that if this is your car?' So I have nothing much to say.

 

Anyway I take it as offerings to the poor and needy if they want to make this kind of money from clients. But hope other users and folks can learn from my lesson. I would never ever go back to them or recommend this company.

[Shox87]

u shld have posted this earlier and seek advice. such scratches can easily be polish out with normal sealant or wax.

 

i would have helped you for free.

[Roller96]

Thanks Shox87 for your advice. At that point I guess it was also my carelessness for not checking before returning. My record has always been clean and never really experienced such incident before with other rental company I used to go to.

 

Just my itchy butt this time trying to use this Falcon Air when the other company I frequent to just happen to rent out all their cars when I needed it. This company never really charge me for minor scratches as they probably know the ways that can easily cover them up. Whenever I go to them to rent the same car, I noticed they have some ways to make the car look like it's new.

 

The more I see the feedback from you guys the more I feel cheated but atlas, must move on from this bad experience and warn other users of going to this company.

 

 

[Kopites]

Thanks Shox87 for your advice. At that point I guess it was also my carelessness for not checking before returning. My record has always been clean and never really experienced such incident before with other rental company I used to go to.

 

Just my itchy butt this time trying to use this Falcon Air when the other company I frequent to just happen to rent out all their cars when I needed it. This company never really charge me for minor scratches as they probably know the ways that can easily cover them up. Whenever I go to them to rent the same car, I noticed they have some ways to make the car look like it's new.

 

The more I see the feedback from you guys the more I feel cheated but atlas, must move on from this bad experience and warn other users of going to this company.

 

Another advise for your future rental. Likewise a AD workshop. Draw/sketch diagrams of the rental car and indicate all the scratches prior of you taking the car out of their premises.

[TatteredTorn]

No lah, not all the scratches in the photo can be polished off.. the lighter ones by the side can be polished off but the darker ones need to be repaired.

 

Usually, if you can find good deals for spray painting services, it's about $200 - $220 per panel.

[TatteredTorn]

One idiot lorry driver had reverse and scratch against the driver side door of my car. He sped off before I could stop him, leaving behind few deep scratches measure about 15cm long. Part of the car paint chipped off too.

 

Anyone can recommend where to do the touch up of the scratches and respray of the driver side door. Thanks

 

I have tried ADSM (www.adsm.com.sg/adsm), Amorcoat (www.armorcoatsg.com) and Yew Lip. Prices are reasonable and the workmanship is not bad. But my experience is that the pricing somehow depends on who you talk to... hahahaha

 

Anw, long time I ago I used to go Yew Lip cos it's nearer my house but I looked elsewhere cos they are always super busy and you have to wait DAMN long to get an appointment. They are more keen in whole car resprays. As for the other 2, just drive in and you can leave your car there.

[Shox87]

no worries. jus need to be more cautious before collection and returning of rental cars in the future.

 

 

[Shox87]

most scratches in the pic can be polished off.

 

at least it wont be so obvious to the naked eye when returning the car.

[Anchorvalelane]

Yesterday my bumper got scratches from the road kurb. 20cm long, 0.5cm width. My bumper is fibre and Black. the scratch left behind White and obvious at a distance. Anyone can advise what should I do?

[Beng2]

Yesterday my bumper got scratches from the road kurb. 20cm long, 0.5cm width. My bumper is fibre and Black. the scratch left behind White and obvious at a distance. Anyone can advise what should I do?

you have a few options (from cheapest to most expensive)

- ignore it

- try to mask the scratch yourself using paint stick bought from autobacs

- get it spray painted in Malaysia

- get it spray painted in Singapore outside workshop

- get it spray painted at dealer's workshop

- change bumper at outside workshop

- change bumper at dealer's workshop

- change to a used car

- change to a new car.

 

[Raymondism]

Yesterday my bumper got scratches from the road kurb. 20cm long, 0.5cm width. My bumper is fibre and Black. the scratch left behind White and obvious at a distance. Anyone can advise what should I do?

 

no need to do anything...

[Celicar]

If me I will just use touch up paint.

[Kansatish]

you have a few options (from cheapest to most expensive)

- ignore it

- try to mask the scratch yourself using paint stick bought from autobacs

- get it spray painted in Malaysia

- get it spray painted in Singapore outside workshop

- get it spray painted at dealer's workshop

- change bumper at outside workshop

- change bumper at dealer's workshop

- change to a used car

- change to a new car.

 

I would probably go with option 1

But if heart pain big, then I might go option 3

[Psuche]

I do this when I last rent a car:

 

1. Try to seek opinions of their service before approaching the rental company

 

2. Read fine prints of the rental agreement

 

3. Open bonnet & check condition of engine bay

 

4. Check tires' condition.

 

5. Go for a quick spin to ensure brakes are working fine. Check condition of safety belts too.

 

6. Check all functional lights are working, petrol cap in place & spare tyre pumped.

 

7. Take pics of exterior & interior of the car, before you drive away. The rental agreement signed is to include a page on assessement of condition of the car

when you took over.

 

Impt: Pics taken by camera with stamp date & time function