i was in a certain well known petrol station to day getting my car washed. when i went through the wash the car came out and was still dirty. i complained and the manager said to put the car through the wash again. so i did so as he watched. in the middle of the wash cycle the overhead brushes pulled up my windscreen wipers and the force popped the wiper off the bar, breaking the wiper unit. the manager saw me exiting the wash and i pointed to the wiper which was beeing blown up and down by the air dryer.
i got out of the car when the wash was done and asked him what was to be done about it. he said that if my car was new he'd get it fixed, but since ny car was old (7 years) that they weren't responsible, that it was up to me to make sure my car was fit for the car wash.
he directed me to the local mechanics (behind the car wash) and said they should be able to fix it as only the bar had popped off the wiper. he said that it would be free to get it fixed. i said what if they charged me? hee said get them to ring him if there was going to be a charge. i said ok and went to the garage.
the lads in the garage said that the whole unit would have to be replaced and it was going to cost €200 for the part and €80 for labour. i rang the main dealer (Fiat) myself to check the price and the work needed and they concurred with the garage. i then rang the manager of the petrol station to tell him and he said that they weren't liable for it and it states this in the customer notice in the shop.
so what i need to know is what are my rights?
*aside - i figure, correct me if i'm wrong, that the wipers are a part of the car that cannot be removed before entering a car wash, thus there is no way i could have known that this would happen
i got out of the car when the wash was done and asked him what was to be done about it. he said that if my car was new he'd get it fixed, but since ny car was old (7 years) that they weren't responsible, that it was up to me to make sure my car was fit for the car wash.
he directed me to the local mechanics (behind the car wash) and said they should be able to fix it as only the bar had popped off the wiper. he said that it would be free to get it fixed. i said what if they charged me? hee said get them to ring him if there was going to be a charge. i said ok and went to the garage.
the lads in the garage said that the whole unit would have to be replaced and it was going to cost €200 for the part and €80 for labour. i rang the main dealer (Fiat) myself to check the price and the work needed and they concurred with the garage. i then rang the manager of the petrol station to tell him and he said that they weren't liable for it and it states this in the customer notice in the shop.
so what i need to know is what are my rights?
*aside - i figure, correct me if i'm wrong, that the wipers are a part of the car that cannot be removed before entering a car wash, thus there is no way i could have known that this would happen