By: Mohamed Hamdi El-Baik
Vehicle Body Coating Technician, Vehicle Accident Expert and Advisor for major local and international companies
In the world of vehicle maintenance, rights are often lost between "word of men" and a verbal agreement that ends with financial losses or a legal dispute. Entering the car into the center is not just a routine procedure, but a "technical and legal contract" that must be dealt with utmost accuracy to ensure work quality and protect rights.
The absence of a written document may lead you into unexpected legal or financial problems, including:
Misappropriation trap: In some cases, the customer may request to pick up the car before the repairs are completed, and when the center refuses to deliver except after receiving the fees, a complaint might be raised against it as the withholding being "illegal detention." The result: delivering the car under pressure and long legal pursuits to claim the wages.
Losing the customer's right: Conversely, the customer might pay the amount upfront, which is then spent on the center's commitments without securing spare parts or materials, leaving the customer in front of a broken car and lost money without legal protection.
Receipt and delivery protocol (right of the center owner and the customer):
To avoid these disputes, a clear and precise protocol must be followed when receiving the car, which includes the following points:
Official data: The center has the right to photograph the identity of the customer and his details, and the customer has the right to inspect the shop license and know the technicians assigned to the work.
Recording information (dashboard clock): Recording the mileage on the meter, and checking any warning signs or visible malfunctions on the screen at the moment of receipt.
Comprehensive operational inspection: Ensuring the operation of the doors, the safety of the windshield and the four doors, and checking the exterior lighting and the locking system (the remote and the manual switch).
Inventory of accessories and baggage: Ensuring the presence of all necessities (spare tire, jack, extinguisher, toolkit, floor mats, and antennae). The customer must empty the car of all personal belongings, as the center is not legally responsible for them.
Material quality and technical obligations:
The type of parts used must be precisely determined (new original, new commercial, or used original "scrap"), in addition to determining the quality of the paint, and committing to an "actual warranty" against technical defects or materials.
Hidden damages and deadlines:
When dealing with vehicle accidents, the customer must be aware that some damages may not appear until after "dismantling the vehicle" and disassembling the damaged parts. Therefore, a written agreement must be made on the expected repair duration and the possibility of needing additional time in case of discovering hidden damages, to ensure clarity of the agreement and avoid false promises.
Take it from an expert
