A Metro Vancouver autobody shop has been ordered to pay thousands to a customer after a less-than-ideal service experience.
The customer, ND, claimed thousands of dollars after taking his vehicle to a well-reviewed Delta-based auto body shop named Sopron Autobody.
ND needed service after his car door, which was open at the time, was struck by another vehicle, sustaining damage. ND took his Volkswagen to Sopron and claimed that Sopron didn’t correctly complete the required repairs, so he took his car to the dealership instead. He paid the dealership over $5,000, but only claimed $5,000 in damages against Sopron.
Someone representing Sopron stated that the damage ND had fixed at the dealership pre-existed the accident, adding they weren’t responsible for the cost.
ND was hoping to prove that Sopron was negligent.
There were several issues with the vehicle that ND had hoped to have fixed, including problems with a mirror and a lock. There was also a leak in his driver’s side door.
When ND first picked up his vehicle from Sopron, he pointed out the leak. He was told that a simple blow-dry would fix the problem.
“I find the failure to fix a known deficiency (like a leak) in a newly installed component (like a door) obviously falls below the standard of care of a reasonably competent car repair service provider,” the tribunal said.
Invoices from the dealership, ND, eventually took his vehicle to suggest that it required significant work to repair the leak. He paid $2,298.42 to have the leak fixed.
“This included removing and drying the car’s wet carpet and underlay, performing a leak test, identifying a leak between the driver-side door and the window regulator, and replacing the window regulator.”
During the mirror and lock repairs, the dealership also discovered that the incorrect door trim panel bolts had been installed and charged an additional $39.25.
The tribunal found that Sopron’s negligence caused this monetary loss to ND.
This doesn’t speak to a pattern of behaviour for Sopron. The tribunal pointed out that there’s no history of substandard care. And ND only went to Sopron because his insurer, Stratford Underwriting Agency, which has closed permanently, recommended it.
Ultimately, the Metro Vancouver autobody shop was ordered to pay ND $2,541.99, including damages and tribunal fees.
- You might also like:
- Metro Vancouver sandwich chain ordered to pay thousands in franchise dispute
- Class action filed in B.C. healthcare data breach potentially impacting over 28,000
- Landlord offered tenants money to clean in failed B.C. rental