After my car was damaged in a Tesco car wash it has washed its hands of my complaint

Tesco has effectively washed its hands of my complaint over damaged car after I used their automated car wash at my local store. The repair bill is estimated at £750, but the supermarket chain refuses to accept liability.

The incident occurred when I took my vehicle for a regular wash at the Tesco superstore in Dumfries and Galloway. However, upon exiting the car wash, I noticed that my tail spoiler had been ripped off and my brake light was no longer functioning. Staff at the store acknowledged how frequently cars are damaged in their automated washes, citing maintenance reports as evidence.

Despite the apparent lack of fault found by Tesco's contracted company, they refused to provide me with a copy of the report, citing "company policy". The supermarket chain has issued an identically worded letter from its solicitors, claiming no defects were found and stating that the disclaimer at the entrance absolves it of liability unless by a fault with the machine.

However, Tesco denies having a blanket policy to reject compensation claims, insisting they consider each case on its merits. Staff allegedly check wash cycles daily, but the car wash I used was reportedly found to be in good working order.

As a result, I am left with two options: claim through my insurer or take the legal route. If I decide to pursue the latter, I must send a letter before action specifying the damages I seek and give Tesco 14 days to respond.

If that fails, I can collate details and photos of the damage, proof of payment for the car wash, and repair quotes, then use Scotland's "simple procedure" to make a claim through the sheriff courts. In England and Wales, it's a similar process involving a county court.

[Image of a car with a ripped off tail spoiler and a sad face] Tesco's wash-n-go policy: rip off your wallet too! [GIF of a person getting sprayed by water, with the caption "Automated damage guarantee"]

I'm so frustrated with Tesco's attitude here ... I mean, if they're saying that their automated car washes are designed to be safe, then shouldn't they take responsibility when something goes wrong? The fact that staff at the store were aware of how often cars get damaged in these machines just makes it seem like a predictable problem. And now Tesco is trying to sweep me under the rug with this 'company policy' nonsense ... I'm tempted to just go through the insurer route, but there's something about taking on the company directly that feels right. On the other hand, dealing with the courts can be so drawn out and stressful ... I guess only time will tell if I end up in a court case or not. One thing for sure though - if Tesco was being honest and transparent about their car wash's reliability issues, this whole situation would have been resolved a lot sooner

It's just so unfair! I remember when my grandma used to take her old sedan to the local car wash and nothing ever went wrong. Nowadays it seems like every other time someone uses an automated car wash they're leaving with a dent or a broken light . Tesco should at least be willing to take a closer look at their own machines, you know? They can't just sweep everything under the rug and say "oh, it's all on you, mate" . And what's up with this "company policy" nonsense? It sounds like they're just trying to cover their own behinds .

I feel like Tesco is dodging responsibility here ... They're not taking liability for damaged cars from their automated washes, despite acknowledging that maintenance reports show how frequently this happens! According to their own data, over 40% of customers report damage after using the car wash. That's a pretty significant percentage

Here's some stats: in 2022 alone, there were 12,000 reported incidents of damaged vehicles from Tesco's automated car washes across the UK! That's a lot of people who might be facing similar situations to you

But what's even more concerning is that Tesco is not providing customers with copies of maintenance reports, citing "company policy" . This lack of transparency and accountability can lead to frustration and financial loss for many customers

If you decide to take legal action, make sure to keep detailed records of the damage, proof of payment, and repair quotes . It's not just about sending a letter before action; it's also about gathering evidence to support your claim

Ugh, that's wild ! Tesco is really trying to wriggle out of this one. I mean, come on, if they're so confident in their automated car washes not causing damage, why are staff acknowledging the issue all the time? It just smells like a cover-up to me. And those disclaimers at the entrance? Not exactly reassuring when you've got proof of the damage done . I'd definitely consider taking them to court if I were in your shoes, TBH. Have you talked to any other customers who've had similar experiences? That might give us a better idea of what's going on

omg, that's so frustrating ! i feel like tesco is just passing the buck on this one . they know there are issues with their automated car washes but instead of fixing them, they're just trying to get out of paying for damages. it's not fair to customers who are already trusting them to take care of their cars .

i can understand why they don't want to give you a copy of the report, but come on, transparency is key here! if there was a problem with the car wash, wouldn't it be better for tesco to own up to it and offer some kind of compensation? . instead, they're leaving you with no choice but to go through your insurer or take them to court, which sounds like a huge hassle .

i hope you get the justice you deserve and that tesco takes responsibility for their faulty car washes!

I feel so bad 4 u mate Tesco just leaves u with nothin! I mean, its not like they didnt know about the broken tail spoiler & brake light. All that maintenance report stuff sounds legit but its all just a bunch of corporate mumbo jumbo to avoid takin responsibility. £750 is a pretty big bill & im sure its gonna take u ages 2 get it sorted out thru the insurance or court. I hope u get it sorted soon

Ugh, this is crazy ! Tesco needs to step up their game when it comes to those automated car washes! I mean, come on, £750 repair bill? That's a lot of cash! And now they're just brushing me off like that? The fact that they're saying no defects were found but then refusing to give me a copy of the report is just ridiculous. They need to be more transparent and take responsibility for their mistakes.

And what's with all these disclaimers at the entrance? It's one thing to have a warning, but it's not like I was told to expect my tail spoiler to get ripped off or that the brake light would start malfunctioning! Tesco needs to fix this issue ASAP and stop leaving their customers high and dry.

Ugh, don't even get me started on this Tesco's automated car wash is literally begging for trouble! I mean, how can you not expect a little damage when you're chucking cars around like they're washing machines? And now they're trying to play it cool and say they didn't do anything wrong, but it's pretty obvious they're just using that disclaimer nonsense to cover their backsides. It's just annoying that they're basically saying "hey, we know this is your fault" while pretending like they don't care . What's the point of even having a contract if you're just gonna ignore it and expect people to deal with the fallout? I feel bad for you, dude - sounds like you've got some real hassle ahead of you .

Tesco just gave you a facepalm of a service . Automated car washes are designed to save us time, not destroy our vehicles . The fact that they claim no defects were found but refuse to provide the maintenance report is suspicious . Maybe it's time to take them to court and get some justice?

I think Tesco is dodging responsibility here! It's pretty clear that their automated car wash did indeed cause damage to your vehicle. They're trying to save face by saying they don't have a blanket policy, but the fact remains that they've accepted this kind of issue is a regular occurrence (as acknowledged by their own staff). The disclaimer at the entrance might be part of it, but that doesn't mean you can't make a case for compensation. I'd say your best bet is to collate all the evidence and send a letter before action - that way, Tesco will have to respond in writing. It's not ideal, but if they're saying they consider each case on its merits, then that should give them an opportunity to see things from your perspective too .

I feel so bad for you, mate ! Automated car washes can be super convenient, but it's clear they need some serious maintenance checks done ASAP . Tesco's not taking responsibility at all, which is just frustrating . I'd definitely consider going through the insurance route first, but if that doesn't work out, taking them to court might be a good option too . The fact that they claim no blanket policy and are saying it's your fault with the machine just sounds like a load of corporate jargon . You gotta stand up for yourself, mate !

Ugh , how can they just ignore someone in need? £750 is a lot of cash , I feel so sorry for you . They're basically saying "oh no, that's your problem now" . Tesco should at least provide a copy of the report or be more transparent about their maintenance schedule . It's not like they're just making this up... but it feels like it . You deserve better than to be left with all these costs . Take care of yourself and don't give up

omg this is so frustrating i mean who uses an automated car wash without thinking about the potential risks? tesco needs to be held accountable for their negligence here especially since they're not even providing you with that report and now you're stuck between taking your insurer or going through the hassle of a formal complaint. i feel like tesco is just trying to wriggle out of this one have you considered reaching out to their customer service again, maybe there's some wiggle room for them to reconsider

I'm so frustrated with this whole situation ! I mean, who needs that kind of stress in their life? You just want to wash your car and get on with your day, but noooo, Tesco has to make you feel like a hassle. And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency - refusing to provide the maintenance report is just dodgy .

I think it's really unfair that they're trying to shift the blame onto the car itself and the automated wash machine. I mean, sure, accidents can happen, but that doesn't mean Tesco gets off scot-free . It's like they're saying "oh, it's not our fault" without even doing a proper investigation.

And what really grinds my gears is the fact that they're making you choose between going through your insurer or taking the legal route. That's just adding to the stress and uncertainty . Can't they just be upfront and take responsibility for their mistake?

Tesco's automated car wash is just another example of how some big companies think they're above the law . I mean, I've heard of disclaimers at the entrance, but come on! If you're gonna sell us something, make sure it's gonna work properly . And £750 for repairs? That's just steep . I would've taken a different route too – insurance or small claims court are both good options . But honestly, I'm not surprised Tesco is dodging this one . They always seem to find a way out of trouble .

Ugh , can u believe Tesco is just gonna leave me with this huge bill? I mean, i get it, mistakes happen but not being transparent about what went wrong is pretty shady . They're saying they don't have a blanket policy to reject claims but honestly, it sounds like they're just trying to wriggle out of paying up . The fact that staff said maintenance reports show how often cars get damaged in their washes and yet still refused to give me a copy of the report is just infuriating . I'm thinking of going through my insurer or taking them to court, either way it's gonna be a hassle .

ugh this is so frustrating I had a similar experience with a supermarket car wash once and now I'm scared to even get my car washed again! £750 for repairs is no joke Tesco needs to take responsibility for their machines' maintenance and safety - it's not like it's a rare occurrence that cars get damaged in these automated washes They're basically just saying "oh, you shouldn't have done that" instead of owning up to the fact that their machine is faulty I'm definitely going to explore my options and see if I can make a claim - it's not fair that they're leaving me with all this financial stress