Member Since: 10 Apr 2017
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 401
Another Windscreen Story
With a newly arrived substantial crack in the windscreen and the MOT coming up at the end of November, time had come to do battle with it's replacement. Taking advice from the Forum, I called site sponsors A-Plan (my insurer) and said only a Pilkington/LR replacement would be accepted. No problem was the reply, we'll put you through to Auto Windscreens. That's fine said AW, we only fit Pilkington's screens. Booked in to their fitting workshop in Eastleigh, they said you'll receive a text the night before letting you know what time the appointment would be. Could you make sure it's not before 10 as Eastleigh can be a b*g*er to get to at peak time. Night before at 17:30 get a text to say I'm booked in at 9AM. Alarm bells should have been ringing. Got down there early only to find....yeah, crap windscreen. Fitter calls "HQ" to be told no request for Pilkington glass only. Checks the system and declares Pilkington's don't have any stock UK wide and that's why the crap has been sent. Not happy, I tell them to contact insurance company and decline the windscreen.
Called A-Plan (couldn't get hold of Carlie) to let them know the situation. Later that day I got a phone call from AW in Chesterfield. They reiterated that Pilkington don't have any stock and that's why the crap was sent. Lady at AW lost the script thread when I told her that I had a contract with them to supply a genuine screen. I said they needed to source a screen from wherever - not my problem. If I wanted to do that I'd have to pay the difference £390. Belly laughed, and hung up.
Following day called A-Plan and was told Carlie would call back. Sure enough she called me back and told me that she was fully aware of my predicament. Not only was she on the ball, but calling round different suppliers to find stock. Found one in Salisbury with National Windscreens but I'd have to pay them full whack (as insurance had no contract with NW) and send the invoice to the insurance company who would then refund me (less excess). All booked in for a replacement, fitter arrives and guess what? Crap screen. Turns out the screen in Salisbury with my name on it had been booked out to another job the day before. They expected the new one to be Pilkington but it wasn't. They will get one for the following afternoon.
Thursday afternoon and Andy, the NW engineer, is back. Main difference is this time it's with a Pilkington screen. Top man, he'd done plenty of LR vehicles, A pillar clips et al. Fantastic job.
Everything fully resolved now. Why does it have to be so difficult?
I would like to pass on my heart felt thanks to Carlie and Andy, but especially Carlie. Without her direct intervention and tenacity I would have been banging my head against a wall with a script reading no-sayer from Auto Windscreens in Chesterfield.
Member Since: 14 Sep 2015
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 484
Hi there,
reading this with interest what is the difference between the Pilkington and the "crap" window screens? I'm due to call my insurance for the same reason as you (small crack, MOT 30th of Nov). So would be really grateful of the run down.
Thank you
16th Nov 2018 11:34 am
Parky63
Member Since: 10 Apr 2017
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 401
Littlewill,
Some on here have had the cheap alternatives fitted and they've been fine. Others have had problems. General consensus is that Land Rover only fitted Pilkington Opticool and therefore that's what should be used as a replacement. Have a search on the Forum and you'll find plenty.
Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: Greater Venice
Posts: 2025
Very simple, Pilkington Opticool cost twice than a scrap glass!!!Discovery 5 tdv6 HSE Corris Gray Outback Engineering Limited Edition IID Pro MV License
16th Nov 2018 11:49 am
A-Plan Insurance Site Sponsor
Member Since: 30 Oct 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 350
Your welcome
I'm glad I could help and we found a resolution and that it got sorted!
Just to clarify in terms of the extra cost option - that was because the alternative was through dealership... and LR (as do all car dealerships) charge more for the glass because of the logo stamp - even though it is the same as PO glass
Carlie Howden | Specialist Vehicle Insurance
Call us on 01635 874646 for a quotation
Last edited by A-Plan Insurance on 16th Nov 2018 2:22 pm. Edited 1 time in total
16th Nov 2018 2:05 pm
Narpy
Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
It is totally possible to have a Pilkington screen installed without the LR logo.
I have a non LR branded screen currently installed to my car. It is a Pilkington Optikool (sp), says so on the screen, but it's not LR branded.
The fitter was amazed when I asked him to confirm it was a PO, as he'd never been asked before. Mods:
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Last edited by Narpy on 16th Nov 2018 7:43 pm. Edited 1 time in total
16th Nov 2018 2:12 pm
plocker
Member Since: 14 Mar 2016
Location: Preston
Posts: 828
I am the same Narpy, I have an Opticool branded window but was not LR.
It took me 3 attempts to get fitted, lodged a complaint with Autoglass and got my window excess refunded. 05 V8 HSE Bonatti Grey
Certainly can, but if you have any issues LR won’t help you as it is not classed as genuine due to the missing LR badge. Only totally genuine screens come from LR with the oval badge. Others may be Pilkington Optikool the same as LR, but without the LR badge not classed as 100% LR.
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and that it got sorted!
