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.
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.
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 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 
.
According to their own data, over 40% of customers report damage after using the car wash. That's a pretty significant percentage 
. This lack of transparency and accountability can lead to frustration and financial loss for many customers 
. It's not just about sending a letter before action; it's also about gathering evidence to support your claim 
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 
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 
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? 
.
! 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 
. 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 
. 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 
have you considered reaching out to their customer service again, maybe there's some wiggle room for them to reconsider 
.
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 
. But honestly, I'm not surprised Tesco is dodging this one 
. They always seem to find a way out of trouble 
. I'm thinking of going through my insurer or taking them to court, either way it's gonna be a hassle