Body shop refusing to repair A/C

T.J. BURKE

MEMBER
2017 SUBARU FORESTER
2.5L
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
50,000 MILES

I got in a collision and damaged the front passenger side of my vehicle. Five months later the collision shop returned the car with the A/C not working. They admitted it was fine when it came in. They said the A/C switch just “went out and these things just happen”. They’re submitting it to insurance who probably won’t pay because the collision was not on that side of the car. So, they’re insisting I pay out of pocket.

Do I have any recourse here? They admitted it was fine when it came in but are trying to charge me $250.00 for parts and labor for an issue that occurred while it was in their care.

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
12,950 POSTS

While it sounds bad, if it was the switch that failed and wasn't a part, they worked on during the collision repairs they are not at fault and shouldn't pay for it. You said the part isn't on that side of the car so technically they are committing insurance fraud on your behalf. This would be the same thing if you were in a store, and they told you that you have to pay for the TV that fell over in electronics while you were overlooking grills in the garden center. You were in the store after all. Now if the issue was that they had to replace, say, the radiator and the replacement leaked I would say they are responsible for replacing it, or if they bolted the bumper cover on and it fell off the next day. However, holding them responsible for a part then didn't touch, nope.