A couple faced an unexpected bill of £1,800 due to damages incurred while their Range Rover was being washed at a car wash in Tesco Wrexham, North Wales. Andrew Fenn and Cara Burke had taken their toddler, Otis, for a wash before a family outing. During the wash, a malfunction caused water to spray into the vehicle, frightening the young child and leading to part of the SUV being ripped off.
Cara, a nurse, described the chaos inside the car as the wash caused the rear passenger door to open multiple times, drenching their toddler. The family was alarmed by the incident, which resulted in a loud noise prompting them to exit the wash mid-cycle. Upon inspection, they found the car’s top spoiler torn off, exposing internal wiring.
Despite the ordeal, Tesco’s follow-up investigations indicated that the car wash was operational, but advised against its use for Range Rovers. Jaguar Land Rover mentioned that using commercial car washes is generally discouraged by car manufacturers.
The couple, unsatisfied with the response, sought assistance from Tesco’s management but faced delays and unfulfilled promises of contact. Despite being referred to the head office and insurers, their claim was eventually rejected. The repairs cost them £1,800, and they are awaiting a detailed report on the incident.
Cara, who is pregnant, expressed her distress over the situation and the impact it had on their child. Tesco offered apologies for the incident and emphasized that claims are evaluated case by case. They suggested seeking legal advice and highlighted warnings advising against using the car wash for certain vehicle models.
In light of the experience, the family vowed to avoid automatic car washes in the future and emphasized the importance of caution when using such facilities. Jaguar Land Rover reiterated the risks associated with commercial car washes and the need to follow manufacturer guidelines for vehicle maintenance.
Tesco assured that their car washes are regularly monitored and maintained by Wilcomatic, with routine checks conducted to ensure proper functioning. Despite the setbacks, Cara remains determined to raise awareness about the potential hazards of automatic car washes and advocate for safer alternatives.