Spoiler, I'm after bodywork specialists relatively near to Cumbria who are open to fixing some shoddy work.
Heres the story.
I , like most of us here I imagine, fell in love with the VW campervan fairly early in life. My first vehicle was a Citroen Dispatch that I 'converted' myself. Then after a few years of saving I was ready to by a VW bay window. I know, hang on. Upon discussions with my friend (NegativeGravity) he persuaded me that T25's were far superior and he wasn't wrong. So after a good bit of looking I purchased Sweetcorn. After many breakdowns, trips and cups of teas on the side of the road and just scraping her through MOT's I had saved up enough to sort out the increasing issue of the bodywork.
So I did some research and based off some local trusted sources and a good review I went to see Des. He specialised in classic vehicles he had Bay's in the shop and T25's a few minnis and a mustang all in various states of completion. He advised me that the best thing to do was sandblast the whole thing replace jacking points that has rusted through and new panels. Great news, we agreed that it should be done right as Sweetcorn was a vehicle I wanted in my life for well the rest of it.
I stripped out the interior, which just so happened to spark a career in campervan interiors, dropped the engine took the windows and pop-top off. It was basically a Box on wheels with a handbrake and itsd doors ducktaped shut. And sent jer off tho the sand blaster. She (mostly) came back and went into Des.
I supplied the panels and he asked for some cash for supplies. I happily obliged. About 3 months passed and he presentedc me with some pictures and a bill.
The work was not completed but he wanted paid for where he was upto. My first mistake was here when I paid. This continued for around 18 months until I'd paid a total of 6k with a 1.4k Final bill.
When Sweetcorn was dropped off, I was amazaed she looked so good! The colour was way better than I had expected. I then started looking closer and saw panel lines come and go, bits of filler not sraight and not covered. The raptor paint underneath missing entire sections and in one place painted over a small pile of sandblasting sand.
I wasn't happy. I curated a list of the bits that needed sorting. I got des roubnd and we did a walk around. He took no notes just made excuses and promised it would be fixed. I offered to give him the two pages of notes to match where I'd circled the main defects.
He took it away and got to work, about 3 month later he said would i like to come a check her before he painted her again. I said she was better however there were still seams coming and going and des said he would sort therm before painting. Around 3 days later he was done. I couldn't wait I went to se her and I was dumbfounded when I saw all the th8ngs I'd mentioned to him earlier were all still there.
My second mistake was here where he was busy with someon else so I just said cheers and left. I then emailed him and said i wasn't happy with his standard of work and was there anything we coujld do with regards to the final bill as I was going to have to take her somewhere else to get her sorted. He offered me half off and I took it as I wanted to get Sweetcorn back and safe.
Since then I ended up buying a house and starting a campervan conversion business (If your interested - viewtopic.php?p=8306222#p8306222) so I ended up putting sweetcorn in storage and trapsed her engine and bits and pieces into the garage attic.
I've deciced enough is enough and its time to get her back on the road so I'm looking for someone to help put me right. Ideally they would check the structural work. I'm now fairly proficient at raptor painting so I'm happy to do the underside. But I'd like someone who knows what they are doing to check the panel work and then repaint my beloved sweetcorn so I can put her bits back in and then fit her out and get on the road!
Thank you in advance for any knowlegder or information you guys can pass on!
Paul
