Norwich Union Claim
involving
East Bilney Coachworks, Mark Colin Baldwin, Affiliate. Inst. A.E.A. M.I.R.T.E. EngTech. C.A.E. M.I.M.I.
&
1997 Green Jaguar XK8

28 December 2006
Open Day at Racing Green in Hampshire.
Zeemax showed for the first time in public, their wide body and standard width conversions for both XK8 & XKR

The doors opened at approximately 10.a.m., and by lunchtime, the owner of a 1997 Green XK8 had placed an order for the wide body conversion to be carried out on his car.

January 3 2007
The above mentioned 1997 Green Jaguar XK8 arrived at East Bilney Coachworks at around 5 p.m.

February 15 2007
The owner went to East Bilney Coachworks to collect his car. He pointed out several faults with the paintwork, and had to wait whilst East Bilney Coachworks corrected them. He then took the car away.

March 15 2007
Zeemax was notified that the Green XK8 was damaged. We cannot say the exact date and cause of damage.

March 16 2007
The car arrived at East Bilney Coachworks around 5.p.m.

There was impact damage, a crack approx 8 inches to the lower edge of the passenger side rear bumper, caused by a hard impact to the rear wheel thus deflating the rear tyre. The wheel had a inch indentation in the outer rim. Mark Colin Baldwin took pictures of the damage.

In the presence of both Directors of Zeemax, Mark Colin Baldwin, photographed the car, and phoned the owner and told him that the damage would not be thousands, but around £750.00 to repair.

March 23 2007

Zeemax was forwarded a copy of an email from Mark Colin Baldwin to the owner of the car which included Mark Colin Baldwin giving him advice on how to claim for the damage on his Norwich Union insurance. We have a copy of this email on our file.

On 29th March 2007
Mark Colin Baldwin of East Bilney Coachworks said that he had got clearance from Norwich Union and ordered from Zeemax:

1 Rear Bumper
1 Left hand lamp pod
1 Left hand rear quarter panel
1 Left hand side rear quarter spoiler end
4 Wheels (Mark Colin Baldwin said he could get the tyres himself)

The total cost of this order was £6,352.34.

Zeemax phoned Mark Colin Baldwin and queried why he would need all these parts for a £750 repair. Especially why all 4 wheels needed replacing as the two front wheel rims only had scuff marks and the back driver side wheel had no damage, whereas the passenger side wheel outer rim only needed replacing.

Mark Colin Baldwin stated something about the problems that had now surfaced with the Zeemax demonstrator Black XKR and that the Green XK8 may have the same problems. However, East Bilney Coachworks never claimed that the Green XK8 was a prototype, and yet it was the same bodykit as the Zeemax Black XKR, which they claimed was a prototype. All the other Jaguar wide body conversions have had the same kit fitted. Strange that.

While the Green XK8 was at East Bilney Coachworks investigations were continuing into what had gone so horrifically wrong with the Zeemax demonstrator.

April 17 2007
East Bilney Coachworks faxed repair estimate to our manufacturers Insurers together with Zeemax Black Jaguar repair invoice. See Zeemax Black Jaguar April 17th 2007.

April 19 2007
Received telephone message from Colin Joseph Baldwin asking for the name of the product to use to bond on the rear panels. BSi Certified Bodyshop asking us? We have copies of the emails we sent to East Bilney Coachworks telling them what product to use

April 20 2007
Zeemax received a request for the same parts but for the other side of the car. Zeemax phoned Mark Colin Baldwin to ask why they were replacing the Zeemax panels on the other side when clearly there had been no accident damage. The answer to this question lies in the Norwich Union investigation and the outcome thereof.

The wheels that East Bilney Coachworks supplied under this claim, were not fitted to the car. The owner has since offered them for sale. Not sure what exactly happened about the tyres as they were unobtainable at that time.

For the avoidance of doubt, at this stage Zeemax was not sure of East Bilney Coachworks intentions as regards any claim being made to Norwich Union or indeed, anyone else.  

May 5 & 6 2007
The owner took his car to the XK8/XKR Owners Club Meeting at Charlecote Park, Warwickshire and won “Best Modified XK8”

Some 19 days after this event the owner phoned Zeemax and insisted that they inspect his car at his home in Hampshire as there were bubbles coming up on the rear wings on the car.

May 26 2007
Both Zeemax and the Manufacturer inspected the car and took photographs of the condition of the car.

The following faults:

1. Both rear window trims were hanging loose

2. Front Windscreen surround was loose and the under rubber hanging down to the floor.

3. The rear quarter panels were rippled and small bubbles all along the panels.

4. Above the rear quarter panels on the original steel panels there was a bubble the size of a Duck egg which when pushed on was solid. See pictures.

The car went back to East Bilney Coachworks several times after this to have the repairs rectified.

June 14 2007 @ 14:00hrs
East Bilney Coachworks collected from Zeemax the wheels that were never fitted to the Green XK8.

Norwich Union
It is believed that the claim that went to Norwich Union for this car was in the region of £12,000.00

Let’s not forget the original quote to the customer for £750.00. for the small repair that was needed, a crack no more than 8 inches long plus one outer wheel rim and tyre.

July 5 2007
Aviva, Group Financial Crime of Norwich Union conducted an inquiry which we understand resulted in them giving East Bilney Coachworks 21 days to return their money or go to Court.

The position being with Norwich Union was that Norwich Union wanted, and got, money back from East Bilney Coachworks regarding the claim on this car.

SEPTEMBER 2007: (taken from the website of East Bilney Coachworks)
· Partners Colin, Mark, David and Joanne attended the 2007 Bodyshop Magazine Industry Awards in Birmingham where East Bilney Coachworks were finalists for four awards: Bodyshop Training Award, Customer Care Award, Bodyshop Manager of the Year and Independent Bodyshop of the Year. We are pleased to announce that East Bilney Coachworks won the Independent Bodyshop of the Year Award 2007! We are delighted to receive this prestigious award.

October 2007
We believe that East Bilney Coachworks complied with Norwich Union’s request.