Paul Doyle, the owner of Monarch Panelbeaters and Spraypainters, last week set the cat among the pigeons when he protested the awarding of a job on an accident-damaged Volkswagen vehicle to Star Body Works.

Doyle insists that his actions are simply an attempt to get other players in the industry to play by the rules.

In November last year, Monarch acquired accreditation from Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA), making Doyle the only VW-approved panelbeater in Namibia.

Upon hearing that an insurance broker had awarded the repairs to a VW to another company, Doyle contacted not only the broker and the company in question, but also the client and VW Autohaus in Windhoek - all of whom appear less than pleased with his interference.

Doyle's argument is that by allowing a car still under warranty to be repaired by a non-accredited panelbeater, the broker, Pentagon Brokers, is voiding its client's warranty.

His opponents argue that the car owner has the right to choose where to have his car repaired.

Both Pentagon Brokers and the client have declined to comment on the issue.

The client, who did not want to be named, said only that he was awaiting guidance from the Namibia Panelbeaters' Association on how to proceed.

It is believed that the customer has complained to Volkswagen SA about being 'pestered' while in hospital by representatives of Doyle's company to award them the job.

Doyle, when asked to comment on this allegation, said all conversations his company had with the client happened by mobile phone, and the client had never indicated that he was in hospital.

Questions forwarded to Volkswagen South Africa about its policy on warranties had not been answered by the time of going to press.

However, according to information on the company's website, sending a car to a non-approved body repairer will result in the loss of warranty benefits.

Doyle meanwhile says that it was a long and arduous task to obtain accreditation from VW, something he believes needs to be respected by his peers.

"It took us about two years and N$4,7 million worth of investment in facilities and equipment to gain accreditation," he says.

Volkswagen reviews its accreditation every two years.

Doyle is no stranger to controversy, and late last year made headlines when he was one of the organisers of a meeting between panelbeating and insurance companies, apparently in an attempt to bring to an end unfair competition in the industry.

That meeting ended without consensus, as many in attendance walked out amid Doyle's accusations that insurance companies unfairly favoured certain panelbeaters at the expense of others.

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