Apologies for non-Ford topic but there's some very knowledgeable people on here.

My brother owns a 2006 Leon which he bought new. It only has 40,000 on the clock, is garaged and looks like new. Never had any damage...he parks in far corners of supermarket car parks.

In recent weeks the lower n/s front wing has erupted with rust bubbling.



Remembering he has a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty so he contacted SEAT and was sent to SEAT Hatfield. Chap walked out, took a two second glance and declared it was stone chip damage and therefore not covered. He didn't care to justify his diagnosis, as to how a stone can chip the side of the lower wing and how any subsequent surface rusting could corrode a car, that has a phosphorus-zinc coating, right through to the inside.



So what do you experts suggest? Treat it as a one of those things and fix out of his own pocket. Or engage an independent expert and take SEAT to small claims coat to get them to uphold their warranty?