I need to either get it fixed or stop shooting with it...

my Canon G10 has a scratch on the lens
I am confident it was caused by the automatic shutter lens cover opens and closes every time the device is powered on and powered off

I saw it when it began
thought I may have scratched it myself
then saw the same diminutive flaw on my dad's G10
exact size... exact shape... exact spot

at first it did not effect the images
over time through an amazing amount of times turning the camera on and off this spot has gone from a diminutive speck to a massive worn spot on the lens

I really need to either get this fixed or stop shooting with it
the would be good results are ruined by a smudge in some shots more than others depending upon the lighting