What would YOU do.....? (mechanic taking the mick)

j4g3d

Ok so my car wouldnt start

Took it to a specialist garage who said they will diagnose the problem with the diagnostics (£40) and tell me what they have found.

They done the diagnostics but then went behind my back and done a manual strip down of the electrics (£60 per hour, not sure how long they spent on it as they wont tell me they said they have not worked it out)

They call me and say it needs a part, so i buy the part (£385) + labour and take it to them. They fit the part and then thats the last i heard from them for a whole month even though i tried calling 2 or 3 times but the boss is always out.

Now 2 months later they call and tell me its been a nightmare, they had to spend 20 hours labour on it (£60 per hour) to find the electrics were melted and had to be re-wired and it required another part (£430 without labour) which they bought behind my back without telling me first. Also they are changing the brakes without my permission, even though i said no leave it they insist its extremely dangerous (bare in mind it past its mot 4 days BEFORE the car was in there hands)

So im left with what looks like a bill of about £2000 on a car worth only £5000. I dont want to pay, i have no intentions to pay this amount. What do you think i should do? Im guessing the only way around it is pay then take them to court?

Shimrod

I'm pretty certain that if you didn't agree to the work, they can't charge you for it. That doesn't mean that you get it for free, but they should 'undo' what they have done.
Do you have any legal cover with house insurance that might be able to help? Alternatively, consider joining the which? legal advice line (£51 for a years subscription).
I'd be reluctant to pay and then take them to court afterwards, but I guess it depends on how long you can you without you car.
Whichever option you choose, it looks like you are probably going to have a fight on your hands so it would be worth making sure of your rights before you start, and which approach would be most effective.

j4g3d

Well i could do with my car back now as i need it. Ive been without it for 2 months and may i add cost me £220 in insurance costs (£110 monthly). Ontop of the bill itself.

I just cant see how any garage would operate like this? if i was a mechanic and i had a customers car in i would call them before doing any extra work or ordering any parts incase they say no. The part they spent £430 on i can get used for £50.

I am seriously thinking to pay and then learn from my mistake of taking a car to a garage. Or if i dont pay it would seem like it would take months and months if it did goto court as the garage would probably not release my car.

eschaton

So you have left your £5k car at a garage for 2 months to get fixed ?

Tell me you are trolling and having a laugh ?



And.... £220 insurance - explain that? do you think insurance is an annual policy or just for when you drive the car ? Would you do a 1 hour journey and say that has cost me £10.00 in petrol, 15.3p inurance and 1.7p in road tax.

Some people !!!!!

spark_deals

j4g3d wrote: »

if it did goto court as the garage would probably not release my car.

Take some sound legal advice and take the garage by the horns. But
let them know politely what you agreed to do and don't. Also make them aware that you are taking legal opinions and if necessary, legal action.
HTH

j4g3d

eschaton wrote: »

So you have left your £5k car at a garage for 2 months to get fixed ?

Tell me you are trolling and having a laugh ?



And.... £220 insurance - explain that? do you think insurance is an annual policy or just for when you drive the car ? Would you do a 1 hour journey and say that has cost me £10.00 in petrol, 15.3p inurance and 1.7p in road tax.

Some people !!!!!

I dont understand what you mean? i left my car at the garage to HOPEFULLY get it fixed within the week. Its not my choice for them to hold it for 2 months.

As for insurance. No you have insurance whether you use the car or not. It was just an example as i like to get the most for my moneys worth, and that includes actually using the car seen as im paying £110 a month insurance.

eschaton

j4g3d wrote: »

I dont understand what you mean? i left my car at the garage to HOPEFULLY get it fixed within the week. Its not my choice for them to hold it for 2 months.

As for insurance. No you have insurance whether you use the car or not. It was just an example as i like to get the most for my moneys worth, and that includes actually using the car seen as im paying £110 a month insurance.

You let them hold it for 2 months - any sane person would have had the car back after the week.

Them doing this is just them ripping the !!!! out of you.

j4g3d

eschaton wrote: »

You let them hold it for 2 months - any sane person would have had the car back after the week.

Them doing this is just them ripping the !!!! out of you.

It also cost me £80 to get the car recovered to the garage in the first place. Waiting 1 week and then deciding to go elsewhere would of cost me another £80 to get it on a flat bed to another garage along with the bill which was currently at £400+ odd.

After 1 week i did not know the company would act the way they have by ordering parts and marching on doing the work without telling me. like i said i could not get through to the boss he was ALWAYS out. And he was the only person working on my car apparently as it was a 'BIG and COMPLEX JOB'

eschaton

j4g3d wrote: »

It also cost me £80 to get the car recovered to the garage in the first place. Waiting 1 week and then deciding to go elsewhere would of cost me another £80 to get it on a flat bed to another garage along with the bill which was currently at £400+ odd.

After 1 week i did not know the company would act the way they have by ordering parts and marching on doing the work without telling me. like i said i could not get through to the boss he was ALWAYS out. And he was the only person working on my car apparently as it was a 'BIG and COMPLEX JOB'

They are taking you for a mug - not that you won't have realised that yourself.

j4g3d

eschaton wrote: »

They are taking you for a mug - not that you won't have realised that yourself.

Well yes hence the title of the thread.

I appriciate the comments so far but im a little worried of leaving my car with them for months and months and months if i am to go down the route of legal advice and argueing the matter.

what to do what to do...

eschaton

j4g3d wrote: »

Well yes hence the title of the thread.

I appriciate the comments so far but im a little worried of leaving my car with them for months and months and months if i am to go down the route of legal advice and argueing the matter.

what to do what to do...

If you have a spare key - if the car is left out in the open, go back at night and take it back.

Then argue over the bill.