Garage from Hell do I have a case?

tomfoth

Hi,

I have a 52 Renualt Clio 172 which I took for a full service & Cam belt & auxillary belt change at a renualt specialists in Newcastle at a cost of £1200

I week later the belt failed causing £1500 worth of engine damage

spoken to quite a few main dealers and they said the following:

"why didn't they spot the broken alternator pulley when the car was apart, i do these day in day out, you'd notice that even if you were blind, i'm betting money they've damaged the pulley putting the aux belt on, i see it all the time when garages who don't have the tools/experience work on them, but i' still yet to see an alternator cause a belt failure

i bet they didn't get the aux belt seated properly and it has shreded itself"

I was followed by someone from my home, then when I stopped at the shops the garage took there courtesy car back! I though the car had been stolen.

So me & my 2yr old daughter were stranded, they have sunk to a all time low, especially when I'm being polite & profession to try and get the issue resolved.

There are even holding my daughters kids seat until I return the key.

Do you think it's worth taking legal action or cut my losses and pay another garage to fit a new engine?

The garage won't except liability even if I get a independent inspection.

Then today I have just had a invoice for £284 which was to find out the belt has shredded, and won't release the damaged car before I pay the invoice, as I plan to take somewhere else as I need my car to get to and from work.


The garage is called Centreville garage in Heaton has anyone else had a bad service from here?

What should I do? I have never been this cross is all my whole life

Many thanks

more_money_for_me

You have clearly tried the reasonable route, so I would do 2 things. first I would get in touch with the CAB who will advise what rights you have. Secondly I would get in touch with the local paper to see if they want to do a piece on rogue traders.