Total loss of faith in garage

Littlemadam83

Hi peeps,

I am about to call trading standards when they open, but am looking for advice from you guys also as you are normally spot on.

I have a Vespa, MOTd in January, by the garage I am having all these problems with.

At the end of january my bike broke down, oil light came in and it conked out, would not start. We took it ti the garage, and for one and a half months we never received a call, had to chase them constantly and every time it was a case of "yes it will be done by tomorrow". The day came and went and it was never done, and they never would call us. 3 weeks ago it was "fixed", drove it home and the same thing happened, but this time the brakes also failed. They were fine before, and no advisory that they were worn on MOT.

Back to the garage it went because we did not want to shell out somewhere else when it was their fault it broke down again.

Low and behold apparently it was a separate issue, and last night I finally collected it after again no calls and me chasing the. They did only charge for brake bits and no labour so was happy enough.

It broke down again, I was stranded till 9.30 last night waiting for RAC to come and get me.

I am appalled we have shelled out £250 for a bike that still doesn't work.

We are going to take it to another garage, but I don't see why I should have to pay forthem to collect it? TS said we could claim back the amount paid on the original fault as we paid by credit card, but I am now taking the morning off work to deal eith it as I cannot afford to not get it sorted.

Does anyone have any help and advice on wheat else we can do, I am so angry.

Thank you in advance xxxx

Laz123

If it was me I'd take them to the small claims court online. It's easy to do, doesn't cost much and if and when you win they pay your costs also http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/

Brooker_Dave

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

Does anyone have any help and advice on wheat else we can do, I am so angry.

Buy a more reliable moped, and demand compensation from the garage.

Littlemadam83

Huy guys,

Thank you for your help. We paid by credit card, so will reclaim the money back that way.

Dave - We are looking at getting another bike, do you think i'd be able to claim anything? Where would I look to find the exact facts and figures kinda thing xxx

PZH

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

..I have a Vespa, MOTd in January, by the garage I am having all these problems with.

A valid MOT test does not neccessarily mean a vehicle will not break down.

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

At the end of january my bike broke down, oil light came in and it conked out, would not start. We took it ti the garage, and for one and a half months we never received a call, had to chase them constantly and every time it was a case of "yes it will be done by tomorrow". The day came and went and it was never done, and they never would call us. 3 weeks ago it was "fixed", drove it home and the same thing happened, but this time the brakes also failed. They were fine before, and no advisory that they were worn on MOT.

An MOT would only test that the brakes worked on the day - and there is no call to check wear on brake pads (not as far as I am aware anyway).

So, only the original fault (oil light) is in dispute here. The brakes are an entirely different fault.

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

Back to the garage it went because we did not want to shell out somewhere else when it was their fault it broke down again.

Low and behold apparently it was a separate issue, and last night I finally collected it after again no calls and me chasing the. They did only charge for brake bits and no labour so was happy enough.

So the garage agree the engine was different to the brake fault - and they accept that the original repair was not done correctly - hence no charge.

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

It broke down again, I was stranded till 9.30 last night waiting for RAC to come and get me.

I am appalled we have shelled out £250 for a bike that still doesn't work.

What fault did the RAC diagnose ?

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

We are going to take it to another garage, but I don't see why I should have to pay forthem to collect it? TS said we could claim back the amount paid on the original fault as we paid by credit card, but I am now taking the morning off work to deal eith it as I cannot afford to not get it sorted.

Does anyone have any help and advice on wheat else we can do, I am so angry.

Thank you in advance xxxx

The garage should deal with the original fault or refund all money paid in relation to it ( and possibly additional costs related to it - recovery, out of pocket expenses, etc ) - but you will probably have to have a *calm* conversation with them.

Failing that - you're route would be Small Claims for refund and reasonable costs - but make sure you have good documented evidence that you have given them every chance to correct the issues and make good.

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

We paid by credit card, so will reclaim the money back that way.

As stated - you would only be entitled to claim back for the cost of the original repair that failed (and not the cost of the brakes that I assume are now ok ?)

Littlemadam83

Hiya Phoodless,

Thanks for your helpful response x

I am sure we have had an advisory on brake pads before, I may be wrong. But yes that is a seperate issue as such, although they were fine before we took it into the garage, and something smells fishy that they would go the second we drive it away, also with the oil light coming on too and the engine cutting out, it all happened at the same time.

The RAC did not diagnose a fault, just that if the oil light was on it was best to get it towed home.

They have taken the bike back again as no other garages could fit us in. On the advice of TS we sent a letter a week about reasonable care and skill and time, which means in a week it expires and I will see if we need to go any further with that as it has since broken down again.

I really feel like I'm stuffed.

PZH

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

I am sure we have had an advisory on brake pads before, I may be wrong. But yes that is a seperate issue as such, although they were fine before we took it into the garage, and something smells fishy that they would go the second we drive it away, also with the oil light coming on too and the engine cutting out, it all happened at the same time.

Yes, I agree, but unfortunately it does not prove they are related

Littlemadam83 wrote: »

The RAC did not diagnose a fault, just that if the oil light was on it was best to get it towed home.

They have taken the bike back again as no other garages could fit us in. On the advice of TS we sent a letter a week about reasonable care and skill and time, which means in a week it expires and I will see if we need to go any further with that as it has since broken down again.

I really feel like I'm stuffed.

So the fault was indeed the oil light again and you now have the RAC as witness.

So, yes, I would agree that the garage have have fair opportunity to repair the fault and they have failed.

In the first instance I would request, in writing, that they refund the cost of the engine repair and also compensate you the cost of recovery (and any other reasonable expenses incurred).

If they fail that, then reclaim the money (For the engine repair) via the credit card. The Credit Card company will probably expect you to have tried to recover the money direct from the garage before they would entertain any refund anyway?

Any claim for compensation following the Credit Card route would then have to go probably go through small claims process.


EDIT: just read your comment about already sending them a letter. Did this request a refund ?