Car (or should I say, garage) troubles and the Consumer Credit Act

emilyb_2

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can advise me what I should do next re. a dispute with a chain of fast fit garages. I booked a very cheap MOT with this chain at the start of June and thought I'd got a good deal. I failed my MOT on the CV joint and agreed for £120 worth of work to be done so that the car would pass. I paid for this with my debit card.

The following day, I packed my car up to go on holiday for a week and... it broke down. Or at least, I couldn't drive it because the steering wheel was shaking and there was a very strange noise coming from the front driver's side of the car.

Initially, when I returned to the garage, they said there's nothing wrong with your car at all. So, I drove home again. However, the next day, there was something still very clearly wrong with the car. I took the car back to the garage again and clearly said please can you fix whatever is making my steering wheel shake and the weird noise. They said, oh yes, it's your suspension and that work cost £266. I was annoyed but I paid for this on my credit card.

Shortly after this, it became clear, the problem was still not fixed and I went back again to complain. They said they'd have a look and decided to swap my wheels around. They mentioned something about the anti roll bar having come loose. The man at the desk said there are lots of things wrong with your car and it is old. At this point, I was fairly irritated as I'd had 2 advisories on MOT the previous week! Plus, my car had been absolutely reliable and fine until my MOT.

The final straw was when I made the first longer journey in my car following the work. 20 miles away from home I broke down at the side of the road. The RAC report states that the CV joint that had been fitted on my MOT had failed because it had no grease on it. The car was recovered to the garage but I couldn't allow them to replace the part as they were refusing to put extra grease on the part, as it comes with a small amount on it. Several mechanics have told me that this is not acceptable.

I then had to pay £50 for a private recovery firm to move my car to another garage and £90 for the part to be fitted and the wheels to be realligned.

I am now penniless and very stressed. I spoke to the regional manager who was unsympathetic and the best he was willing to do was to send me a cheque for £120. I have spent over £500 and have no money for the rest of the month. I have written a letter to the company's head office asking for a refund, quoting the Suppliers Goods and Services Act 1982 and asking for a reply in 7 days. I haven't yet had a response.

I have also contacted my credit card company re. the Consumer Credit Act. Does anyone know where I stand in this particular instance as it is not clear cut?! The work that was paid for on the credit card in itself was not the problem but was done under false pretences. The card is with the Bank of Ireland and on the phone, it was unclear what I had to do and what they were going to do about it...

Any help would be much appreciated!!