Garage disputes - Can you refuse to pay?

tbw

I think you could have a major problem getting your car back if you don't pay the bill. Some years ago I had a dispute with a garage (not about not paying though!) and had to take legal advice as they wouldn't give my car back. I was advised that the only time they could refuse to return the car is if the customer refused to pay the repair bill. It went to court, I got damages and the full cost of the car back plus interest (they had by then scrapped the car) and they got a hefty fine.

unholyangel

[quote=[Deleted User];48407079]If they do the work I've agreed then fair enough - no problem.

So far they've lied to me and havent done what they agreed. Thats when I dont intend to pay.

Please read the post fully next time.[/QUOTE]

In that case you should have stopped the work immediately, paid any amount owed at that point under protest then taken your car to another garage.

If they do the work you've agreed? The sticky part here comes in at what exactly did you tell them? Something general like "find the fault and fix it" may lead to more work. Saying specifically "i need new brake discs" is a bit more specific and limits them to what they can actually do.

texranger

but the way the OP puts it

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/3603691]Taken car to garage following break down this am.[/QUOTE]


would assume their car broke down, took it to garage and told them to fix it, nothing specific and then becuase they did not get it back within a few hours


[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/3603691] they're messing me about already [/QUOTE]

and then the OP decided to research the garage

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/3603691]
and I've seen some not great reviews on the web.
[/QUOTE]

forgotmyname

No payment will usually mean no car, And possibly a charge for storage also.


Unless its done by spammers, 99.9% of the online reviews are bad.

What sort of person thinks what a great service from that garage, I must rush home and register on
as many forums as i can and advertise for them.

Answers on a postcard to.

I know a spammer,

c/o Tinned meat products department.

PO BOX SPAM.

unholyangel

forgotmyname wrote: »

No payment will usually mean no car, And possibly a charge for storage also.


Unless its done by spammers, 99.9% of the online reviews are bad.

What sort of person thinks what a great service from that garage, I must rush home and register on
as many forums as i can and advertise for them.

Answers on a postcard to.

I know a spammer,

c/o Tinned meat products department.

PO BOX SPAM.

Thats actually true. People are far more likely to tell people about a bad experience than a good one.

[Deleted User]

texranger wrote: »

i have read the post. you have not given enough information. it seems you are upset as you took your car to a garage and then researched reviews after the fact. now it has been less than a day and you say they mess you about. last time my car broke down it was in the garage 3 days, by the time they found the exact problem and then got parts and fixed it.



so what have they lied about, did you know what the problem was, if not then you have asked them to fix the car, which is what you agreed too

OK. Fair point but I did say it was after a breakdown...

Hmmm. Well to be honest, I do tend to avoid garages that dont phone you back when they promise to.

[Deleted User]

To be fair to the garage, I picked the car up and they didnt charge me...

All I can accuse them of is probably telling a few porkies about the fact that they could look at it straight away. It seems they were busy and couldnt look at until about 3.30pm. However, they didnt phone me back twice when I asked them too. However, as far as the problem is concerned it looks like they're pretty busy and its gonna take a while so its booked into dealer now (and dropped off).

Probably more expensive but I need the car. No car I cant get to work too easily - no work = no pay for me.

Not going to name the garage because to be fair they did seem ok. No worse than a lot of small garages apart from maybe trying to cram the work in a bit much. Ended up thanking the guy but explaining dealer would probably be a more appropriate service for me. And like someone said, one or two bad reviews can happen

Gothicfairy

[quote=[Deleted User];48411279]OK. Fair point but I did say it was after a breakdown...

Hmmm. Well to be honest, I do tend to avoid garages that dont phone you back when they promise to.[/QUOTE]


What is it they haven't done ? Or is it just because they didn't call you back ?
If it is just about the lack of phone call then no you can not refuse to pay for work done.
If though they say " I have changed the spark plugs" but clearly haven't and you can prove it then no you don't have to pay them.

Gothicfairy

[quote=[Deleted User];48411421]To be fair to the garage, I picked the car up and they didnt charge me...

All I can accuse them of is probably telling a few porkies about the fact that they could look at it straight away. It seems they were busy and couldnt look at until about 3.30pm. However, they didnt phone me back twice when I asked them too. However, as far as the problem is concerned it looks like they're pretty busy and its gonna take a while so its booked into dealer now (and dropped off).

Probably more expensive but I need the car. No car I cant get to work too easily - no work = no pay for me.

Not going to name the garage because to be fair they did seem ok. No worse than a lot of small garages apart from maybe trying to cram the work in a bit much. Ended up thanking the guy but explaining dealer would probably be a more appropriate service for me. And like someone said, one or two bad reviews can happen[/QUOTE]


OK so after the first panic opening post it ended up all right..Hope you are going to add a review to reflect that.

proactive

bit of a storm in a teacup