Car Damaged While in Garage - do i have a leg to stand on?

JamieK7

Hi this is my first post on hear just wondering if anyone has any advice on this..... (sorry its a long one!)

In September I took my car for its MOT and service at GARAGE A. GARAGE A do not actually carry out the MOT test, they take it to a third party MOT station. A bit of work needs doing for it to get through the MOT (the work is done by Garage A) then they service my car and I get it back a couple of days later and im happy (apart from being £240 worse off!!)

Fast forward to December and my brake fluid warning light comes on so I top it up...... the day after the same again so there is obviously a leak and my brakes have now completey failed! So I take it back to Garage A which has shut for christmas and will be shut till into the new year.

So I get in touch with a friend who runs Garage B which is a bit further away but is open and manage to get my car to him. He fixes my car and explains to me that whoever worked on my car last (GARAGE A) has bent a brake pipe which has eventually started to leak causing my brakes to fail. My bill to fix this today was £165.

Im guessing its going to be pretty hard to prove that Garage A caused the damage as it was 3 months since they did the work.

Any advice or am I just going to have to take it on the chin (or in the pocket!!)

Thanks

Jamie

HappyMJ

3 months is a bit too long to wait I think. It's going to be near impossible to prove it was the garage's fault.

pcombo

why not just take the car to a garage who has on the spot MOT testing and can fix.

Cars dont come cheap when they break.

pendulum

If they bent a brake pipe why would it suddenly start leaking 3 months later? I'm not saying it can't happen but there are also a number of other explanations and to my mind there is a lot of doubt that the original garage are liable. The £165 repair isn't that much either, so if after talking to the original garage they refuse to pay, you are best writing it off.

Is it possible Garage B is blaming Garage A so that you always take the vehicle to Garage B in future?
Or that Garage B, being run by your friend, wishes to big his own skills up by attempting to run down the skills of others? Possibly...

JamieK7

Cheers mate. I didnt know they had done the damage until today but I know what you mean. I doubt they would take me seriously. The way they explained it to me today at the garage it was definately them who damaged it. But I think it would just be my word against theres.

Thanks for the reply

JamieK7

sorry that was for happymj - not to used to writing on forums!

JamieK7

pcombo wrote: »

why not just take the car to a garage who has on the spot MOT testing and can fix.

Cars dont come cheap when they break.

Just because the MOT place generally charge quite a bit more for their repairs than the garage I use and up until now ive never had a problem with them.

cheers

Jamie

JamieK7

pendulum wrote: »

If they bent a brake pipe why would it suddenly start leaking 3 months later? I'm not saying it can't happen but there are also a number of other explanations and to my mind there is a lot of doubt that the original garage are liable. The £165 repair isn't that much either, so if after talking to the original garage they refuse to pay, you are best writing it off.

Is it possible Garage B is blaming Garage A so that you always take the vehicle to Garage B in future?
Or that Garage B, being run by your friend, wishes to big his own skills up by attempting to run down the skills of others? Possibly...

The brake pipe was bent up against the chassis of the car and has been rubbing against it and has finally split. I know what your saying though and these are all of the kind of questions that I know garage A will come back with. Which is why im thinkin I may just have to leave it.

I know 165 isnt massive for a car repair bill but its not the point. Im having to fork out for damage that a mechanic did to my car whilst I was paying him 240 for the privelige.

cheers

Jamie

mo786uk

well there is a legal answer and a practical answer -both of them will probably end with not getting nay money back unless garage A feel particularly generous.

JamieK7

mo786uk wrote: »

well there is a legal answer and a practical answer -both of them will probably end with not getting nay money back unless garage A feel particularly generous.

I cant really see them just saying "im really sorry about that mate, heres 165 quid to cover your repair bill" haha.

Its a good job they were shut today because I drove rounfd there before and I was fuming. Have calmed down a bit now! :mad:

JamieK7

mo786uk wrote: »

well there is a legal answer and a practical answer -both of them will probably end with not getting nay money back unless garage A feel particularly generous.

thanks for the reply though