Car Warranty

Mother_of

My husband got a used car a few weeks ago which apparently had a warranty but he was never given any paperwork for that warranty. It had also had a new MOT (apparently) but about 3 weeks after buying it i was out driving and the car started juddering violently and i had to stop the car. The garage took the car back in (it also had a starter motor problem which my husband found out about and complained about which they were due to fix) and checked it and said there was nothing wrong and no reason for that juddering to happen. They said they had specifically checked the brakes and they were in good order. The juddering has happened again several times so my husband decided to take it to Kwik Fit for a check and apparently the brakes are a mess. It needs new fluid, pads, calipers, hoses and discs at a total cost of £400. So he rang the garage we got it from to be told tough these things happen and the warranty only covers engine and gearbox. It is probably a month since the garage checked the brakes and said they were fine.
When he initially complained about the starter motor they said the warranty only covered mechanical problems and not electrical but as a gesture of good will they would only charge him £100 to fix it which they did. Surely brakes are mechanical?
We haven't got much money and we feel completey shafted by this garage but what can we do about it?

Foxy-Stoat_3

I would take it to a proper garage, not Kwik-scam and report back.

thenudeone

Things wear out all the time, and a warranty will never cover friction materials (brake pads/discs) or consumables (oil or brake fluid). Hoses / Pipes are often excluded as well.

But if you haven't been given any warranty paperwork how can you tell what's covered?

Under the Sale of Goods Act, the car should have been of merchantable quality at the time of sale, bearing mind the price.

If it was a £300 banger there is less scope to argue with the garage about repairs, than if it was £3000, say.

What checks were made about service history / brake pad wear when buying?

worried_jim

I am amazed that it doesn't need an exhaust and shocks as well.

Mother_of

I presume i am missing something about Kwik Fit?? It turns out it has cost us £277 for the work to be done! That is without having the new discs.
The garage we got it from only checked the brakes 4 weeks ago when we complained about the problem and they said they were in really good condition and that wasn't causing the problem. I got my Dad to have a look yesterday after driving to his and he said (from the heat and smell!) that it was the brake sticking.
The car was £2000.

worried_jim

Yes-never, ever go to Kwik fitt. All they will do is sell you every possible thing and then bodge the job.

scottishperson2

Mother_of wrote: »

I presume i am missing something about Kwik Fit?

If you left your phone number with them you'll get numerous cold calls each day trying to sell you stuff you don't want or need. This number will be passed around to whoever wants to buy it.

Kwik-fit, for people who have insurance with them, do auto-renewal. This is only clear in a FAQ part of the website, and is not mentioned in any of the documentation you receive.

worried_jim

scottishperson2 wrote: »

Kwik-fit, for people who have insurance with them, do auto-renewal. This is only clear in a FAQ part of the website, and is not mentioned in any of the documentation you receive.

To be fair to Kwik Fitt I think this is pretty standard across the car insurance industry and by now most people are aware of auto renewal because you get sent a letter about a month before hand stating "good news, you don't have to do anything...."

scottishperson2

There should, however, be an option NOT to do auto renewal. Although as they don't concern themselves with the opt-out for sales calls I don't think this would make much difference.

If you call to take out the policy I assume it is mentioned in the speel, however, online it is only mentioned in the FAQs, buried deep down in the list.

Kwikfit_company_representative

Mother_of wrote: »

I presume i am missing something about Kwik Fit?? It turns out it has cost us £277 for the work to be done! That is without having the new discs.
The garage we got it from only checked the brakes 4 weeks ago when we complained about the problem and they said they were in really good condition and that wasn't causing the problem. I got my Dad to have a look yesterday after driving to his and he said (from the heat and smell!) that it was the brake sticking.
The car was £2000.

[FONT=&quot]Hi there,
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[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We were concerned to read your comments about your issues with Kwik Fit.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If possible, we would like to discuss this further with you - please could you contact me at kwikfitwebcare@kwik-fit.com?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Kind regards,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Andy[/FONT]