Urgent garage ripping me off

COMPETITIONFANATIC

Hi, Hope somone can help that knows about this but basically bought a car under a Rac Warranty and the Gears went, it only would go in to fifth gear and reverse.

On the terms and conditions of our warranty it said we could use any vat registered garage but they would have to get a proper diagnosis via stripping the faulty part in this case appeared to be the gearbox. Once diagnosis found we would then have to call RAC Warranty to confirm before garage could do the job if its covered.

I queried with garage if it was even worth doing the diagnosis as suspected it would cost a lot but they said dont worry we will make sure we get it in the invoice a part of the repair job. Me like an idiot didnt ask how much it would cost nor did they tell me.

They said they sent the gearbox to the specialist mechanics who could find no fault so sent it a second time and it was the Gever Lever Cable which is frayed.

Anyhow I gave the garage strict instructions not to do any work before calling Rac but called me today quoting £1100 after putting in the new cables
Was so shocked .

I complained that the had done the work before checking with RAC and said they would take it down to £984.05

Still very bad !!

Anyhow they aso confirmed that RAC woudl not cover it a not covered under my gold warranty as not a major part.

My invoice is


Removed Transmission and sent away for specialist inspection.Refitted transmisson and replaced clutch as heavily worn £345.10

repaced gear linkage of freyed cable and carried out VCR £0.

Parts clutch kit 104.61
Slave £37.69
Specialist Gearbox and inspection and Repair
Gear Lever Cables £204.00
Gear Lever Cables £128.64

VAT 164.01 TOTAL £984.05

I cheked with 2 other garages and the removel and putting of gear box back in appears a fair price to other garages in area but should I be paying for the clutch even though In wasnt asked for a new one ?
Any thoughts would be appreaciated.

Feel like I have been robbed!!

TrickyWicky

Clutches are a service item like cambelts. They're going to fail at some point so while you have it all apart you replace it while you're there. Thats pretty standard. Just like with a cambelt, you replace the water pump, tensioners and idlers. He should have told you about that but its not a massive issue. Admittedly though the clutch isn't as serious as a cambelt and won't lead to catastrophic failure so it could have been put back together with the old one in place "for the time being".

What IS a massive issue is that he's told you he won't do anything without you checking with the RAC first and then going ahead and doing everything and then telling you after that the RAC won't cover it. Thats very bad and he's got you over a barrel now for the cash.

What he's done is lie to you. He's stopped you from going through the RAC so that he's guaranteed the work and the money irrespective of whether the RAC would or would not pay.

Your best bet is now to contact the RAC and / or seek legal advice. I doubt you have a leg to stand on but you never know - a letter from a solicitor could suddenly change this blokes attitude.

On the other side of the arguement, there is little point leaving them with a car that they can't diagnose a fault on if they can't strip it down to diagnose it. If they do strip it down then they're not going to put it back together broken (taking up more time) only to strip it back down again to fix it when they get the "Go ahead" signal from you. Why? The car will be blocking up their garage if its left in bits and they won't be able to take on any more work. To a point, it sounds as if you expected them to put all their other work / income on hold by having it in bits in the workshop while you and the RAC decided what to do with it.

Contact the RAC. Tell them what was wrong with the car and you've had to get it sorted. With luck they'll just pay it or at least contribute. You can fight it out with them if they refuse but at least see what their initial reaction is.

Also you need to get the car back as you no doubt need it so you may do well to find the cash somehow and pay for it.

maninthestreet

What make, model and year is the car?

custardy

It would be more foolish to remove a gearbox and not replace the clutch, if it was showing wear

fred7777

You are under no obligation to pay for any service you didn't ask the garage to do. It all depends on exactly what you asked the garage to do and what you can prove you asked for.

fivetide

maninthestreet wrote: »

What make, model and year is the car?

What relevance does that have to whether the garage has done work they were told not to?

The OP isn't questioning the price, just the proceedure...

I would agree with TrickyWicky's post. You need to see what/if anything RAC Warranty will do for you in the first place. At least you have used a registered garage (by the sound of it) not someone doing the report as cash in hand so that might help a wee bit.

5t.

COMPETITIONFANATIC

Thanks for the post. xxx I have already contacted RAC and they were useless . Confirmed not covered and said I could raise a complaint but they would just say the same thing!

Thanks for your help anyway

COMPETITIONFANATIC

Its a renault Megane 1.5 Litre Diesel 2003

thanks guys

TrickyWicky

COMPETITIONFANATIC wrote: »

Thanks for the post. xxx I have already contacted RAC and they were useless . Confirmed not covered and said I could raise a complaint but they would just say the same thing!

Thanks for your help anyway

Oh well thats alright then.. they sold you a warranty that won't cover anything expensive.

B*LL***S! You get back on the phone and make the complaint. Go all the way to the financial ombudsman if you have to. That warranty should cover you. They've sold you a warranty that should cover any expensive repairs and when push comes to shove they've told you to shove off.

Don't you dare let go of the hope of them paying without a fight! Raise that complaint, make life hell for them until they cough up some cash. If you don't then you might as well go to the bank and ask to be mis-sold PPI cover.

custardy

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Oh well thats alright then.. they sold you a warranty that won't cover anything expensive.

B*LL***S! You get back on the phone and make the complaint. Go all the way to the financial ombudsman if you have to. That warranty should cover you. They've sold you a warranty that should cover any expensive repairs and when push comes to shove they've told you to shove off.

Don't you dare let go of the hope of them paying without a fight! Raise that complaint, make life hell for them until they cough up some cash.

no,it should cover what the policy states it covers

COMPETITIONFANATIC

I rang back the RAC and they state that they are not under the Financial Ombudsman as the warranty is not an insurance it is a maintaince and breakdown policy so not regulated by a body.
Have raised a compliant but cant see it going anywhere.

Thanks for all the advice so far .