suspect I am going to be ripped off. Use credit card?

jimblob_2

Hi people. My motorbike has been in a garage because I asked them to sort out a problem with it not restarting once warmed up. Otherwise running prefectly and always starts from cold.

It should have taken 1 or 2 days to rebalance the carbs but something went wrong when they tried to service them. Despite getting them a set of reconditioned parts immediately, they've taken over a month to fit them and have done next to nothing with the bike the whole time.

Speaking to the mechanic last week he said the bike should be back any day now, and it is "running as well as can be expected". I have a sneaking suspicion that they have done very little, and possibly haven't address the problem I asked them to deal with. I may be wrong, but I suspect that the bike will be no better when I pick it up than it was when I left it.

Given that they are going to charge me several hundred pounds labour, what can I do to protect myself??

I've thought of writing a cheque and then cancelling it if the bike is not working properly but that seems a bit sly and I doubt I'd get away with it. I've also thought of using a credit card - if I did would I be protected?

Any ideas?

Thanks, Jim

Gold_Shogun

DEFINITELY pay by Your Personal & Primary Credit Card (NOT a "Second Card" OR a "Business Card").

That way, Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the CC Company is Legally "Equally Liable" for any transactions over £100 (and less than £30,000).

That means that IF the bike is not properly repaired, you can legally refuse to pay the CC company until the bike is Properly repaired (& they can either force the repairer to do it properly or chargeback the bill to them) OR you can get it fixed properly elsewhere & pay for it with the same CC and then debit that from the original charge).

scotsblood

When having ANY work done on a vehicle ALWAYS, ALWAYS insist all parts that have been replaced are returned to you.

Any reputable dealer will be happy to pass junk they may well have to pay disposal charges on to be taken away by you!

The only exception would be for items replaced as service exchange or as a warranty claim, but ask to see them anyway. If in any doubt about just how much work has been done ask to see the technicians job card, this should show how much time was actually booked to the job not just what was charged!

Markyt

Ask for an itemised bill detailing exactly what has been worked on, how many hours labour etc.