Mechanic Nightmare

dizzylisa

Please can anyone advice me as I am in a right mess.

A month ago I bought myself a Golf 1.6 16v on a 2001 plate, the car was sound but due to my job working for Domino's as a delivery driver I decided to have a new cambelt kit fitted by a mobile mechanic. Two weeks later when on my way home from a hospital appointment 10 miles from home, a bolt in the engine sheared off wrecking all 16 valves, I called out the mechanic who stratched his head and help to push the car onto a side street where is stayed for a week, every day he said he was going to recover, it finally came back to my drive on Tues its now Saturday. He's taken the engine out and taken it to his house, he's also now saying that it isnt his fault the timing belt had failed and "not to worry as it is under guarantee". A few days later he told me that the parts company (not the manufacturer) was going to supply all the parts to fix it? Within the conversation he mentioned the parts company name, so I called them. They knew of this incident but had not agreed anything as it will need a full investigation, which could take months however this mechanic had ordered parts (don't know what though) they arrived on Thursday and my car was promised back yesterday, then I got my ex-partner to call him today and he then said it will be done today.

I have lost £300 in wages and my little girls follow up appointment in Manchester is Monday, I am a single parent and running out of money fast as I can no longer work been without my car for 2 weeks now? And the mechanic isn't answering his phone now!

unholyangel

Dont mean this in a bad way but whats the question?

forgotmyname

The pitfalls of taking the cheaper option.

Single man mobile mechanic? So a curtesy car etc will be out of the question.

Can you prove he was negligent and failed to fit the belt properly? Or was it an unlucky event and a new part failed?

Did he do just the belt of tensioners etc also?

The problem is he will be out of pocket also, So doing the work for free. Unless he can claim back his labout costs from the manufacturer/supplier.

dizzylisa

forgotmyname wrote: »

The pitfalls of taking the cheaper option.

Single man mobile mechanic? So a curtesy car etc will be out of the question.

Hardly the cheaper option. I don't know anything as he's now disappeared with my engine and car keys not been seen since last Weds. I have contacted auto-services and he hasn't even been in to collect any parts nor return the damaged items for inspection. He told me on Weds that he has the parts already

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

dizzylisa wrote: »

I have lost £300 in wages and my little girls follow up appointment in Manchester is Monday, I am a single parent and running out of money fast as I can no longer work been without my car for 2 weeks now? And the mechanic isn't answering his phone now!

Easy pleasee, children are involved.

ILW

dizzylisa wrote: »

Hardly the cheaper option. I don't know anything as he's now disappeared with my engine and car keys not been seen since last Weds. I have contacted auto-services and he hasn't even been in to collect any parts nor return the damaged items for inspection. He told me on Weds that he has the parts already

Do you know his address?

dizzylisa

Yes I know his address but what can I do? I have sent him a letter giving him 7 days to contact me and replace engine and keys, still no contact. Should I call they Police, its been weeks now?

dizzylisa

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

Easy pleasee, children are involved.

What is that suppose to mean?

19lottie82

Police won't be bothered, this is a civil matter, not a criminal one.

dizzylisa

Hes taken my engine and car keys?

Retrogamer

Yes, you handed him the car keys and he's taken the engine for the repairs you asked him to carry out.

I'm not defending the mechanic, but the police will restate the above bit and say it's a civil matter, not criminal.