Garage refused to fix car - help

melorablack

There's a problem with my car which a qualified mechanic has attempted to fix, however he is unable to complete the job as he hasn't got the required tools (he's newly qualified and said he'd take a look and do what he can as a favour).

However, when I took it to a local garage they won't fix it as it has been worked on by someone else.

Is this common and have I screwed up any chance of getting the car fixed?

oldtoolie

No. Find another garage -- ask friends for reccomendations or go to main dealer.

forgotmyname

Is this the garage that you bought the car from thats refusing?

Or the fact the other guy has done something major wrong?

What was the initial problem and why can't he fix it?

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

They may be refusing to fix it because the original person has done something that they can see has made it difficult or impossible to fix, or if you are just some guy off the street, they've decided it is not worth their while, and a risk - an excuse.

Try another garage. Someone else working on it is not necessarily a problem, but if someone has rounded off fittings by using the wrong tool so the original workman has actually damaged the car rather than simply realising it is something he cannot fix then it would not be surprising that some garages might not want to tackle the problem. However, in most cases, the opportunity for a nice big bill to rectify the problem should encourage them to take it on.

melorablack

Thanks. I was worried I'd jinxed the car and there was some unwritten rule that mechanics won't even try and fix someone else's work! As IanMSpencer said though... I would have thought most places would be willing to attempt it in exchange for the right amount of money.

I'll speak to the original mechanic and see if he can have another go now that it seems the problem may be something he's done wrong and I'll source a garage who'll take it on if it's still having trouble.

arcon5

Never known a garage to refuse work because somebody has worked on it before. In fact it's an opportunity for them to get a new regular customer on board.

colino

We'll have to wait for the OP to come back with more details, but with the amount of electronics on cars now, it is easy for a novice spanner twirler to quickly get themselves out of depth and cause very expensive damage.

photome

melorablack wrote: »

Thanks. I was worried I'd jinxed the car and there was some unwritten rule that mechanics won't even try and fix someone else's work! As IanMSpencer said though... I would have thought most places would be willing to attempt it in exchange for the right amount of money.

I'll speak to the original mechanic and see if he can have another go now that it seems the problem may be something he's done wrong and I'll source a garage who'll take it on if it's still having trouble.

Be careful about accusing him of doing wrong, he may not have done anything wrong

strange the garage wont even look at it

System

I think the reason is more because the mechanic has not completed the job than anything else.

A lot of garages are wary of taking on partially completed jobs as there is a danger of getting into a blame game if they can not complete the job or something goes wrong shortly after the work

topdaddy_2

Is this not an oppotunity for new garage to go " Ohh some cowboys been on this." *sucking teeth noise* "its gonna cost ya"?

sh0597

What's the problem with the car?