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Garage Repair Problems

J_Collingridge
Posts: 5 Forumite
in Motoring
Hello, Not sure if this the right section sorry.
I really need some advice with a problem garage I'm dealing with.
A very long story short (5 A4 pages of notes inc phone calls etc so far) .... I took my car to my usual garage that Ive used for years with no issues, because the gearbox was making a really bad knocking sound.
Three days after I took it to them they called to say the box was gone and that they could supply a second hand one and fit it for £400. That was the 19th June and we agreed that car would be done by the 26th because I needed to have the car for work.
A week later they still hadn't ordered the box and with no courtesy car I wasn't able to work (Im self employed and need a car).
Three days after that the box arrived but they discovered that it was worse than my original one. the boss said he could order one from another supplier but it's £100 more. I need the car so said ok.
A few days later I called and was told that they hadn't ordered the new box yet because they want me to pay to have the broken box they supplied taken off the car.
I was sure that I shouldn't have to pay for this and a call to The Motor Code advice line and Trading Standards who confirmed that the box even though second hand was covered by the Goods and Services act. As it was unfit for purpose I wouldn't have to pay the labour charges.
I called the garage back and the boss got very aggressive and said that he knows the law and that Trading Standards are wrong ... Second hand gear boxes are not covered by the sale of goods act, and then hung up on me.
I couldn't get through to them again until the next day when I found out that the other box had been ordered.
A few days later a the other gbox had been fitted finally ... Only took three weeks !! but apparently on the test drive the car died !!
I called again the next day and they said its the fuel pump and it's going to be £300 plus labour !!
I really needed the car now so said ok.
It's been two weeks since they told me that the pump was faulty and every time I call I'm told that the boss is away and the mechanics don't know whats going on.
I finally spoke to the boss on Friday who said that he hadn't taken the old pump off to be refurbished yet, and when I said I need the car and it's ben 5 weeks now he got very aggressive and hung up on me.
He didn't pick up again on Friday so I really need some help for when I call him on Monday. I'll also be calling Trading standards for advice as well.
The car went to the on the 16th June. We agreed that the car would be done by the 26th, but now it's the 19th July and still no car.
I had to hire a car on the second weekend for work, and my wife has had to get some taxi's at £20 each way to work when her colleague could take her in. I haven't been able to work for the rest of the 5 weeks so I don't know if i'll even be able to pay them !!
I've no idea if they still intend on charging me for taking off the broken box they supplied, or when they are "going to get around" to fixing the fuel pump. I did mention getting another garage to take the car from them and they said that I couldn't do that, then changed his mind and said I could but I'd have to pay for the gbox work first ... even though I have no idea if they have done the work or if it even works.
I'll happily pay for the work they have done, but I really don't trust them now.
There's a lot more detail like phone calls etc, but it would be an even longer post .... any help would be appreciated.
J
I really need some advice with a problem garage I'm dealing with.
A very long story short (5 A4 pages of notes inc phone calls etc so far) .... I took my car to my usual garage that Ive used for years with no issues, because the gearbox was making a really bad knocking sound.
Three days after I took it to them they called to say the box was gone and that they could supply a second hand one and fit it for £400. That was the 19th June and we agreed that car would be done by the 26th because I needed to have the car for work.
A week later they still hadn't ordered the box and with no courtesy car I wasn't able to work (Im self employed and need a car).
Three days after that the box arrived but they discovered that it was worse than my original one. the boss said he could order one from another supplier but it's £100 more. I need the car so said ok.
A few days later I called and was told that they hadn't ordered the new box yet because they want me to pay to have the broken box they supplied taken off the car.
I was sure that I shouldn't have to pay for this and a call to The Motor Code advice line and Trading Standards who confirmed that the box even though second hand was covered by the Goods and Services act. As it was unfit for purpose I wouldn't have to pay the labour charges.
I called the garage back and the boss got very aggressive and said that he knows the law and that Trading Standards are wrong ... Second hand gear boxes are not covered by the sale of goods act, and then hung up on me.
I couldn't get through to them again until the next day when I found out that the other box had been ordered.
A few days later a the other gbox had been fitted finally ... Only took three weeks !! but apparently on the test drive the car died !!
I called again the next day and they said its the fuel pump and it's going to be £300 plus labour !!
I really needed the car now so said ok.
It's been two weeks since they told me that the pump was faulty and every time I call I'm told that the boss is away and the mechanics don't know whats going on.
I finally spoke to the boss on Friday who said that he hadn't taken the old pump off to be refurbished yet, and when I said I need the car and it's ben 5 weeks now he got very aggressive and hung up on me.
He didn't pick up again on Friday so I really need some help for when I call him on Monday. I'll also be calling Trading standards for advice as well.
The car went to the on the 16th June. We agreed that the car would be done by the 26th, but now it's the 19th July and still no car.
I had to hire a car on the second weekend for work, and my wife has had to get some taxi's at £20 each way to work when her colleague could take her in. I haven't been able to work for the rest of the 5 weeks so I don't know if i'll even be able to pay them !!
I've no idea if they still intend on charging me for taking off the broken box they supplied, or when they are "going to get around" to fixing the fuel pump. I did mention getting another garage to take the car from them and they said that I couldn't do that, then changed his mind and said I could but I'd have to pay for the gbox work first ... even though I have no idea if they have done the work or if it even works.
I'll happily pay for the work they have done, but I really don't trust them now.
There's a lot more detail like phone calls etc, but it would be an even longer post .... any help would be appreciated.
J
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Comments
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1.the garage boss is wrong with the gearbox, if he supplied it then he takes the hit on it, its his responsibility to purchase working SH boxes from reputable places, sounds like he took a chance on a box from flea bay, In which case he needs to choke on his mistake if he didn't check about warranty usually 14days with fleabay stuff.
Had You supplies the parts, then its a case of this is what happens when you supply to have fitted you end up paying labor whether it works or not.
2. If the fuel pump was an issue you had discussed with the gearbox to be replaced, then I would be asking questions like why wasn't one ordered the same time as the gearbox, but it sounds like this is a fault that arose during their possession of it and was known to them when they were doing the box, but there was no instruction to replace it, it finally died when you had the car back, and then (knowing that they gave you the run around with the gearbox) you chose to have them do the fuel pump.
3.fuel pumps especially ones bolted to the engine take time to come through on order, 3 day turn around, or if they send for repair 7-14 days turn around, if they haven't order one, and haven't taken your one off, then I'd simply pay for the gearbox minus their mistake of ordering a broken one, and take your care elsewhere and not return to this past trusted one.0 -
If you supplied the box then the garage boss would be right in asking for any costs to fit or inspect it. As they provided it then thats bad luck for them.
Thats why a lot of garages wont touch used parts.
Did it have any issues with cutting out previously?
Maybe time to buy something else?Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »2. If the fuel pump was an issue you had discussed with the gearbox to be replaced, then I would be asking questions like why wasn't one ordered the same time as the gearbox, but it sounds like this is a fault that arose during their possession of it and was known to them when they were doing the box, but there was no instruction to replace it, it finally died when you had the car back, and then (knowing that they gave you the run around with the gearbox) you chose to have them do the fuel pump.
Thanks for the replies.
The pump went while the garage was test driving the gearbox. I haven't had the car back since dropping it off on the 16th June.
I wouldn't have taken it back to them to fix it ... and won't be using them again.
At this point I just want the car back fixed or not. If not then I'll get another garage to fix it.
They have been passed the garage tonight and may car is locked away in a side garage !!!
They told me that it would be 5 days to get the pump back from the refurbisher, but it's the waiting two weeks so far for then to get the pump off that I'm angry about.
I've been very patient and calm on the phone with him but every time I call he gets very aggressive and hangs up on me if I say that i think it's taking to long.
Trading standards said that the gearbox should have been done within a reasonable time and that two weeks wasn't, so Im sure that they'll agree that 5 weeks so far for the box and pump isn't reasonable.0 -
forgotmyname wrote: »If you supplied the box then the garage boss would be right in asking for any costs to fit or inspect it. As they provided it then thats bad luck for them.
Thats why a lot of garages wont touch used parts.
Did it have any issues with cutting out previously?
Maybe time to buy something else?
No problems with the car before the box went. It went while the garage owner was driving the car.
The other issue I have is that I know a little about cars and most of my family either work in the motor trade or have retired from it, and they are saying that it might not be the pump.
The code reader says low fuel pressure and Its been sitting for 2 weeks so the first thing to check would be the filter.
I just don't trust them now !!
I wish I could afford another car. Ive just gone self employed so the budget is tight !!0 -
Pay them for the gearbox work and have it taken to another garage if they've agreed.0
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Pay them for the gearbox work and have it taken to another garage if they've agreed.
OP whilst your in the know informants are correct that standing vehicles have issues with starting after being stood and to check the filter, 5 weeks is not that great amount of time, plus im sure if its fitted with a primer head, they would have tried that, then checked to see if fuel was in the filter after he had a test drive failure.
frustrating as I maybe now for you OP, you pump is off the car, the pump is being refurbed, your car is in bits in their garage taking it now doesn't seem logical to me, you may as well hang in there, pay them for the work, and then not recommend them and not go back there.0 -
As of Friday the pump hadn't been taken off the car !!
Two weeks ago they told me that the pump was bad and that it would take a week to get back from the refurb, but two weeks later they haven't touched the car.
The reason for not working on it was ..... "We haven't done it yet" !!
I'm going to call Trading standards to update them and get some advice tomorrow. Then call the garage tomorrow to find out if they are willing to get the car done this week ... If not then I'll be getting another garage to pick up and fix the car.0 -
sounds like he is trying to recoup his lost labour on something else
i wudnt pay them to do the pump take it somewhere else for a 2nd opinion0 -
sounds like he is trying to recoup his lost labour on something else
i wudnt pay them to do the pump take it somewhere else for a 2nd opinion
This is my thoughts exactly.
I'm going to try and get that done tomorrow as Ive had enough now.
On Friday when I suggested getting the work done by another garage the boss said "Don't be silly" and hung up !!!0 -
Please do name th garage when / if this is resolved. Everyone loves a cryptic thread0
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