Faulty car part, should my father pay the labour cost of replacing?

chucknorris

My father sent me this email, asking if I think that he is entitled to free labour as well as the part from a garage, who made the same repair last September, but the part (a pump for the power steering) has failed again, this is what he said:


I took the car into the garage today, and was told that the power steering pump was faulty.
When I had the car serviced on 29th Sept 14, the same problem was found, and they fitted a new pump costing me £104, plus labour £120. Total £224.
They phoned me today as they were closing, and told your mother, who answered, that the pump would be covered, but I would have to pay the labour cost. Obviously I don't agree with that. What are your thoughts.


What does everyone else think? Is the garage being reasonable, bearing in mind the faulty pump was only replaced last September. I'm not sure, their paperwork may say something about what they cover, but I am wondering if they still have to repair something fit for purpose, and would failing within 9 months be considered 'fit for purpose'. Has anyone had a similar problem and challenged the garage?

unholyangel

It depends why the pump failed.

If it failed due to an inherent fault or because of incorrect fitting by them, then they'd be liable for the replacement labour costs.

chucknorris

unholyangel wrote: »

It depends why the pump failed.

If it failed due to an inherent fault or because of incorrect fitting by them, then they'd be liable for the replacement labour costs.

Thanks, I found this:


https://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/personal/faulty-goods


Under the Sales of Goods Act, your consumer rights may allow you to get faulty goods repaired or replaced for free up to six years after purchase, although the longer you have had the goods the progressively more difficult it will be to show the defect arose as a result of the state of the goods at time of purchase.
If the fault arises within six months of the purchase, and it's not because of fair wear and tear, accidental damage or misuse, then the retailer must repair or replace the faulty goods. If the retailer objects, he must prove that the item wasn't faulty to begin with or that it wasn't expected to last very long.
If six months have passed and something goes wrong, you might still get a repair or replacement but you will have to prove that the goods were inherently faulty, i.e. show that there is no other cause, such as accidental damage, for the fault. To help you prove this, you may wish to obtain and independent expert’s report to back up your claim, although these can be expensive.

[Deleted User]

My ex is a mechanic, and I agree, i don't think this is fair, but I'm afraid it is normal practice. Problem is, if he goes to another garage, he'll have to pay for the pump and labour.

Your father could try to negotiate, and also ask if the company who supplied the part (they usually get them from a car parts supply company) will replace it under warranty. Its something my ex does. Then the company who supplied the part pays.., but not totally sure if this covers labour as well.

chucknorris

deannatrois wrote: »

My ex is a mechanic, and I agree, i don't think this is fair, but I'm afraid it is normal practice. Problem is, if he goes to another garage, he'll have to pay for the pump and labour.

Your father could try to negotiate, and also ask if the company who supplied the part (they usually get them from a car parts supply company) will replace it under warranty. Its something my ex does. Then the company who supplied the part pays.., but not totally sure if this covers labour as well.

Thanks, yes I think a soft response, saying something like:


"We always get our car serviced with you because we trust you, but we feel on this occasion that we should be covered for labour as well, because the part didn't suffer any accidental damage, and it has only just been over 6 months and we feel it was reasonable to have expected it to have lasted longer."


Might be worth a try.

[Deleted User]

Or negotiate part of the labour cost should be paid. Just starting out saying all of the labour cost should be free is probably going to hit a brick wall.

chucknorris

deannatrois wrote: »

Or negotiate part of the labour cost should be paid. Just starting out saying all of the labour cost should be free is probably going to hit a brick wall.

But it is the right place to start a negotiation, allowing them to offer a compromise.

bod1467

They may refuse, in which case you negotiate to cover the actual labour cost, and not the labour+profit hourly rate garages usually charge.

chucknorris

Thanks everyone, when my father challenged the garage, they backed down and conceded that it should be fitted for free, which it was.