Bad garage work - next step?

PenandSword

Hi guys,

So , my car went in for an MOT recently. They flagged up some problems with the rear brake pipes and fixed them, then it passed the MOT.

A few days later, the brakes were noticeably bad. I literally had to floor the pedal for anything to happen. Emergency stops were impossible.

I took the car to a different garage, as I was away from home, and they showed me how the rear brake pipes had been replaced in a very bad way.

The pipes were bent at weird angles and attached badly, and the fluid wasn't getting to the wheels. They were leaking. In fact, only one of the front wheels was braking - the other three wheels weren't at all.

It's quite scary to think that my brakes could have cut out at any point.

The garage took photos for me, and I have the dodgy pipes as they're now replaced. What should my next step be? I don't want to come off as an !!!!, but I definitely need to approach my local garage about it.

I'm sure I'm well within my rights to take further action, as it's clear they bodged the job.

Should I ask them to refund the original job?

Should I threaten taking further action, or just ask them about it first?

DUTR

How did you get to your destination with the dodgy brakes then?
In life you will find the next tradesman will criticise the work of the previous one.

PenandSword

By driving. It was on this journey that I realised something was up.

However, I had to take it into a garage prior to going back, as it was clearly dangerous to drive it.

forgotmyname

Threaten action? Have you paid to have their work fixed?

Did you give them a chance to remedy the work?

You can ask for whatever you like, but in reality you will only get what
you have lost. Their defence will be you should have brought it back.

The brakes are on a twin circuit at least, so 2 of your wheels will still be working as normal, you may have to push the pedal further or harder but they will work. You have a handbrake also.

PenandSword

forgotmyname wrote: »

Threaten action? Have you paid to have their work fixed?

Did you give them a chance to remedy the work?

You can ask for whatever you like, but in reality you will only get what
you have lost. Their defence will be you should have brought it back.

The brakes are on a twin circuit at least, so 2 of your wheels will still be working as normal, you may have to push the pedal further or harder but they will work. You have a handbrake also.

I paid at this second garage to have the work fixed. It was far too dangerous to take back to the original garage.

I have photographic evidence of just how bad the situation was, as the engineer at the second garage showed me everything before doing anything.

To be clear, from investigating after I stopped, all I knew was that the front left wasn't working. At the garage, we discovered kinks in both rear brake pipes leading to leaks that stopped both rear brakes working. And it is these pipes that the original garage fitted for me recently, then passed my MOT.

arcon5

Sounds like they have kinked the copper pipe when bending it!! EEK

In many circumstances i'd say you should have given them an opportunity to rectify the substandard work - but since this was safety critical, thus not possible, I think it's reasonable to request reimbursement of the second bill - even if that is more than originally paid!

Edit: you got there first

mrmot

I can't understand how it got through the MOT retest. At the very least the work should be inspected, the lines checked for leaks under pressure, the fluid level checked, the pipes checked for security and fouling, the brake pedal travel and its feel checked.

Jvic28

Don't threaten anything. Call them up and ask to speak to the manager. Calmly explain the situation and I'm sure any reasonable garage would refund the rectification work (upon receipt of a bill and photographs obviously) Personally I would also offer you a discount on your next service. Be calm and polite. It goes a long way, trust me.

salubrious

Any chance of having a look at the pictures?

colino

How short was your journey that was successfully completed that a second garage (who courageously stepped in to take your money to resolve the faults) were able to highlight:
"the fluid wasn't getting to the wheels. They were leaking." and
"only one of the front wheels was braking"?
I reckon around twenty pedal presses of most cars would empty a reservoir to arrive at nil braking in such a situation. Either you being, "away from home" means around the corner or this garage tale is fantasy.
Some cars rear brake pipes are big on labour if you want to follow the manufacturers routes exactly, but others are equally effective and safe.