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Bad Workmanship on Brakes from ATS
aussie_in_wales
Posts: 98 Forumite
in Motoring
Hi I'm looking on some advice really on potential next steps after ATS did a really bad job on the breaks on my car.
My car felt a little off in October last year, I was staying with a friend away from my local garage and so I took it to an ATS near her. They told me I needed 4 new break discs and 4 new brake pads and possibly front calipers. On closer inspection they said the calipers were fine so it was the discs and pads. So £700 later I thought it was fixed.
Anyway 3-4 week later the same issues came up. So I took it back to ATS and explained the issue. The guy I spoke to was a different employee to the one on the previous visit. He said I needed a new caliper and 4 new break pads. I refused to pay for more new break pads so soon and argued about the caliper (I had the job sheet from the previous work and showed him that). Anyway they ended up replacing the break pads for free and I paid cost price for the caliper (£100)
Today I've gone to my normal garage for an MOT and been told I need new break pads and two new discs. I've done 650 miles since the pads were last replaced!
I have called ATS but they aren't interested. I've had to pay again for the work to be done and would like to get at least some of my money back from ATS for doing such a terrible job. My garage still has the pads and discs so I can use them to help me if needed. Does anyone know who I could contact about this as the local ATS aren't interested.
Thank you
My car felt a little off in October last year, I was staying with a friend away from my local garage and so I took it to an ATS near her. They told me I needed 4 new break discs and 4 new brake pads and possibly front calipers. On closer inspection they said the calipers were fine so it was the discs and pads. So £700 later I thought it was fixed.
Anyway 3-4 week later the same issues came up. So I took it back to ATS and explained the issue. The guy I spoke to was a different employee to the one on the previous visit. He said I needed a new caliper and 4 new break pads. I refused to pay for more new break pads so soon and argued about the caliper (I had the job sheet from the previous work and showed him that). Anyway they ended up replacing the break pads for free and I paid cost price for the caliper (£100)
Today I've gone to my normal garage for an MOT and been told I need new break pads and two new discs. I've done 650 miles since the pads were last replaced!
I have called ATS but they aren't interested. I've had to pay again for the work to be done and would like to get at least some of my money back from ATS for doing such a terrible job. My garage still has the pads and discs so I can use them to help me if needed. Does anyone know who I could contact about this as the local ATS aren't interested.
Thank you
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Comments
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aussie_in_wales wrote: »Hi I'm looking on some advice really on potential next steps after ATS did a really bad job on the breaks on my car.
My car felt a little off in October last year, I was staying with a friend away from my local garage and so I took it to an ATS near her. They told me I needed 4 new break discs and 4 new brake pads and possibly front calipers. On closer inspection they said the calipers were fine so it was the discs and pads. So £700 later I thought it was fixed.
Anyway 3-4 week later the same issues came up. So I took it back to ATS and explained the issue. The guy I spoke to was a different employee to the one on the previous visit. He said I needed a new caliper and 4 new break pads. I refused to pay for more new break pads so soon and argued about the caliper (I had the job sheet from the previous work and showed him that). Anyway they ended up replacing the break pads for free and I paid cost price for the caliper (£100)
Today I've gone to my normal garage for an MOT and been told I need new break pads and two new discs. I've done 650 miles since the pads were last replaced!
I have called ATS but they aren't interested. I've had to pay again for the work to be done and would like to get at least some of my money back from ATS for doing such a terrible job. My garage still has the pads and discs so I can use them to help me if needed. Does anyone know who I could contact about this as the local ATS aren't interested.
Thank you
Without explanation of why you need new brake pads according to your normal garage, it's going to be hard for anyone to advise. What reason did the latest garage give for all this happening?0 -
Apologies, they are unevenly worn, and the front driver's side (the same one which had a caliper replaced)is showing excessive wear on the inner side which is apparently from the caliper not returning to the correct position after the break has been released0
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Sounds like the caliper was not correctly fitted, or even that a used caliper has been fitted. (I have seen that happen) How does the brake pedal feel? Excessively hard or excessively soft, with more travel before it bites? Brake system may not have been bled properly. Have a look at the master cylinder reservoir: is the fluid up to the marked level? If the caliper piston is not returning, it may be a fitting fault: caliper seal on that side may be seized because it was pushed out too far. These are all possibles, you need to ask your 'normal' garage if they will support you with a description of the work they did and fault found.
Contact your local trading Standards, tell them your story, and that you have the parts.I think this job really needs
a much bigger hammer.
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Thank You Robisere. The break pedal feels softer than usual and yes it does feel like there is more travel before it bites.
Thank you I did ask them this afternoon if they would provide me with a short write up about the problems they found with the breaks and the reason for them, in their opinion. Hopefully they will have it ready for me at some point tomorrow.
Thank you for you advice and for recommending Trading Standards.0 -
You're welcome Aussie, hope you get the right outcome. Know you were away from your trusted local garage, but it is wise to steer clear of franchises like ATS, Halfords and KwikFit. It is rumoured that most make money by overcharging for work and parts: only evidence I have for that is from a mate years ago, when I was a workshop foreman. He left because he wanted a foreman's job and went to KwikFit, but came back disgusted by the way he was expected to rip off customers.
My mind is currently boggling at the thought of an Aussie in Wales: what a conflict of accents! My childhood mate was living in Oz from 1967 and coming over here for a few weeks to my place. Unfortunately he passed away at Christmas 3 years ago. He lived in Tamworth, NSW.I think this job really needs
a much bigger hammer.
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Break ... to damage something / a rest period
Brake ... to arrest forward momentum
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My mind is currently boggling at the thought of an Aussie in Wales: what a conflict of accents! My childhood mate was living in Oz from 1967 and coming over here for a few weeks to my place. Unfortunately he passed away at Christmas 3 years ago. He lived in Tamworth, NSW.
I do have a very mixed up accent! Made worse every time I speak to my relatives back in Australia. I'm from Sydney's Northern Beaches originally0 -
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Actually if I was being pedantic I wouldn't have used the word "Forward". 0
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