Mechanic has broken my car

unhappydriver

Had my car for 5 years.  Never had any problems with it.  In January noticed a small oil leak, thought I'd better get it checked.  Dropped it in at garage and they said it needed a replacement oil seal.  Upshot was it took them 3 weeks to do this - in the process they didn't fit the bonnet back on the car correctly and it flew off when they test drove it, and crumpled and smashed the windscreen.  Repaired it but then car broke down for the first time ever - 4 days after getting it back from them.  They said it was the relay, then said it was the glow plugs.  Got that repaired but then car broken down another 4 days later.  This time said it was fuel pump then said it was injector seals.  Got it back from them and this time oil leak reappeared.  Took it back into them (at this point it was March).  They messed around saying lack of staff etc, then transferred it to another garage without telling me.  The garage owner then said the engine was knackered and nothing to do with the other issues (!) just a coincidence.  Recommended that I tell insurance company that it had driven through flood water and been damaged and get it written off.  Obviously refused to do that and told them to repair it.  Next day garage shut down for lock down - without telling me, ringing me, texting me.  Kept the car until end of May when finally reopened.  Put second hand engine in, but when went to collect car, now air con not working and lights on dashboard saying power steering faulty - garage owner said due to battery being a bit flat and lights will go off after a couple of days.  But a couple of days later, oil leak back and then car broke down again.  Clearly can't take it back there - they've taken a car that was running fine, to a car that has been damaged inside and out.  Garage owner also lied and tried to make out bonnet coming open was due to faulty clasp and not mechanic error - despite it never having happened before, and mechanic telling me directly it was his fault.  Asked for public liability insurance, took a picture (it had expired 2 months earlier!) and contacted company who had no record of insurance policy.  Where do I stand?  At moment I have no car but have paid out for clearly faulty repairs.

Mercdriver

It means that if you intend taking him to court, you will be taking him to court with no one to indemnify him, which could leave him liable, but 'unable' to pay.

missile

Take him to court

fred246

It's the same as it's always been. Take your car to a garage. They wreck it. They tell lies. The customer pays.

sharpe106

As the above post only option is take them to court if they are denying it. 

VWPolecat

Sounds like a typical garage repair and you are not accepting the standard pack of lies.

Mutton_Geoff

Wouldn't be surprised if the OP's IP address matched that of an existing contributor 

unhappydriver

Mutton_Geoff said:

Wouldn't be surprised if the OP's IP address matched that of an existing contributor 

Nope this is the first time I've posted.   I've never had any problems with my car - I've had it for 5 years with no issues at all.   I've had it serviced regularly - although now, actually realising that the last service was at this garage, makes me realise that they probably didn't do anything on the service.   I've contacted Citizens Advice and apparently I have to write to him and give him chance to put the work right - not a chance!  They've made it worse each time.  (I should have said - it's the same person who owns both of these garages.   He himself works at the second garage.)   I have written to him and detailed every bit of the issue up to me ringing his alleged insurance company.   Just wondered what I did next if he doesn't reply?

unhappydriver

Mutton_Geoff said:

Wouldn't be surprised if the OP's IP address matched that of an existing contributor 

Actually, I'd be interested to know if someone has had similar problems, so I can look to see what action they took.  I'd be grateful if you could you point me to the right thread.  At the moment I just feel like such an idiot, accepting the rubbish they told me and then paying up (but they were holding my car to ransom).  I just want to see if I have any redress options.

Mutton_Geoff

unhappydriver said:

I've contacted Citizens Advice and apparently I have to write to him and give him chance to put the work right - not a chance .....

Just wondered what I did next if he doesn't reply?

If you're going to ignore the good advice you've received from CAB then you may be closing any opportunity for redress later. I strongly advise following the structure laid down by our consumer organisation. And keep notes of everything, record or take contemporaneous notes of conversations etc.

unhappydriver

Mutton_Geoff said:

unhappydriver said:

I've contacted Citizens Advice and apparently I have to write to him and give him chance to put the work right - not a chance .....

Just wondered what I did next if he doesn't reply?

If you're going to ignore the good advice you've received from CAB then you may be closing any opportunity for redress later. I strongly advise following the structure laid down by our consumer organisation. And keep notes of everything, record or take contemporaneous notes of conversations etc.

I've definitely written to him using the CAB template letter but I think with the amount of times they've had it back to fix it, I was hoping that would class as already having given them chance to put it right.   I'm just concerned that they possibly deliberately damaged the engine hoping to not have to do anymore work on it - with them immediately telling me to write the car off.   That just made me think that even if I take it back again, it's just going to be even worse.  I've been keeping notes of every conversation I've had.   The orginal post was a very condensed version!