Garage smashed fuel tank during tyre change

DariaEs

Hi guys, I am having huge problem as over a month ago I went to local garage to change my tires. Day after I got the car back I've noticed that fuel is leaking. Then I had a look underneath the car and realised that the fuel tank is smashed from a jack. Same day I went to garage to show the damage. Firstly the owner denied but agreed to have a look at the car a few days later. After examination we agreed to get a second hand fuel tank and he sent some emails enquire. He suppose to contact me after the weekend but he never did. I called him following day and he told me that no one reply to his emails and he is unsure if he did the damage. Then I found some second hand tanks on ebay so wanted to send it to him so called him to get his email. He told me he is going to send it as soon as we finish talk. Of course he didnt sent anything. I've decided to sent him an official letter with complain and sort out the problem in 14 days. I dont believe he is going back to me so now my question. What further steps should I take? The most annoying thing is I have to commute every day to work 50 miles in one way so it is very difficult as I had to organise some lifts. Please, do you have any advice for me? Thanks in advance 

macman

Send an LBA giving him 14 days to pay for the repairs, then small claims process. I wouldn't want him to repair it, even if he offers. 
Your claim can include the extra transport costs you have incurred.
How did you pay for the tyre work?

ElephantBoy57

DariaEs said:

Hi guys, I am having huge problem as over a month ago I went to local garage to change my tires. Day after I got the car back I've noticed that fuel is leaking. Then I had a look underneath the car and realised that the fuel tank is smashed from a jack.

What sort of car is it? Changing tyres is quite an easy thing, I would be surprised if it was done changing your tyres.

You have zero proof that is when it happened.

missile

After a month, I would go ahead and change the tank. Raise a court action to recover the cost. Difficult to prove, but good chance he will not defend and you win by default.

DariaEs

ElephantBoy57 said:

DariaEs said:

Hi guys, I am having huge problem as over a month ago I went to local garage to change my tires. Day after I got the car back I've noticed that fuel is leaking. Then I had a look underneath the car and realised that the fuel tank is smashed from a jack.

What sort of car is it? Changing tyres is quite an easy thing, I would be surprised if it was done changing your tyres.

You have zero proof that is when it happened.

It's Toyota RAV4, my partner grew up in garage and he knows his onions. There is even a mark from the jack on the tank. Of cours I have a proof, my partner was filling up the whole tank every few days and paying by card so his account showing since it happend he was filling up for f10. He has a pictures of a jack's in the garage and I do believe it might be confirmed by the other garage how the damage was done. 

I paid for tyres by debit card 

roddydogs

Jacking via the fuel tank?

treeroy

Does the garage actually even use a jack to work on cars? 99% of garages use lifting bays...

I'm not surprised that they are hesitant as it sounds pretty odd.

Takmon

DariaEs said:

Hi guys, I am having huge problem as over a month ago I went to local garage to change my tires. Day after I got the car back I've noticed that fuel is leaking. Then I had a look underneath the car and realised that the fuel tank is smashed from a jack. Same day I went to garage to show the damage. Firstly the owner denied but agreed to have a look at the car a few days later. After examination we agreed to get a second hand fuel tank and he sent some emails enquire. He suppose to contact me after the weekend but he never did. I called him following day and he told me that no one reply to his emails and he is unsure if he did the damage. Then I found some second hand tanks on ebay so wanted to send it to him so called him to get his email. He told me he is going to send it as soon as we finish talk. Of course he didnt sent anything. I've decided to sent him an official letter with complain and sort out the problem in 14 days. I dont believe he is going back to me so now my question. What further steps should I take? The most annoying thing is I have to commute every day to work 50 miles in one way so it is very difficult as I had to organise some lifts. Please, do you have any advice for me? Thanks in advance 

So you knew the day after it happened that fuel was leaking but...

DariaEs said:

ElephantBoy57 said:

DariaEs said:

Hi guys, I am having huge problem as over a month ago I went to local garage to change my tires. Day after I got the car back I've noticed that fuel is leaking. Then I had a look underneath the car and realised that the fuel tank is smashed from a jack.

What sort of car is it? Changing tyres is quite an easy thing, I would be surprised if it was done changing your tyres.

You have zero proof that is when it happened.

It's Toyota RAV4, my partner grew up in garage and he knows his onions. There is even a mark from the jack on the tank. Of cours I have a proof, my partner was filling up the whole tank every few days and paying by card so his account showing since it happend he was filling up for f10. He has a pictures of a jack's in the garage and I do believe it might be confirmed by the other garage how the damage was done. 

I paid for tyres by debit card 

But your partner was still using the car with fuel leaking everywhere and just kept filling it up... how ridiculous! 

burlingtonfl6

Takmon said:

DariaEs said:

Hi guys, I am having huge problem as over a month ago I went to local garage to change my tires. Day after I got the car back I've noticed that fuel is leaking. Then I had a look underneath the car and realised that the fuel tank is smashed from a jack. Same day I went to garage to show the damage. Firstly the owner denied but agreed to have a look at the car a few days later. After examination we agreed to get a second hand fuel tank and he sent some emails enquire. He suppose to contact me after the weekend but he never did. I called him following day and he told me that no one reply to his emails and he is unsure if he did the damage. Then I found some second hand tanks on ebay so wanted to send it to him so called him to get his email. He told me he is going to send it as soon as we finish talk. Of course he didnt sent anything. I've decided to sent him an official letter with complain and sort out the problem in 14 days. I dont believe he is going back to me so now my question. What further steps should I take? The most annoying thing is I have to commute every day to work 50 miles in one way so it is very difficult as I had to organise some lifts. Please, do you have any advice for me? Thanks in advance 

So you knew the day after it happened that fuel was leaking but...

DariaEs said:

ElephantBoy57 said:

DariaEs said:

Hi guys, I am having huge problem as over a month ago I went to local garage to change my tires. Day after I got the car back I've noticed that fuel is leaking. Then I had a look underneath the car and realised that the fuel tank is smashed from a jack.

What sort of car is it? Changing tyres is quite an easy thing, I would be surprised if it was done changing your tyres.

You have zero proof that is when it happened.

It's Toyota RAV4, my partner grew up in garage and he knows his onions. There is even a mark from the jack on the tank. Of cours I have a proof, my partner was filling up the whole tank every few days and paying by card so his account showing since it happend he was filling up for f10. He has a pictures of a jack's in the garage and I do believe it might be confirmed by the other garage how the damage was done. 

I paid for tyres by debit card 

But your partner was still using the car with fuel leaking everywhere and just kept filling it up... how ridiculous! 

It's ok, he knows his onions 

roddydogs

If any petrol got on to the tyres, they might be ruined.

ElephantBoy57

DariaEs said:

It's Toyota RAV4, my partner grew up in garage and he knows his onions. There is even a mark from the jack on the tank. Of cours I have a proof, my partner was filling up the whole tank every few days and paying by card so his account showing since it happend he was filling up for f10. He has a pictures of a jack's in the garage and I do believe it might be confirmed by the other garage how the damage was done.  I paid for tyres by debit card 

I dont know the layout of that car, a mark on the tank, has it scraped it and punctured it from the side or actually used the tank to jack up the car?

This is a rare occurrence, was the tyre fitter very young, did you seem them change the tyres?