Car damage during maintenance at garage

baurence

Hi All

My vehicle recently required some work completed on it, specifically, the drivers-side heated seat element needed replacement due to a fault, this was at a cost of approx £500 to myself, which I was happy to pay for. (well not happy but you know what I mean).

During that work, the garage had to take off the seat cover for access, this was secured in place with a zip. The zip had never been unzipped before - because why would it, so as far as I was aware, it was fully functioning as it should. While either unzipping or rezipping this back up, the zip was damaged and no longer performed it one job of 'zipping' leaving the back of the chair exposed. I was told that if I wanted this repaired, a new seat cover would be required at a cost to myself of approx £1,500! (I know! It's only a Mini Countryman) Which of course there was no way I was willing to pay.

My question is, shouldn't the garage cover the cost of this repair as they broke the zip?

And yes I am fully aware that £1,500 is silly money for a part that literally costs pennies, and I have also tried replacing the zip myself with a suitable one found on eBay but to no avail. 

MyRealNameToo

Can you substantiate that they broke it rather than it have broken beforehand and it was simply unknown because you've never tried to remove the covers yourself?

baurence

Not really, the only thing I've got to go on is that it was fully functioning by default as it had never been unzipped prior to the work

Ms_Chocaholic

If they won't budge can you get a cheaper one on Ebay maybe or at a scrapyard

Grumpy_chap

baurence said:

Hi All

My vehicle recently required some work completed on it, specifically, the drivers-side heated seat element needed replacement due to a fault, this was at a cost of approx £500 to myself, which I was happy to pay for. (well not happy but you know what I mean).

During that work, the garage had to take off the seat cover for access, this was secured in place with a zip. The zip had never been unzipped before - because why would it, so as far as I was aware, it was fully functioning as it should. While either unzipping or rezipping this back up, the zip was damaged and no longer performed it one job of 'zipping' leaving the back of the chair exposed. I was told that if I wanted this repaired, a new seat cover would be required at a cost to myself of approx £1,500! (I know! It's only a Mini Countryman) Which of course there was no way I was willing to pay.

My question is, shouldn't the garage cover the cost of this repair as they broke the zip?

And yes I am fully aware that £1,500 is silly money for a part that literally costs pennies, and I have also tried replacing the zip myself with a suitable one found on eBay but to no avail. 

Rather than a complete new seat cover, can a local seamstress fit a new zip?
Or simply sew the cover into place along the line where the current zip goes?

Aylesbury_Duck

I'm not convinced you have strong grounds here.  Consider a different scenario:  a mechanical component needs replacing.  During removal, a bolt seizes or shears off, necessitating many hours more work.  The bolt has been untouched since it was fitted on the factory line.  Who pays for the additional work needed to sort it out?

Unless you can show that the garage was reckless or negligent in some way, I can't see that they're liable for the cost of a whole new seat cover.  In any case, a completely new cover would be betterment.

I think the pragmatic outcome here is a negotiated position where they make a contribution to a new seat cover (if you can't find a way to replace the broken zip, as others have suggested).

Last year a brake pipe burst on my car when the garage was testing the system after fluid change.  I didn't even contemplate them paying anything toward the cost of purchasing and fitting the new one, I was just glad it burst on the ramp and not when I was doing a hard stop somewhere.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Independent garage or main dealership OP?

If main dealership complain higher up, can’t hurt and you might get something.

In terms of consumer rights services must be carried out with due care and skill but the burden of proof is upon yourself. 

Not sure how you would be able to prove they damaged it.

Whether a court would view a never before used zip was faulty over the garage broke it I don’t think anyone can say really. 

TELLIT01

Try searching for vehicle upholsterer local to you.  It's the sort of repair job they will do all the time.