Prearranged appointment for a fitting of a CKS own brand stainless steel exhaust which should have cost £350 +vat
Car was simply inspected visually and with rubber mallet hammer.
The CKS fitter said the Catalytic Convertor is gone as “it wasn’t hot...” asked him if he could test it he said he got time now but state it would show up as faulty thus an MOT failure to replace it for £295 +VAT.
No evidence was provided or sort why they felt it was necessary to change this Catalyst but I was billed for this equipment.
Standard CKS Catalytic Convertor £295
Mid and rear Stainless Steel Exhaust System £350
VAT 17.5% £105
Total Amount £750
He asked me how was I am going to pay cash he stated that I wouldn’t be charged VAT…I seems most worried!
I was asked to leave the workshop as it wasn’t safe to stay and a taxi was called.
Three hours later I returned horrified to find my car was damaged at the rear bumper just above to the side exhaust exit pipe also further damaged was on the front bumper on the driver side. Recently I had a full body respray so knew there was no damage to my cars bumpers. Even my AMG alloy wheel ‘steel dust caps’ where stolen!
When I started the vehicle with driver door open it so loud I jumped back. I told that this not what I agreed as I said “I asked to make the exhaust as quite as possible...” the fitter agreed… I said you advise you can do a Standard (default) sound in your sales material. See below sale document which even states you tune the exhaust to your requirements:
http://www.cksperformance.com/mercedes/PDFs/Exhaust_SystemsPDF/W202Exhausts.pdf
And when I asked him about the damage to the car he said it was damaged already there I strongly disputed this and I said “..both bumpers where mint when I left my car with you…” the fitter said I don’t know but he didn’t do anything to bumpers as the garage owner ‘Chet’ had taken your car for test drive.
I ask for Chetan Sharma (company directory) known as ‘Chit’ he rudely said we (CKS Performance) “We bloody didn’t damage your ****ing car!” He said in a raised voice I should promptly pay for the work undertaken and leave his workshop swiftly.
I said don’t try to bully me, as there was now four CKS staff now standing in an intimidatory manner all looking towards me. I said your company would need to pay for the damaged caused or would need to reduce my bill accordingly.
Chetan Sharma said pay up all the monies or he is going to call the police, I said call them I do believe you have caused criminal damage to my vehicle left in your charge. He then promptly went upstairs to the office and held the office phone and said your car needs a lot extra work and isn’t running leave it behind and we will fix it leave it for two days with us.
I promptly rejected this offer and said “I am paying for what work has been done, minus damage done to my car, which I estimate to be over £200!” thus I left £570 cash in the hands of fitter I originally dealt with. Then got into my car left quickly.
Now I have no invoice for the work undertaken.
My car was undriveable for any longer then 10mins due to huge noise of the CKS exhaust.
A new Catalytic Convertor fitted but CKS haven’t provided any test of this change or correct working of this important emission control device MOT is due in August.
CKS have damaged my car and now I have to repair this damage bodywork?
Last week I had resort to a retro fit a second hand original part from www.1stchoice.co.uk (great text service) car part fitted by my friendly local kwik fit (Slough) branch for £50. The car works fine now with a standard noise…but I have CKS full stainless steel exhaust sitting at home and £570 hole in pocket!
You can view this CKS system on e-bay now:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300240378640&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:GB:1123
Anyone advise me on my legal position and options?
CKS Performance are a total and utter nightmare!
