Poor Experience by Indy.....Advice Required.

[Imi]

I hope this is the correct forum to post this on - if not then I apologise and hope that the admins can move it to the correct sub-forum.

Background

My 74 yr old Dad owns an E Class (his P&J) that developed an AC issue that couldn't be resolved by his local trustworthy car mechanic so he decided to take it to an Indy / specialist that features on many of these forums (name redacted due to legal reasons).

Car is a 2004 E Class that is probably worth 1.5K-2K provided in full working condition - which without the AC it would not be.

Summary

This Indy charged him over 2.6K to "fix" the issue
This is far more than the car is worth, at no point did they inform my dad that the costs would be such numbers. Worse still - the AC is not working correctly as it doesn't heat unless the CC is put to MAX - which is ridiculous especially with the colder weather. The car would heat properly prior to dropping it off to the Indy.

Worst bit

Zero customer service from the indy, they have not been helpful at all, giving my 74 yr old dad a run around. now not even answering his phone calls or emails anymore - despite an official legal letter sent to them a few weeks back to put the situation right.

He is now seeking further legal advice and in the process of taking the Indy to court.

Open to suggestions and contact from fellow members that can offer some helpful advice in such situations.

Thanks

 

[bob6600]

Wow £2.6k?? Do you have an itemisation of what was done to the car? Can you name the garage?

 

[flowrider]

Small claims court if you think you have a solid case

 

[markjay]

If the indie in question is a forum sponsor, I would let the admins know about it. I am sure that the reputation of those sponsoring the forum is relevant to them, and in the past they have revoked the sponsor status from traders against whom there were too many complaints.

Other than that, good luck with whichever way you decide to pursue this matter.

 

[SmartAmg]

That's terrible they have obviously took advantage of your Dad, name and shame!

 

[rf065]

It's very hard to pass comment on stories like these without knowing the full story.
I assume there must have been communication between both parties before the bill got to £2.6k, Without knowing what was said, and when, no-one can really say what any legal outcome would be.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Easiest thing to do in first instance is post up a copy of the invoice that "details" the work.
Members could then comment if this seems reasonable, there may be "other" work there that is relevant so I'd start there.

 

[SmartAmg]

He originally went in with an A.C. issue, surely to god, nothing that was wrong with the A.C. could cost £2,600
and to cap it all it still ain't bl00dy working, and now they are ignoring his calls, so if that ain't dodgy, i don't know what is.

 

[Imi]

It's very hard to pass comment on stories like these without knowing the full story.
I assume there must have been communication between both parties before the bill got to £2.6k,

Other than a few telephone conversations saying that more "investigation / diagnosis" is needed and that specific parts needed to be changed there was no conversation of anticipated costs, estimated costs or actual costs prior to the "work" being done.

I find it amazing that "reputable" companies can extort money from hard working senior citizens like this - and despite all the money the end result is still a NOT functional system.

 

[SmartAmg]

Other than a few telephone conversations saying that more "investigation / diagnosis" is needed and that specific parts needed to be changed there was no conversation of anticipated costs, estimated costs or actual costs prior to the "work" being done.

I find it amazing that "reputable" companies can extort money from hard working senior citizens like this - and despite all the money the end result is still a NOT functional system.

Like i said, Roy Rogers springs to mind.

 

[KennyN]

surely to god, nothing that was wrong with the A.C. could cost £2,600.

He could have been charged for a new compressor / condenser / pipework from the main dealer, couple that to labour at almost £100 p/h (depending on location) and it would certainly get the total into the "not worth repairing" category.

If it was the evaporator that needed replaced then it would be a dash out job , again not a 2 min job.

As mentioned , until what actual work was done then it is purely guess work.

No excuse for pi$$ poor customer service though.

K

 

[Teego]

Did your Dad actually pay the bill and has the money left his bank account?
Before spending a shed load of money on legal expenses I'd do the following because the garage is probably ccalculating that legal costs will be more than the bill and/or car is worth:
1. Can you get to the indie and sort him out?
2. Contact local local trading standards (If the garage is in their Trusted Trader scheme so much the better)
3. Contact Citizens Advice
4. If the garage is a member of an approval scheme, contact the scheme
5. Don't name and shame the garage here. It won't increase your chance of success and could well put you and your Dad up shit creek without a paddle. But let them know that if you don't get the right result you will n+s them.

Your Dad is only 74 so can't be decrepit.
Good luck

 

[sirius9]

I think more creditable proof of invoice needed before this story goes on and on and develop more twist. So far, its 2.6K for work on AC

Seems like you dad has this covered as he has sent legal letter few weeks ago and now seeking further legal advice and in the process of taking the Indy to court.

Don't think any opinion here will help further as everyone is making assumptions on assumptions.

 

[MrRight]

Seems preposterous to me that fixing the AC can cost that much. My bet is it is a rogue trader trying to take advantage of a senior citizen. I have no reason to believe that the indy garage would have advised the customer that fixing the AC would cost that much and the customer had agreed to that .

 

[Imi]

Thanks all for the replies and the suggestions.

Did your Dad actually pay the bill and has the money left his bank account?
Before spending a shed load of money on legal expenses I'd do the following because the garage is probably ccalculating that legal costs will be more than the bill and/or car is worth:
1. Can you get to the indie and sort him out?
2. Contact local local trading standards (If the garage is in their Trusted Trader scheme so much the better)
3. Contact Citizens Advice
4. If the garage is a member of an approval scheme, contact the scheme
5. Don't name and shame the garage here. It won't increase your chance of success and could well put you and your Dad up shit creek without a paddle. But let them know that if you don't get the right result you will n+s them.

Your Dad is only 74 so can't be decrepit.
Good luck

1. Yes, he paid.
2. We have our family solicitor involved to try and talk some sense into them
3. Yes - we will reach out to them next week
4. Good point - will look into this.
5. Agree

 

[E55BOF]

Apart from the fact that the fault is not fully repaired, is your complaint that your father was not advised of the cost in advance, or that you believe he has been overcharged?

It would be useful if you could post the invoice, with the name and contact details blanked out of course, so we could see what the garage actually did, or claims to have done, and tell us their hourly labour rate. There are some pretty knowledgeable people on here, who would be able to give an informed opinion on whether the case possibly involves fraud or not.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Until the OP posts the details from the invoice there is no point in further comment.

 

[neilrr]

an Indy / specialist that features on many of these forums (name redacted due to legal reasons).

What legal reasons?

If you are going to broadcast this complaint on the internet & air this matter in public then you must ID the indy & give them a chance to reply in public. There are two sides (at least) to every story & your side just doesn't make any sense, at least to me.

 

[Mancstar]

Bloody sharks would have expected a courtesy call after inspection to advise on an estimated repair cost.
Name and shame them!

 

[E55BOF]

What legal reasons?

If you are going to broadcast this complaint on the internet & air this matter in public then you must ID the indy & give them a chance to reply in public. There are two sides (at least) to every story & your side just doesn't make any sense, at least to me.

If the trader isn't identified, then no harm is done to him. If he is, that would be a different matter.

It would be interesting to know where in the country the poster's father lives. What might be a humungous labour charge in the wilds of Norfolk might cause no more than the odd raised eyebrow in some parts of London.