Terrible experience with a local independent

[ms500]

I took my car into a local independent garage to have a leaky fuel tank repaired / replaced.

This was monday, and they told me it would cost £230 for them to repair it and be done by wednesday afternoon (today). On this basis I agreed to let them do the work, but they have just phoned to tell me it won't be completed until tomorrow afternoon.

I had to pick up some extremely important people from Bristol airport tonight, and thanks to this garage I am now carless and unable to meet them. My day ruined.

I am not in the least bit interested in their excuses; needless to say they won't be seeing a penny out of me and I will take them to court in order to seek some compensation for lost earnings.

 

[stats007]

Will the garage not agree to letting you hire a car and covering costs involved?

 

[jaymanek]

i think it would be better for you to work with the garage rather than against them.

They may be able to lend you a car or pay for a hire car for the day.

Unforseen delays do happen when a car is in the garage...
MB quoted me 3-4 days and they had it for 4 weeks... we often have to report delays to customers too..

the delay may well be out of their control..

 

[imadoofus]

needless to say they won't be seeing a penny out of me and I will take them to court in order to seek some compensation for lost earnings.

Well you'd better tell them not to do the work then. If they complete it, you will be obliged to pay them, regardless of the fact it took longer than expected.

I think you might sstruggle to get loss of earnings from them too. You will have to prove what earnings you have lost as a direct consequence of their action or inaction. You will have to prove that they were directly accountab le for that loss. For example, if hiring a car would have stopped you losing those earnings, then why didn't you? Not my question, incidentally; just the question that you will be asked 'in court'.

 

[ms500]

They've already started the work, they're blaming the problem on the specialist they sent the tank to to be repaired. Talk about pass the buck.

I also asked them to have a look at the parking brake, god only knows what a hash they've made of that.

I cannot get a hire car because:

a)It is too late in the day and most hire centres seem to be closed.
b) I'm 19 years old and hire car companies require customers to be over 25.

I've used the garage before to service my previous car, and they seemed to do a good, efficient job for a good price.

This time they have failed to meet the contract agreements (to have it done on time) and this is unacceptable to me. They lied when they told me it would be done by today, they knew I needed it back and that is unacceptable in my opinion.

 

[IanA2]

Get a cab.

 

[ms500]

Get a cab.

For a 160 mile round trip?

 

[stats007]

Irrelevant if the garage is paying. I've known people to take cabs for far longer trips trying to get to airports when they close due to weather etc.

 

[davidjpowell]

They have notified you, albeit possibly late in the day, but being reasonable what can they do to help. If they rushed / bodged the job then you really would be complaining.

A good garage is hard to find, I would not get too upset with them over being let down by a third party, it happens. You just need to work out how to meet your important peope. If they are that important I am sure that in the circumstances they would take a taxi.

David

Just seen the taxi - maybe not a cab then! - Perhaps they can hire a car at the airport?

 

[dave.robbo]

they're blaming the problem on the specialist they sent the tank to to be repaired.




I've used the garage before to service my previous car, and they seemed to do a good, efficient job for a good price.



they lied when they told me it would be done by today, they knew I needed it back and that is unacceptable in my opinion.

For all you know, the problem could well be with the 'other specialist'.

If you've had previous good dealings, refer to my above point..

Things happen. But, if they knew you HAD to have it back by tonight, then maybe they could have got a courtesy car for you. Afew years ago, my car was being worked on, and I told them I NEEDED it for Thursday afternoon. Something happened, and it wasn't ready. I went to pick it up and they had a courtesy car for me, for as long as it took to get mine sorted.

 

[prprandall51]

For goodness sake, I don't want to appear rude, but I am going to be blunt.

You took your car in for a major job (remove tank, repair and refit) that was quoted to last until Wednesday PM when you had to have the car for an important business meeting on Wednesday evening. You completely failed to allow for any slippage in the repair schedule, which is an inevitable risk with vehicle repairs.

If you wanted a courtesy car (and thus the security of alternative transport) you could have forked out the extra money for a main dealer repair.

 

[Muppetz]

I do think you are over-reacting, delays happen in all lines of business and they can only do their best. Yes it is disappointing but unforeseen things to happen all the time - and they have a much greater effect on small businesses.

 

[stats007]

A Main Dealer won't give a 19 year old a courtesy car. IME you have to book a month in advance for one as well.

 

[IanA2]

For a 160 mile round trip?

You said it was important.

 

[imadoofus]

The problem will be that you will have to prove that you told them you needed it back today, without fail, and you will have to prove that they promised you it would be.

All they need to do is to say "We did warn you it might take longer", and you couldn't prove that is untrue.

Hearsay doesn't make legal evidence...

I agree, it's a PITA, but there really isn't much you can do. You've already said that in the past they've been "good and efficient", and this time they told you they were let down by their supplier - for all you know they called you as soon as they were told there would be a delay.

If the car was available, and on your way to the airport you got stuck in traffic, causing you to be late to pick up your VIPS, how would you react if they threatened to sue you for letting them down? It wasn't your fault, was it?

 

[RedDog]

I've used the garage before to service my previous car, and they seemed to do a good, efficient job for a good price.

As you have just said, they have done good work before. I think you are being unfair. In life things happen and we just have to deal with them. I am no legal expert but I think your chance of winning any compensation are zilch!!

 

[bobby]

Get your passengers to take the cab to the final destination...

...get the garage to book the cab in advance and pre-pay.

 

[BlackC55]

Repairs can take longer than expected. It happens. Bolts snap (especially on older cars) and when you have to rely on other garages/repairers to do a job for you time delays can happen.

At least they told you why there was a delay. Some garages don't even bother with that.

Did you tell them it was very important you had the car back on the exact day you said? Did you explain why?

They have no obligation to pay loss of earnings at all.

Put it down to experiance and make sure when you book your car in again for work make sure there is some time leway just in case. Your car is not a new car so some jobs can take much longer than you might expect due to seized components etc.

 

[sweeney]

19... so much to learn... so little time

 

[Dieselman]

As you have just said, they have done good work before. I think you are being unfair. In life things happen and we just have to deal with them. I am no legal expert but I think your chance of winning any compensation are zilch!!

I agree, the garage will tell you it's not their problem, they made an estimate of the amount of time required.

You mention a contract. Do you indeed have a signed/written contract stipulating that the car will be fixed by now or there will be a pre-determined penalty.

Ah..thought not.

You may well find on their t&C of business that it states that they cannot be held responsible for the effect of any delays or breakdowns and it is your responsibility to insure against any losses that may be accrued as a result of such delays.