Dealer damaging car.

Author
Discussion

JakeThePeg

Original Poster:

4,076 posts

122 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
OH needed a new key for her car, and they tried to access the OBD port on it and in doing so snapped the clips holding the cover in. OH went apoplectic and they replaced it FOC. I was wondering if they had to or was a gesture of good will and probably scared of OH (she scares me sometimes!)

SV8Predator

2,102 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
She scares me too. What is the question you're asking?

trickywoo

11,790 posts

230 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
If it was in perfect condition before it went in and they broke it they are duty bound to fix it.

However, you hear of loads of garages claiming it was damaged before and nothing to do with them.

Good result.

JakeThePeg

Original Poster:

4,076 posts

122 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
Whether as the dealer broke it, they are legally bound to replace it or not.

When she gets angry, she is slightly disconcerting. They did try, but as it had been forced off which was obvious and it was a busy Saturday with a lot of customers I think the picked their battles.

mikeveal

4,571 posts

250 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
It depends.
If the dealer has taken reasonable care, and the damage occurred regardless of this, then no, they are not bound to replace the damaged part free of charge.

Imagine that they are removing an exhaust manifold. They use plusgas on the studs but some of them still shear. The shared studs must be drilled out, which is a pain and takes an extra hour. Who is liable for the extra labour?

The answer isn't the dealer. They've taken reasonable precautions and the damage was unavoidable.

Garvin

5,171 posts

177 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
They, in common with all businesses, have a 'duty of care'. As such a dealer is reasonably expected to be able to open the cover to an OBD port without trashing it so, yes, they are obliged to fix it.

JakeThePeg

Original Poster:

4,076 posts

122 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
I thought they had to under certain circumstances.

Hol

8,412 posts

200 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
What age/what was the car?

JakeThePeg

Original Poster:

4,076 posts

122 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
10plate Fiat 500

SV8Predator

2,102 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
quotequote all
JakeThePeg said:
10plate Fiat 500
I'm getting really, really scared now. Is it too late to sneak out and (maybe) emigrate to Australia?


Hol

8,412 posts

200 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
If she is as 'sassy' as you say, then don't be surprised if she has trouble getting a servicing appointment from that dealer in the future.





JakeThePeg

Original Poster:

4,076 posts

122 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
Hol said:
If she is as 'sassy' as you say, then don't be surprised if she has trouble getting a servicing appointment from that dealer in the future.
We both use a local independant for the things I can't do. But servicing and minor things I tend to do it.

But we had to go to the main stealer to get a spare key, thus why the damage happened.

singlecoil

33,608 posts

246 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
I don't work with cars, but do work with items that require some dismantling before the work can be carried out. In some cases it is impossible not to cause some damage in the process. So it all depends on the circumstances, as has already been pointed out. If the clips broke because it was a poor design, or the plastic had hardened to the point that bending it meant it snapped, then there is no reason why the dealer should replace it at their own expense.

It does help if they warn the customer first, though.

Monkeylegend

26,388 posts

231 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
JakeThePeg said:
OH needed a new key for her car, and they tried to access the OBD port on it and in doing so snapped the clips holding the cover in. OH went apoplectic and they replaced it FOC. I was wondering if they had to or was a gesture of good will and probably scared of OH (she scares me sometimes!)
She sounds like the customer from hell. What would she have done if it had been something worth getting upset about?

JakeThePeg

Original Poster:

4,076 posts

122 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
She sounds like the customer from hell. What would she have done if it had been something worth getting upset about?
Customer from hell just because main dealers broke something then tried to claim it wasn't them. So understandably, to me, she got annoyed, spoke to the manager who agreed to replace it.

Real problem customer that is. rolleyes

Sheepshanks

32,763 posts

119 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
JakeThePeg said:
Customer from hell just because main dealers broke something then tried to claim it wasn't them.
You didn't say in your OP that they denied it.

Can you be 100% sure sure she didn't get angry with the cover and snap it off in a fit of rage?

Monkeylegend

26,388 posts

231 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
JakeThePeg said:
Monkeylegend said:
She sounds like the customer from hell. What would she have done if it had been something worth getting upset about?
Customer from hell just because main dealers broke something then tried to claim it wasn't them. So understandably, to me, she got annoyed, spoke to the manager who agreed to replace it.

Real problem customer that is. rolleyes
Apoplectic you said. Way over the top for a very minor problem, hope you have a good prenup wink

andymc

7,356 posts

207 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
JakeThePeg said:
Monkeylegend said:
She sounds like the customer from hell. What would she have done if it had been something worth getting upset about?
Customer from hell just because main dealers broke something then tried to claim it wasn't them. So understandably, to me, she got annoyed, spoke to the manager who agreed to replace it.

Real problem customer that is. rolleyes
Apoplectic you said. Way over the top for a very minor problem, hope you have a good prenup wink
thinks break, it happens, apopleptic?? run far run fast