Unhappy with work of local garage.

[LookAtMyCat]

Megaflow said:

I can't work out how a broken clutch cracks and engine block. .

I'm assuming he can only be talking about a flywheel breaking up as that's the only clutch-related component that can cause damage like this.

If you want to see how it can damage an engine block, type 'flywheel explosion' into Youtube.

[GG89]

Paying all that and it's still faulty. I feel for you OP and I think you've been lead a merry dance.

[Megaflow]

LookAtMyCat said:

Megaflow said:

I can't work out how a broken clutch cracks and engine block. .

I'm assuming he can only be talking about a flywheel breaking up as that's the only clutch-related component that can cause damage like this.

If you want to see how it can damage an engine block, type 'flywheel explosion' into Youtube.

I know what happens when a flywheel bursts. A flywheel failure generally damages the gearbox housing and would would cause a lot more damage than just that.

PS: that is not meant to sound arsey, I can't think of a better way of wording it

[hora]

What I don't understand is if a bill is going to be large the garage will broach the subject. If it's going to more or less equal the value of the car definitely so. OP have you got anything written, email, etc to a outlined price?

[Figglesworth]

hora said:

What I don't understand is if a bill is going to be large the garage will broach the subject. If it's going to more or less equal the value of the car definitely so. OP have you got anything written, email, etc to a outlined price?

I got emailed an invoice after being told my car was ready. I had asked multiple times on the phone how much the total was but was told ''nobody is here to answer that for you'. Whenever I did. All I got was an email PDF.

[Butter Face]

Have you paid it? Have you collected the car?

[xjay1337]

I would agree check engine numbers etc.
I cant see how a gearbox or flywheel shattering would ruin the engine unless it took crank with it.

Can happen but mighty unlucky.

[Steve H]

DuraAce said:

Figglesworth said:

bhstewie said:

What did you tell them to do once they found an engine?

They just told me they had found one and had it in their possession mate, again price wasn't discussed

Wasn't discussed??!

The garage might not have wanted one but I'd have been having one!

It does sound like they have had your pants down but to be fair, you've let me get away with it. You shouldve got a written quote at EVERY step of this. No quote given = take your car elsewhere.

Why/how/where was the engine cracked? Did you even look at it to assess it? Or just accept their 'word'?

Madness IMHO..

It never fails to amaze me that so many garages think it's OK to operate this way but I also don't understand why the punters let them get away with it. A bill comes out at five times the original estimate and the first time numbers are discussed is after the job is completed .


OP, regarding warranty on the engine that has been fitted, you've pretty much got to give them a chance to fix the problems with it before asking for money back although I imagine they will be coming up with excuses any time now rather than having to face stripping the engine that they've just fitted.

[BertBert]

I'd definitely be getting legal advice as you have two issues. One the price of the job and the other that what you have doesn't work.

There latter is fairly straightforward in theory, but the price issue will be a big challenge. Unfortunately you have to give specific commercial instructions. If you say please fix it and don't ask for a quote, or specify a spending limit you are in a world of pain. Very hard to sort out.

So I'd get proper advice on how to tackle both things together.

Bert

[james_gt3rs]

skilly1 said:

Does this garage have 3 letters as its name?

Assuming the garage is in Kent then OP?

[GG89]

It's a very strange situation the more I think of it. Any time I put my car in to the garage they inspect it - find the exact fault - then ring me with a quote to sort it.

In what world do you give a car in and only hear about the price when it's time to pay? fair enough if it's a small repair but other than that it's not cricket.

[Figglesworth]

After contemplating going into the garage and going mental at them, I've decided it's probably best to continue any more communication in writing. So I will be sending them an email listing my problems and questions I want answered, and see what they say. That will most likely be the best result, and if I'm not satisfied with the response I get, I will indeed by seeking legal advice and potential action.

Let's hope this gets sorted!

[rallycross]

Figglesworth said:

After contemplating going into the garage and going mental at them, I've decided it's probably best to continue any more communication in writing. So I will be sending them an email listing my problems and questions I want answered, and see what they say. That will most likely be the best result, and if I'm not satisfied with the response I get, I will indeed by seeking legal advice and potential action.

Let's hope this gets sorted!

That wont sort anything out they are already totally taking the piss, if you send them a email what do you expect the response to be? (apart from them laughing)

[InitialDave]

£6.5k for a fully-rebuilt "as new" engine fitted with a warranty isn't ridiculous, in my opinion.

For a used, evidently ropey engine that appears to have just been slung in there, they're taking the piss.

Also, 18hrs labour. Jesus. That's a hell of a lot of tea breaks.

[anonymous-user]

'A reasonable price
If no price is quoted, the garage can charge you a 'reasonable' price for all work properly performed.

What is reasonable is a question of fact, and a court would decide the question by reference to the work done, market rates, and any previous dealings.

A price will not automatically be considered unreasonable purely because other garages in the area charge less.'

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/legal-advice/...

op get some quotes from other places, see how they compare.

[DuraAce]

rallycross said:

Figglesworth said:

After contemplating going into the garage and going mental at them, I've decided it's probably best to continue any more communication in writing. So I will be sending them an email listing my problems and questions I want answered, and see what they say. That will most likely be the best result, and if I'm not satisfied with the response I get, I will indeed by seeking legal advice and potential action.

Let's hope this gets sorted!

That wont sort anything out they are already totally taking the piss, if you send them a email what do you expect the response to be? (apart from them laughing)

Quite. You should've been asking all these questions a long time ago.

How about answering some of the questions asked here?
Why didn't you get a proper quote?
Why didn't you get your car out of there if they didn't give one?
What happened to the donor car? Presumably that's yours to sell?
Did you check the engine numbers of your supposed damaged engine?
Have you already paid the bill?
What are they doing about fixing the issues with the car currently has now?
Why did you let them buy a donor car?! That's nuts.

I really hope you get the outcome you want but I aren't convinced it's going to happen. Hope I'm wrong though.

[funkyrobot]

Figglesworth said:

After contemplating going into the garage and going mental at them, I've decided it's probably best to continue any more communication in writing. So I will be sending them an email listing my problems and questions I want answered, and see what they say. That will most likely be the best result, and if I'm not satisfied with the response I get, I will indeed by seeking legal advice and potential action.

Let's hope this gets sorted!

Bloody hell!

Man up, grow a pair and get it sorted.

Don't send them a strongly worded email. That is simply PH folklore.

[petrolbloke]

OP - if you can answer the questions above that would help. I have been in a similar situation myself, just with less money involved.

I don't see a problem with writing an e-mail - handy to have if things turn nasty.

[BertBert]

Emails will just be ignored. A complete waste of time.
Bert

[InitialDave]

BertBert said:

Emails will just be ignored. A complete waste of time.
Bert

It's not about getting a response. It's about showing you tried to communicate/engage them.