Advice needed regarding improper motorbike service
Discussion
Hello,
I paid £500 for a motorbike service a few weeks ago, collected the bike on a Monday after work and rode it home.
There it stayed until the Friday night (witnessed by girlfriend), and on the Friday night I rode to the Eurotunnel, about 50 miles, where I noticed an oil leak (witnessed by 3 other people). I then spent the first 3 days of my european tour worrying about oil on my tyre, and filling up with oil, until I/we had enough time to take it to a dealer and get the bike fixed, which turned out to be a rocker cover bolt oil seal. For the service they would have taken the rocker cover off to check the valve clearances.
Anyway, upon my return to the UK I contacted them asking for remuneration for the service they performed incorrectly, and for the extra expenses I incurred getting the bike fixed in europe. However all they said was "Our position is that the bike was fine when it left here". And that is all they said over and over again.
Do I have a leg to stand on if I take this to the small claims court? I've never really been in a position like this where something is clearly someones fault yet they won't accept responsibility.
Thanks,
Paul
I paid £500 for a motorbike service a few weeks ago, collected the bike on a Monday after work and rode it home.
There it stayed until the Friday night (witnessed by girlfriend), and on the Friday night I rode to the Eurotunnel, about 50 miles, where I noticed an oil leak (witnessed by 3 other people). I then spent the first 3 days of my european tour worrying about oil on my tyre, and filling up with oil, until I/we had enough time to take it to a dealer and get the bike fixed, which turned out to be a rocker cover bolt oil seal. For the service they would have taken the rocker cover off to check the valve clearances.
Anyway, upon my return to the UK I contacted them asking for remuneration for the service they performed incorrectly, and for the extra expenses I incurred getting the bike fixed in europe. However all they said was "Our position is that the bike was fine when it left here". And that is all they said over and over again.
Do I have a leg to stand on if I take this to the small claims court? I've never really been in a position like this where something is clearly someones fault yet they won't accept responsibility.
Thanks,
Paul
I was there - rocker cover wasn't correctly refitted (loose bolt) and the seal was damaged. Bill from garage in Milan for repair and new oil. Photos were taken at the time but to get to the bolt required a special, dealer-specific tool and some trim to be removed. Any implication that this had somehow happened as a result of anything but a service error is ridiculous.
I think the point is, it wasn't leaking before the service, was taken off during the service and then leaked on one of the first rides after the service and had to be fixed abroad.
I think the point is, it wasn't leaking before the service, was taken off during the service and then leaked on one of the first rides after the service and had to be fixed abroad.
Edited by Chapppers on Thursday 18th September 14:01
I am trying to help, so less of the ridiculous, thanks. Be polite but firm in insisting on payment for the cost of repair and maybe for some oil. If the garage does not play ball after you have made reasonable requests by letter or email, and if you CBA, make a money claim online for the amount in question, but only start a claim if you are prepared to see it through, and that involves a certain amount of hassle and time.
I'm with BV72, and while I think your claim/evidence is good enough for Small Claims, if the actual amount you're claiming for is about £200, it's touch and go as to whether it's worth it (cost and aggro).
(FWIW, not sure if this is what you are asking, but I don't think you can reasonably claim full repayment of the £500 service cost. As the reasonable counter argument would be that the rest of the service work was satisfactory.)
(FWIW, not sure if this is what you are asking, but I don't think you can reasonably claim full repayment of the £500 service cost. As the reasonable counter argument would be that the rest of the service work was satisfactory.)
Took my three year old Triumph Bonneville into a well known dealer in Christchurch (now gone) for a service in 1972.
Two days later a valve burnt out, resulting in a brand new cylinder head, which I fitted myself...I suspect a tappet was too tight, which they had adjusted.
Never bothered saying anything at the time, because I could not prove anything.
The bike was running perfectly before that.
Two days later a valve burnt out, resulting in a brand new cylinder head, which I fitted myself...I suspect a tappet was too tight, which they had adjusted.
Never bothered saying anything at the time, because I could not prove anything.
The bike was running perfectly before that.
Pcot said:
The bikes now fixed.
Learn from it.
Don't use the dealer again.
Move on with your life.
Simple.
So someone cocks up a £500 motorbike service enough to have oil spilling onto your rear tyre and cost you another £100 on top and shouldn't even own up to their error, let alone apologise? Do you work at this dealership?Learn from it.
Don't use the dealer again.
Move on with your life.
Simple.
Chapppers said:
So someone cocks up a £500 motorbike service enough to have oil spilling onto your rear tyre and cost you another £100 on top and shouldn't even own up to their error, let alone apologise? Do you work at this dealership?
It's not that though - getting an apology requires an admission that would cost the dealership money. If the OP is happy to go through the Small Claims process to get the (likely) win on this, then that's his choice. But he's facing quite some grief to get there (more than the grief he's had so far).The point is that life is full of ag, and can you bothered to make a fuss about it ? If it were my bike, I would at least send a few letters, but whether I'd actually sue instead of just saying sod it and finding another garage I am not so sure.
A few years ago a crappy garage made a right mess of a classic car that I then owned and it cost me a lot to put it right. I could and maybe should have sued, but really I couldn't be arsed with the hassle.
A few years ago a crappy garage made a right mess of a classic car that I then owned and it cost me a lot to put it right. I could and maybe should have sued, but really I couldn't be arsed with the hassle.
Chapppers said:
Pcot said:
The bikes now fixed.
Learn from it.
Don't use the dealer again.
Move on with your life.
Simple.
So someone cocks up a £500 motorbike service enough to have oil spilling onto your rear tyre and cost you another £100 on top and shouldn't even own up to their error, let alone apologise? Do you work at this dealership?Learn from it.
Don't use the dealer again.
Move on with your life.
Simple.
I had an MOT 3 days later at another garage, and the guy pointed out the oil pissing everywhere. I payed the MOT station to fix it.
I have Learned from it.
I won't use the garage again.
I have moved on with my life.
Simple.
And no, I don't work for your bike service dealership.
I dont agree with the 'move on' sentiment. This wasnt a minor issue like a paint scratch or a kerbed wheel. This could have had a disastrous outcome for a less experienced rider like myself.
I am not saying sue but I'd do as much as possible to make sure this doesnt happen to a next person.
I am not saying sue but I'd do as much as possible to make sure this doesnt happen to a next person.
For what it costs in time and money it's at least worth starting the money claim on line process. People such as the garage in question shouldn't be allowed to get away with shrugging off their responsibilities.
Each person has to make their own decision about these things, they have to balance the desire to forget about it with the desire to get redress. Some things I would walk away from, some things I would make a stand, and nobody else can say what another should do, it's a personal choice thing.
Each person has to make their own decision about these things, they have to balance the desire to forget about it with the desire to get redress. Some things I would walk away from, some things I would make a stand, and nobody else can say what another should do, it's a personal choice thing.
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