Workshop shut indefinitely with my car inside
Discussion
I have a strange situation to report -
I'd got my car into my local independent for some work - battery to be replaced and engine noise to be checked.
I was expecting to hear back in a day or two, and the owner is quite prompt about calling and sharing what's happening. When I didn't hear back I tried calling back but couldn't get him on the phone. Emailed him, no response.
I popped over to have a look, and I see the workshop's shut and there's a sign in the window that says they're closed indefinitely due to illness. The businesses next door don't have a clue. My car isn't in the yard, but they say he sometimes puts cars inside when he's closing.
It's been over a week now and no news one way or the other.
What's the best and most prudent course of action here? Should I inform my insurer that my car is in a workshop and the owner's unreachable?
This is the first time I've given custom to this particular workshop, though he seem to be a good bloke, and has been in business for 2-3 years now and he's generally busy with waiting list of weeks. I don't have a reason to suspect anything other than what the sign says.
One thing I do wonder, is if his business was struggling and he's about to go under, and what the implications might be for my car if it's stuck inside.
I'd got my car into my local independent for some work - battery to be replaced and engine noise to be checked.
I was expecting to hear back in a day or two, and the owner is quite prompt about calling and sharing what's happening. When I didn't hear back I tried calling back but couldn't get him on the phone. Emailed him, no response.
I popped over to have a look, and I see the workshop's shut and there's a sign in the window that says they're closed indefinitely due to illness. The businesses next door don't have a clue. My car isn't in the yard, but they say he sometimes puts cars inside when he's closing.
It's been over a week now and no news one way or the other.
What's the best and most prudent course of action here? Should I inform my insurer that my car is in a workshop and the owner's unreachable?
This is the first time I've given custom to this particular workshop, though he seem to be a good bloke, and has been in business for 2-3 years now and he's generally busy with waiting list of weeks. I don't have a reason to suspect anything other than what the sign says.
One thing I do wonder, is if his business was struggling and he's about to go under, and what the implications might be for my car if it's stuck inside.
I’d probably be calling the police and reporting your car stolen. Even if he is ill or dead someone should be contactable if he has possession of your car.
I had a somewhat similar story. Crashed my bike on diesel. At the beginning of summer. Was taken to the Kawasiki dealer I had bought it from. I kept calling them to check progress. They said they were waiting for parts. Finally everything arrived and they started on my bike. Next day I find out that they have gone into receivership! I couldn’t get my bike back because they had started to work on it so it was now part of their inventory. Eventually someone bought the business and they finished my bike but by then it was autumn. Key difference is that I was kept informed all the time so although it was a pain I wasn’t worried I wasn’t going to get my bike back eventually.
I had a somewhat similar story. Crashed my bike on diesel. At the beginning of summer. Was taken to the Kawasiki dealer I had bought it from. I kept calling them to check progress. They said they were waiting for parts. Finally everything arrived and they started on my bike. Next day I find out that they have gone into receivership! I couldn’t get my bike back because they had started to work on it so it was now part of their inventory. Eventually someone bought the business and they finished my bike but by then it was autumn. Key difference is that I was kept informed all the time so although it was a pain I wasn’t worried I wasn’t going to get my bike back eventually.
I've found the company information on Companies House but the address listed is the same trading address.
There are a couple of potential matches for the proprietor on 192.com but don't think I should really be doorstepping him (esp if there's a serious illness in the family).
Perhaps the best course of action might be to inform insurer this has happened and see what else they suggest?
There are a couple of potential matches for the proprietor on 192.com but don't think I should really be doorstepping him (esp if there's a serious illness in the family).
Perhaps the best course of action might be to inform insurer this has happened and see what else they suggest?
Keep an eye on the LG.
Any insolvency notices are posted here.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/insolvency/notice?tex...
piddy44 said:
Not a police or insurance matter. It's civil between you & the garage. I'd doorstep him.
Possible he had a heart attack & was carted off in an ambulance so doorstepping is a bit intrusive but then you are also in a difficult position.
Trickey one.
I'm thinking of contacting the insurer just in case the car is unrecoverable for one reason or the other, and when I do need to contact them eventually they shouldn't say I should have called them sooner. Possible he had a heart attack & was carted off in an ambulance so doorstepping is a bit intrusive but then you are also in a difficult position.
Trickey one.
Quite possibly just off sick with COVID or some such but all sorts of worst-case scenarios that keep popping up in my head - business going under with my car stuck as inventory (as someone has shared above), car repaired and sold off (though it was an old car and not worth more than 4-5K tops so I can't imagine he was waiting just for me to bring my car over so he could sell it off), car being driven around and used for all sorts of nefarious business..
It's unlikely he is a pure one man band. As well as H+S requirements for operating certain machinery, there must be somebody doing the 'books', opening or closing up or something.
I've use many small independents over the years for all sorts of makes of cars, I'm a big fan of them, but none of them worked on their own all the time.
The closest was Martin at Top Gear in Wolverhampton (TVR specialist), worked on his own but got the MoTs done next door and people would come to help if necessary. Is there a neighbouring unit who have keys?
I've use many small independents over the years for all sorts of makes of cars, I'm a big fan of them, but none of them worked on their own all the time.
The closest was Martin at Top Gear in Wolverhampton (TVR specialist), worked on his own but got the MoTs done next door and people would come to help if necessary. Is there a neighbouring unit who have keys?sixor8 said:
It's unlikely he is a pure one man band. As well as H+S requirements for operating certain machinery, there must be somebody doing the 'books', opening or closing up or something.
I've use many small independents over the years for all sorts of makes of cars, I'm a big fan of them, but none of them worked on their own all the time. The closest was Martin at Top Gear in Wolverhampton (TVR specialist), worked on his own but got the MoTs done next door and people would come to help if necessary. Is there a neighbouring unit who have keys?
Op has said that neighbours claim not to know what the story is unfortunately.I've use many small independents over the years for all sorts of makes of cars, I'm a big fan of them, but none of them worked on their own all the time.
The closest was Martin at Top Gear in Wolverhampton (TVR specialist), worked on his own but got the MoTs done next door and people would come to help if necessary. Is there a neighbouring unit who have keys?ChocolateFrog said:
A battery powered angle grinder would have you in in about 10 seconds.
I'm not suggesting it as the course of action but if you were to take a new lock and post him the key are you actually breaking the law? Probably.
Interesting thinking, and I assume not a serious suggestion. You probably would be breaking the law and where would you post the key to? I'm not suggesting it as the course of action but if you were to take a new lock and post him the key are you actually breaking the law? Probably.
2Btoo said:
ChocolateFrog said:
A battery powered angle grinder would have you in in about 10 seconds.
I'm not suggesting it as the course of action but if you were to take a new lock and post him the key are you actually breaking the law? Probably.
Interesting thinking, and I assume not a serious suggestion. You probably would be breaking the law and where would you post the key to? I'm not suggesting it as the course of action but if you were to take a new lock and post him the key are you actually breaking the law? Probably.
Check Google reviews etc, list the names of people who submitted early reviews, particularly with the same surname.
Check social media for the name you have and cross reference that against your list, it’s highly likely some early reviews will be friends or family.
You can contact the reviewer or the hopefully the business owner via email or social media
Check social media for the name you have and cross reference that against your list, it’s highly likely some early reviews will be friends or family.
You can contact the reviewer or the hopefully the business owner via email or social media
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