Is my old mum being ripped off here??
Discussion
Need some advice for my mum. She has no idea what's going on.
She was told her car needed a new head gasket and was VERBALLY quoted £1250 according to the mechanic, mum says she never got a quote, certainly in writing. Car isn't worth that but she wanted it fixed.
Garage calls her, says the car is actually unfixable without a whole new engine and if she could come pay the £800 owed this far and trailer it away that would be great. The garage refuse to give her an itemised invoice for this £800, just saying it's 'parts they can't return' but won't put this in writing.
I know this because I spoke to them.
I've dealt with lots of mechanics, good and bad, but this don't feel right to me and my old mum is beside herself with worry
Anyone who has an educated advice on this is most welcome to chip in because I don't know what she should do except pay up and scrap it
She was told her car needed a new head gasket and was VERBALLY quoted £1250 according to the mechanic, mum says she never got a quote, certainly in writing. Car isn't worth that but she wanted it fixed.
Garage calls her, says the car is actually unfixable without a whole new engine and if she could come pay the £800 owed this far and trailer it away that would be great. The garage refuse to give her an itemised invoice for this £800, just saying it's 'parts they can't return' but won't put this in writing.
I know this because I spoke to them.
I've dealt with lots of mechanics, good and bad, but this don't feel right to me and my old mum is beside herself with worry
Anyone who has an educated advice on this is most welcome to chip in because I don't know what she should do except pay up and scrap it
SweptVolume said:
Practical answer as it's your mum: firstly ascertain why exactly a blown head gasket is not fixable as this is a fairly standard repair (push the problem back on them)
Probably misdiagnosed. And now they're trying to recoup some losses. I'd tell them to f
k off, but they'll probably carry on hassling the OP's mum so it might be worth negotiating.SweptVolume said:
PH answer: let them keep the car and ignore any further correspondence.
Practical answer as it's your mum: firstly ascertain why exactly a blown head gasket is not fixable as this is a fairly standard repair (push the problem back on them)
Thank you. One issue is that the mechanic won't issue an invoice for the work he's done but he said she can have one after she's paid?! He won't put anything in writing and I'm guessing if she pays up she'll get a bit of paper with '£800 received' on it!Practical answer as it's your mum: firstly ascertain why exactly a blown head gasket is not fixable as this is a fairly standard repair (push the problem back on them)
I have discussed with her the possibility of just leaving it with him. She's made peace with the fact she needs a new car. He only has her first name and mobile number, I told her if she changes her mobile number she's gone! I'm not sure she'll accept this course of action and it's a bit of a dick move but honestly I think he's ripping her off royally here. I'm guessing if we did walk away it's probably best to report it scrapped at DVLA?!
I don't think he's got a leg to stand on but I don't want mum going through this. But I also don't want her to hand over 800 quid for a car he might not have even touched.
Ladders said:
First things first, I’d be asking why they think the head gaskets gone?
Has it gone in because of problems with the engine running?
Dodgy garages tend to get nervous when they realise they’re dealing with someone who knows what they’re talking about!
I have asked, he said 'its something lower down in the engine' and offered to fit a new engine! Car isn't worth 800 quid when it's working normally. Has it gone in because of problems with the engine running?
Dodgy garages tend to get nervous when they realise they’re dealing with someone who knows what they’re talking about!
When I pushed him on what's wrong he could not expand on that other than the car was 'rubbish'. I said if he has quoted mum £1250 to do the work then she can pay this for a fully fixed working car and he then threatened to contact his barrister. I politely reminded it was a solicitor he would need to initiate civil action and he put the phone down on me.
Mum said it went very lumpy and conked out. I have no doubt it is toast to be fair. I'm not someone who'd normally condone leaving it with him and declare it scrapped at DVLA and walk away but he's trying my patience
swanseaboydan said:
Scrap it - and keep us updated please.
So this involves letting DVLA know and walking away? Or do we need a scrapper to go get it? What's the come back on my mum?!It's not a great situation but I think he's blatantly tried to con her after speaking to him twice so my sympathy for him is low. Honestly he can have it, registered scrapped at DVLA in my book
Better still. Go to garage. Ask him to explain what is the issue and show you on the car and ask him if you can record his explanation so you can send it to your cousin who is a mechanic but lives at the other end of the country.
Then, if he agrees (yeah, right), you can post it on here.
If he won;t agree to be filmed explaining it, ask him to write down what is the issue.
If he refuses then hand him a letter asking for written details of what the problem is, what work has been done and an invoice.
If you just leave the car there with the bill unpaid he could bill you for storage.
By doing the above you're backing him into a corner and he'll recognise that. It's good negotiation to give your opponent a way out. If he refuses to agree to any of the above then ask if he'd be interested in just keeping the car and calling it quits.
Document all of your interactions with this garage as you may end up in formal dispute.
The garage owner could get your Mum's contact details from DVLA by writing to them and advising they have reasonable cause to ask for her details as her car has been abandoned at their premises.
ETA: Yes it does sound as if the garage are trying to take advantage but without more details it's impossible to be certain (there are 3 sides to every story). It would be interesting to know the make, model, age and condition of the vehicle
Then, if he agrees (yeah, right), you can post it on here.
If he won;t agree to be filmed explaining it, ask him to write down what is the issue.
If he refuses then hand him a letter asking for written details of what the problem is, what work has been done and an invoice.
If you just leave the car there with the bill unpaid he could bill you for storage.
By doing the above you're backing him into a corner and he'll recognise that. It's good negotiation to give your opponent a way out. If he refuses to agree to any of the above then ask if he'd be interested in just keeping the car and calling it quits.
Document all of your interactions with this garage as you may end up in formal dispute.
The garage owner could get your Mum's contact details from DVLA by writing to them and advising they have reasonable cause to ask for her details as her car has been abandoned at their premises.
ETA: Yes it does sound as if the garage are trying to take advantage but without more details it's impossible to be certain (there are 3 sides to every story). It would be interesting to know the make, model, age and condition of the vehicle
There are very few parts that cannot be returned in the aftermarket world, usually they cannot be returned if opened. I would have thought it was simple, here are the parts I cannot return, you owe xxx for and I have spent 2 hours on it and for that xxx
Out of interest is it a garage vat registered or a one man and his workshop
Out of interest is it a garage vat registered or a one man and his workshop
said:
Thinking about the scrap business, I have a good work colleague who is permanently moving back to Romania next week. Might be worth giving him a free car at his current address??
I'm going to take a slightly different approach. I am guessing your mum isn't local or you'd have sorted it out. Is it worth peace of mind to just pay £800 to make sure this guy doesn't harrass your mum down the line?
I know it's a bit "PH" but £800 isn't that much in the greater scheme of things assuming she can afford it.
Otherwise if it's really not worth £800, just leave it there and ignore them. They'll sell it for scrap.
I know it's a bit "PH" but £800 isn't that much in the greater scheme of things assuming she can afford it.
Otherwise if it's really not worth £800, just leave it there and ignore them. They'll sell it for scrap.
What car is it?
£1250 sounds like a lot for a head gasket (though maybe you’re in Aberdeen/shire in which case it would sound about right for even a lawn mower head gasket
) however the car could well be forked and he’s realised that after going £800’s worth in, and is just too lazy to write out a detailed invoice. Or maybe he’s just a st.
£1250 sounds like a lot for a head gasket (though maybe you’re in Aberdeen/shire in which case it would sound about right for even a lawn mower head gasket
) however the car could well be forked and he’s realised that after going £800’s worth in, and is just too lazy to write out a detailed invoice. Or maybe he’s just a st. No invoice = no payment.
Do you even have any evidence the mechanic has actually done any work? Surely this is borderline extortion or theft as he’s refusing to let the car be inspected or returned back to your mum.
I would set a deadline for an invoice and evidence of works done so far. If none forthcoming, then inform him legal proceedings will commence?
Do you even have any evidence the mechanic has actually done any work? Surely this is borderline extortion or theft as he’s refusing to let the car be inspected or returned back to your mum.
I would set a deadline for an invoice and evidence of works done so far. If none forthcoming, then inform him legal proceedings will commence?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff