How to complain about a garage?
Discussion
Long story this one, but it has left me fuming......
I have owned a VW T25 Camper for about six months. Two months ago it broke down and i couldn't get it started again. I called the AA . Symptoms were the van was back firing then cutting out. No other obvious issues.
The AA subcontracted to a local garage who came out at about 10PM. They could not get it running reliably and so towed me back to their own garage. Then the problems started.
Firstly they tried coils and ignition amplifier. Then they said the compression was low on two cylinders and it needed a new engine. This took six weeks of constant chasing them (20+ phone calls, with not many returned....). I have been waiting two weeks for a price for a new engine......
Yesterday, i swung into action (works been hectic.....) and rescued my van from these clowns. Unfortunately i broke down three miles away, having the van cut out once and loosing power going up a slight hill. Called AA again and a different subcontract garage came out. He noticed the brake servo hose was not connected, reconnected and evrything now seems fine. So a 15pence jubilee clip or new engine?
The first garage have pissed me off so much that I want to report them. How or who do i report this to? They are a small independent garage, will the AA be bothered? Will trading standards care? I'm luckily not out of pocket (another story.....) despite them fitting various new parts, or should I just leave it......
Thanks
Mike
I have owned a VW T25 Camper for about six months. Two months ago it broke down and i couldn't get it started again. I called the AA . Symptoms were the van was back firing then cutting out. No other obvious issues.
The AA subcontracted to a local garage who came out at about 10PM. They could not get it running reliably and so towed me back to their own garage. Then the problems started.
Firstly they tried coils and ignition amplifier. Then they said the compression was low on two cylinders and it needed a new engine. This took six weeks of constant chasing them (20+ phone calls, with not many returned....). I have been waiting two weeks for a price for a new engine......
Yesterday, i swung into action (works been hectic.....) and rescued my van from these clowns. Unfortunately i broke down three miles away, having the van cut out once and loosing power going up a slight hill. Called AA again and a different subcontract garage came out. He noticed the brake servo hose was not connected, reconnected and evrything now seems fine. So a 15pence jubilee clip or new engine?
The first garage have pissed me off so much that I want to report them. How or who do i report this to? They are a small independent garage, will the AA be bothered? Will trading standards care? I'm luckily not out of pocket (another story.....) despite them fitting various new parts, or should I just leave it......
Thanks
Mike
Sounds like the second garage got lucky "noticing" the hose was not connected
Maybe the first garage genuinely thought it needed a new engine
Or is it the customer support (or lack of it) that has pissed you off?
I would try trading standards though and just generally spread the word they are toilet
Maybe the first garage genuinely thought it needed a new engine
Or is it the customer support (or lack of it) that has pissed you off?
I would try trading standards though and just generally spread the word they are toilet
Get a compression test done independently. If it's showing good compression on all four cylinders, which I expect it will be, then you can completely destroy the first garage. The AA should be informed as they won't want to use them, and then so should trading standards, but if you have no written quotes then there's not a lot of legal action to be taken.
McSam said:
Get a compression test done independently. If it's showing good compression on all four cylinders, which I expect it will be, then you can completely destroy the first garage. The AA should be informed as they won't want to use them, and then so should trading standards, but if you have no written quotes then there's not a lot of legal action to be taken.
Not interested in taking legal action ( not my style) but just want these dodgy garages shut down or given a serious worry. Especially as they are AA subcontractors.....Mike
mike9009 said:
Long story this one, but it has left me fuming......
I have owned a VW T25 Camper for about six months. Two months ago it broke down and i couldn't get it started again. I called the AA . Symptoms were the van was back firing then cutting out. No other obvious issues.
The AA subcontracted to a local garage who came out at about 10PM. They could not get it running reliably and so towed me back to their own garage. Then the problems started.
Firstly they tried coils and ignition amplifier. Then they said the compression was low on two cylinders and it needed a new engine. This took six weeks of constant chasing them (20+ phone calls, with not many returned....). I have been waiting two weeks for a price for a new engine......
Yesterday, i swung into action (works been hectic.....) and rescued my van from these clowns. Unfortunately i broke down three miles away, having the van cut out once and loosing power going up a slight hill. Called AA again and a different subcontract garage came out. He noticed the brake servo hose was not connected, reconnected and evrything now seems fine. So a 15pence jubilee clip or new engine?
The first garage have pissed me off so much that I want to report them. How or who do i report this to? They are a small independent garage, will the AA be bothered? Will trading standards care? I'm luckily not out of pocket (another story.....) despite them fitting various new parts, or should I just leave it......
Thanks
Mike
Hi Mike,I have owned a VW T25 Camper for about six months. Two months ago it broke down and i couldn't get it started again. I called the AA . Symptoms were the van was back firing then cutting out. No other obvious issues.
The AA subcontracted to a local garage who came out at about 10PM. They could not get it running reliably and so towed me back to their own garage. Then the problems started.
Firstly they tried coils and ignition amplifier. Then they said the compression was low on two cylinders and it needed a new engine. This took six weeks of constant chasing them (20+ phone calls, with not many returned....). I have been waiting two weeks for a price for a new engine......
Yesterday, i swung into action (works been hectic.....) and rescued my van from these clowns. Unfortunately i broke down three miles away, having the van cut out once and loosing power going up a slight hill. Called AA again and a different subcontract garage came out. He noticed the brake servo hose was not connected, reconnected and evrything now seems fine. So a 15pence jubilee clip or new engine?
The first garage have pissed me off so much that I want to report them. How or who do i report this to? They are a small independent garage, will the AA be bothered? Will trading standards care? I'm luckily not out of pocket (another story.....) despite them fitting various new parts, or should I just leave it......
Thanks
Mike
Sorry to hear of your recent troubles with the vehicle. We welcome all feedback and we would like to take further details so we can take a closer look to address any concerns. Please email chat@theaa.com including reference FOR18696. Regards The AA
dh2009 said:
Hi Mike,
Sorry to hear of your recent troubles with the vehicle. We welcome all feedback and we would like to take further details so we can take a closer look to address any concerns. Please email chat@theaa.com including reference FOR18696. Regards The AA
Job done.Sorry to hear of your recent troubles with the vehicle. We welcome all feedback and we would like to take further details so we can take a closer look to address any concerns. Please email chat@theaa.com including reference FOR18696. Regards The AA
Excellent.
doogz said:
Mechanics noticing things wrong with engines isn't luck. It's their job.
+1 As a (Former) mechanic I agree with this, something as simple as that should have been noticed.
Most people have got a garage horror/shock story. It really bothers me, other service industries can get it right - Something I'd like to remedy...just need some funds.
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