garage rip off
Discussion
Hi there, about a year ago my mother, aunt and uncle bought a peugeot 807 tdi for their small hotel, after 3 and a half months the timing belt snapped or jumped some teeth.The car was recovered to a garage which have had it ever since and have been unable to fix it.At one point they got a secondhand engine to fit to it but it turned out to be the wrong engine so was sent back and apparently it took the garage owner months to get his money back for the engine so they now have a policy of not fitting secondhand engines so have abandoned the car and now want £960 for the work done.I think myself this is a joke, the car was put there to be fixed which they have not done and now want nearly £1000 for the privilege.The bill they have sent lists strip engine found injectors seized, removed engine to fit second hand engine,refitted old engine and suspension £740 with no breakdown of hours just states quantity 1 then it lists diagnostic check £25 camshaft sensor £16 and crankshaft sensor £20.To me this garage are having a laugh, they have achieved nothing and expect £960 and why on earth after deciding the old engine was scrap would they then refit it and charge for the labour to do that, i just think its ludicrous and would not be paying him but what would be the position on getting the car back?Any thoughts on this or advice greatly appreciated.
It's all very well posters saying 'get the car back and take it elsewhere etc.' but there's no way the garage will let the car out of their workshop until the £900 odd quid is paid, is there? And, let's not forget, the car's not even driveable, is it?
So - how can the OP just 'go and get it back?'
So - how can the OP just 'go and get it back?'
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
It's all very well posters saying 'get the car back and take it elsewhere etc.' but there's no way the garage will let the car out of their workshop until the £900 odd quid is paid, is there? And, let's not forget, the car's not even driveable, is it?
So - how can the OP just 'go and get it back?'
Trailer, couple of meatheads and balls.So - how can the OP just 'go and get it back?'
I had to do this once and took legal advice. Give written notice and send a transporter to collect it on the day. In my case the guy just rolled over and didnt try to charge for the pathetic amount of work he had done. I think you can pay under protest then sue to get it back, Well within small claims amount.
BFG TERRANO said:
Seized injectors? No such thing. Fit wrong engine? Then re fit old engine? It's laughable, get it picked up with all the bits asap.
unfortunately it is a quite a well know issue on these. There is a hydraulic puller you can get to wrench them out of the head but because of the way the engine is fitted you need to remove most of the scuttle to utilise it.chryslerben said:
unfortunately it is a quite a well know issue on these. There is a hydraulic puller you can get to wrench them out of the head but because of the way the engine is fitted you need to remove most of the scuttle to utilise it.
every days a school day!I was thinking more seized in their operation rather than their removal.
Seized in the head I can well understand.
SMGB said:
I had to do this once and took legal advice. Give written notice and send a transporter to collect it on the day. In my case the guy just rolled over and didnt try to charge for the pathetic amount of work he had done. I think you can pay under protest then sue to get it back, Well within small claims amount.
BTW I made sure the Police knew there could be a breach of the peace and where the car was, they were very good and gave me a reference number. I also took someone with me to watch from a distance, not a Minder 
, just in case things got nasty and I needed the cavalry. When we pitched up the car was sitting on the forecourt ready to go. It wasnt the most pleasant conversation I have ever had, but I got my car back.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff