Tyre Fitter Woes
Discussion
Hi all
Legal advice please.
Driving to Heathrow NCP car-park the other day to catch a flight and I pick up some glass in my tyre of my Lexus IS300h, ensue Tyre Pressure Monitor light on dashboard and a slow drive the final mile or so to the airport carpark.
Lexus assistance called when I return to the UK, and, AA guy arrives, repairs the tyre but follows me to a local tyre fitter (back-street place in Hays a few miles away) to get a new one fitted.
After arguing about the price quoted on the telephone (for a Bridgestone which I requested, but they tried to fit a chinese ditchfinder when I got there and ended up paying over the odds for a Bridgestone that wasn't in stock and waited an hour for to turn up), they ended up shearing off the tyre pressure monitor sensor on that wheel.
The car was almost bang on 12 months old at this point. I understand they can perish over time and break when fitting a new tyre but it's done 6,000 miles so I can only imagine it was negligence?
I have received a quote from my local Lexus dealer for £155.87 inc. VAT & labour to fix and reprogram. The Lexus service guy who provided the quote quick added that I should be expecting the tyre fitter to cough up and pay for the work to be undertaken.
Before I sound like a berk in my proposed letter to the tyre fitter, is this the sort of cost they would cover? If so, and they push back, what rules / laws are there to evidence this?
Thanks in advance
Legal advice please.
Driving to Heathrow NCP car-park the other day to catch a flight and I pick up some glass in my tyre of my Lexus IS300h, ensue Tyre Pressure Monitor light on dashboard and a slow drive the final mile or so to the airport carpark.
Lexus assistance called when I return to the UK, and, AA guy arrives, repairs the tyre but follows me to a local tyre fitter (back-street place in Hays a few miles away) to get a new one fitted.
After arguing about the price quoted on the telephone (for a Bridgestone which I requested, but they tried to fit a chinese ditchfinder when I got there and ended up paying over the odds for a Bridgestone that wasn't in stock and waited an hour for to turn up), they ended up shearing off the tyre pressure monitor sensor on that wheel.
The car was almost bang on 12 months old at this point. I understand they can perish over time and break when fitting a new tyre but it's done 6,000 miles so I can only imagine it was negligence?
I have received a quote from my local Lexus dealer for £155.87 inc. VAT & labour to fix and reprogram. The Lexus service guy who provided the quote quick added that I should be expecting the tyre fitter to cough up and pay for the work to be undertaken.
Before I sound like a berk in my proposed letter to the tyre fitter, is this the sort of cost they would cover? If so, and they push back, what rules / laws are there to evidence this?
Thanks in advance
Edited by Tobeman on Tuesday 17th November 17:38
Centurion07 said:
Could it have been damaged by the last mile or so of driving on it whilst it was going down/flat? Or sitting there whilst you were away?
Frankly, I have no idea. Possibly? I re-inflated the tyre before I set off, and was fairly inflated by the time I got back (but still noticably deflated) so presumably if anything it was the drive or the tyre fitter that caused it?Tobeman said:
Centurion07 said:
Could it have been damaged by the last mile or so of driving on it whilst it was going down/flat? Or sitting there whilst you were away?
Frankly, I have no idea. Possibly? I re-inflated the tyre before I set off, and was fairly inflated by the time I got back (but still noticably deflated) so presumably if anything it was the drive or the tyre fitter that caused it?The reason I ask is that the former is down to the tyre fitter. The latter is a known problem if people fit metal caps to the brass stems; it doesn't take long to corrode enough to break the stem on removal. Tyre fitter wouldn't be able to do much about that.
A good tip, in any event- never fit metal caps to TPMS sensor valves.
ging84 said:
Your legal rights in this situation will be everything you expect them to be and probably more, but enforcing them will be every bit as much hassle as you expect it to be and probably more.
Very, very occasionally, a single sentence cuts to the crux of a whole thread.This is one of those times OP.
REALIST123 said:
Just to be certain was the sensor knocked off the stem when the tyre was being removed? I.e. by the machines demount head? Or was the stem twisted off the sensor when they tried to take off the dust cap and if so was it a metal dust cap?
The reason I ask is that the former is down to the tyre fitter. The latter is a known problem if people fit metal caps to the brass stems; it doesn't take long to corrode enough to break the stem on removal. Tyre fitter wouldn't be able to do much about that.
A good tip, in any event- never fit metal caps to TPMS sensor valves.
Had a Laguna II with metal caps on. They seized. Must have cost Renault lots..... I noticed that the next model year had plastic caps....The reason I ask is that the former is down to the tyre fitter. The latter is a known problem if people fit metal caps to the brass stems; it doesn't take long to corrode enough to break the stem on removal. Tyre fitter wouldn't be able to do much about that.
A good tip, in any event- never fit metal caps to TPMS sensor valves.
New valves should be fitted to TPMS, same as any new valve is fitted with a new tyre without TPMS. The problem stems from most mechanics having a pathological dislike for using a torque wrench for anything other than cylinder head bolts! The valves for TPMS sensors generally require less than 10Nm (some down to 4Nm), at which level it is very easy to over-torque them and snap the head off...
I suspect an example of failing to exercise care and skill in a professional capacity, but good luck following through with that to the point they cough up.
I suspect an example of failing to exercise care and skill in a professional capacity, but good luck following through with that to the point they cough up.
ging84 said:
Your legal rights in this situation will be everything you expect them to be and probably more, but enforcing them will be every bit as much hassle as you expect it to be and probably more.
Agreed , the law is on your side but if he says no I suspect they'll want you to get an independent inspection to say the valve was damaged by the fitter which will cost £150 and be inconclusive It depends if you want the cash back or want to establish a principle.
It you want recompense a polite, brief and firm letter will soon elicit a response that will tell you whether you have a fight.
If you have the time and inclination want to give them a hard time you could just hit them with a small claim they may not be bothered to waste time contesting because of the low amount but they may not; so be prepared not to win everything you expect
It you want recompense a polite, brief and firm letter will soon elicit a response that will tell you whether you have a fight.
If you have the time and inclination want to give them a hard time you could just hit them with a small claim they may not be bothered to waste time contesting because of the low amount but they may not; so be prepared not to win everything you expect
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