Garage has had my car over six months
Discussion
Hi All
The clutch slave cylinder failed six months ago and I found a local "classics" car repair garage.
To cut a long story short, I eventually agreed that the bottom end needed a new bearing and "while you're at it" we may as well do an engine re-build.
It's an A Series 1275cc engine.
The issue is that that was six months ago. I've also been stupid and paid for parts as we've gone along, in my mind trying to support a local business with cash flow.
I've been down to see the car - it's in pieces, the bonnet removed, the engine out and in pieces.
The issue is that I cannot get them to agree when it will be finished. I'm at my wits end.
Comms started well, with pictures via WhatsApp and now all I get is "We'll let you know when it's finished" and "You shouldn't have bought a classic car" - it's not some Italian exotica, it's an old British classic (I'm not saying what it is).
I think six months is more than reasonable in my mind to rebuild an A-Series 1275 engine.
The question is, WTF can I do? I've been down there, I have the guys number etc etc.
What is the next step (ignoring the "find some thugs and arrange collection"?
ETA - I've tried the man to man, let's be reasonable and nothing changes....
The clutch slave cylinder failed six months ago and I found a local "classics" car repair garage.
To cut a long story short, I eventually agreed that the bottom end needed a new bearing and "while you're at it" we may as well do an engine re-build.
It's an A Series 1275cc engine.
The issue is that that was six months ago. I've also been stupid and paid for parts as we've gone along, in my mind trying to support a local business with cash flow.
I've been down to see the car - it's in pieces, the bonnet removed, the engine out and in pieces.
The issue is that I cannot get them to agree when it will be finished. I'm at my wits end.
Comms started well, with pictures via WhatsApp and now all I get is "We'll let you know when it's finished" and "You shouldn't have bought a classic car" - it's not some Italian exotica, it's an old British classic (I'm not saying what it is).
I think six months is more than reasonable in my mind to rebuild an A-Series 1275 engine.
The question is, WTF can I do? I've been down there, I have the guys number etc etc.
What is the next step (ignoring the "find some thugs and arrange collection"?
ETA - I've tried the man to man, let's be reasonable and nothing changes....
Edited by JohnnyUK on Friday 31st March 12:49
P. ONeill said:
Go and talk to him in person, not via WhatsApp. You’ll get a better idea of where you stand. Maybe he doesn’t have the time, or maybe he just can’t be bothered.
Thanks - yes, I've tried that a couple of weeks ago. I thought I had got through to him - we shook hands etc!Since then....nothing has changed.
andburg said:
As long as you agree what has been done and how much your should pay it shouldn’t come to that…but 100% expect missing parts, some of which brand new which your paid for
Thanks - I have a breakdown of the parts I have bought. I'm not sufficiently skilled to identify them - they are mainly small engine parts.And I know I'm catastrophizing but what if he says he's spent 100 hours so far....
andburg said:
check your home insurance and speak to a solicitor.
If he's refusing to do the work, allow you to pay ofr the work done and remove the parts / vehicle then you're a bit stuff
perhaps call 101 and just report it so its on record, if he is leaving for Canada they are very picky as to who they let in!
Yes, reported to the Police. We've also spoken to their landlord and they've given notice on the premises.If he's refusing to do the work, allow you to pay ofr the work done and remove the parts / vehicle then you're a bit stuff
perhaps call 101 and just report it so its on record, if he is leaving for Canada they are very picky as to who they let in!
I'm assuming that the car won't be recovered at all now.
Would my insurers pay out?
BrettMRC said:
Is the car in a condition where it will roll ok on the wheels?
If so then this really is one of the rare occassions where you need to turn up with your recovery truck and a couple of mates to get the car back.
I've just spoken to his landlord - he is seriously behind with his rent. The landlord has also received complaints from another owner, whose car is stuck in there.If so then this really is one of the rare occassions where you need to turn up with your recovery truck and a couple of mates to get the car back.
Problem is, I'm a bit old (and so are my mates!) for a punch up.
He clearly has no intention of completing the work. I'm currently waiting for a local solicitor to call me back.
PurpleTurtle said:
SIX MONTHS!?
Sorry OP, this has all the hallmarks of a failing business and with his comments about moving to Canada my concern would be him completely disappearing, leaving a trail of debt in his wake and your car being unrecoverable from the locked premises of a landlord to whom he owes a load of rent and has done a runner from.
As is the case with all useless Walts like this, he's probably watched one too many YouTube videos about living in Canada, would like to do it, but has neither the means or the gumption to actually go and do that so will continue being a s
t mechanic ripping people off at will.
Tell him you are coming to collect the car on a specified date, you want all the parts present and a bill for work done so far.
Is he the kind of bloke to be 'physically assertive'? Do you have a load of mates you could turn up with on your recovery trip?
How aholes like this stay in business I will never know.
You are spot on. I need to hire some heavies though. I've spoken to a couple of bailiffs, but of course they want to follow a legal instruction.Sorry OP, this has all the hallmarks of a failing business and with his comments about moving to Canada my concern would be him completely disappearing, leaving a trail of debt in his wake and your car being unrecoverable from the locked premises of a landlord to whom he owes a load of rent and has done a runner from.
As is the case with all useless Walts like this, he's probably watched one too many YouTube videos about living in Canada, would like to do it, but has neither the means or the gumption to actually go and do that so will continue being a s
t mechanic ripping people off at will. Tell him you are coming to collect the car on a specified date, you want all the parts present and a bill for work done so far.
Is he the kind of bloke to be 'physically assertive'? Do you have a load of mates you could turn up with on your recovery trip?
How a
holes like this stay in business I will never know. I don't know anyone I can use for some muscle.
BertBert said:
JohnnyUK said:
Hi All
To cut a long story short, I eventually agreed that the bottom end needed a new bearing and "while you're at it" we may as well do an engine re-build.
Just to come back here. How did you decide it needed a new bearing? Also what did that mean? It's normally termed bearings for the bottom end. As you went in for a clutch cylinder, how did you get from there to an engine refresh? And my point is wondering whether he had you over from the start?To cut a long story short, I eventually agreed that the bottom end needed a new bearing and "while you're at it" we may as well do an engine re-build.
As for your approach, have you visited again to ask for your car back, or just messaged? If the latter, if you go and see him and try a pleasant chat, you can scout to see whether turning up with a trailer and a couple of mates to help load is likely to succeed.
Otherwise if you have a documented refusal to do the work or give the ca back, get an injunction? Not sure that is even a thing!
Yellow Lizud said:
What has he got to gain by keeping a car he has no intention of doing any work on? Surely any money to him is better than none at all.
Has he come up with a price he is prepared to accept for you to just take the car away?
Have you offered him any payment, either for work done or just to get the car back?
Most people are open to a bit ofbribery financial incentive.
I realise that this isn't what you want and any price he comes up with will probably be completely fictitious and I also suspect that you won't get all the parts back. But this must be a starting point for both sides to come out of the whole sorry mess with something.
How much do you believe you owe him for work done or how much do you believe he owes you for work not done?
The problem is that he's totally lost the plot. I've offered to pay the (un-invoiced) labour charges when I collect the car. Has he come up with a price he is prepared to accept for you to just take the car away?
Have you offered him any payment, either for work done or just to get the car back?
Most people are open to a bit of
I realise that this isn't what you want and any price he comes up with will probably be completely fictitious and I also suspect that you won't get all the parts back. But this must be a starting point for both sides to come out of the whole sorry mess with something.
How much do you believe you owe him for work done or how much do you believe he owes you for work not done?
He's removed & dismantled the engine. The block, head and flywheel have been re-skimmed (so he says - which I've already paid for.)
So, the outstanding work is to re-build the engine with the new parts I have already paid for, re-install the engine and ancillaries and that's it.
andburg said:
BrettMRC said:
I don't understand what the mechanic has to gain here if he is shutting up shop and leaving the country anyway - clearly one of those people that are dedicated to being a PITA.
Where in the UK is the car OP?
Could we organise some friendly PHers to help load it on to the transport so the mechanic doesn't injur himself trying to do it single-handed?
Get job..provide updatesWhere in the UK is the car OP?
Could we organise some friendly PHers to help load it on to the transport so the mechanic doesn't injur himself trying to do it single-handed?
Identify "issues" and get payment for the materials etc that are needed
Never buy the parts
Repeat above as required to build a pot of money
Stop paying rent and rates
if you're busy there's a surefire way to build up a good chunk of cash to do a runner with
MustangGT said:
JohnnyUK said:
havoc said:
JohnnyUK said:
He's removed & dismantled the engine. The block, head and flywheel have been re-skimmed (so he says - which I've already paid for.)
One final question - is this business a limited company or sole trader?djohnson said:
My concern would be that he has cash flow issues, and that the cash you’ve given him has gone but not wholly on parts or labour for your car. He’s playing silly buggers since he knows he can’t show you the physical progress on your car or return to you the parts you’ve paid for since neither exist to the extent they should, and he doesn’t have the cash to refund you.
I think you're spot on - the accounts submitted recently show debts of £200k and he owes his landlord £17k.Edited by djohnson on Monday 3rd April 17:03
He has sold the lifts in the garage to the landlord today as part payment.
When it's all done & dusted, I'll share the screen shots of the WhatsApp conversations....
TriumphStag3.0V8 said:
That's shocking! Where abouts in the country is this garage (roughly)? maybe a local PHer with a trailer could help with the collection (ie someone to transport who is not time critical and going to cost hundreds if you can't get the car on the day)
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