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:
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
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??
Thanks all. A bit more research shows that he's a one man band seemingly registered nowhere.
It's a 12 year old Chevrolet Spark by the way, my mum just liked it. I'll see her tomorrow, I'm not local, but I am minded to talk to her about just walking away. It makes sense that he can't complain about a bill not being paid where he will not give it prior to payment.
And my work colleague is happy to be the new keeper before he relocates back to Romania next Thursday. It doesn't sit well with me and definitely won't with mum but he clearly is trying to scam her and she can't afford to weigh out £800 for nothing
It's a 12 year old Chevrolet Spark by the way, my mum just liked it. I'll see her tomorrow, I'm not local, but I am minded to talk to her about just walking away. It makes sense that he can't complain about a bill not being paid where he will not give it prior to payment.
And my work colleague is happy to be the new keeper before he relocates back to Romania next Thursday. It doesn't sit well with me and definitely won't with mum but he clearly is trying to scam her and she can't afford to weigh out £800 for nothing
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