Dodgy dealings
Discussion
Hi,
I have a bit of an awkward problem, and I can't really name names because Petrol Ted will delete the thread. So treading carefully...
A couple of months ago I had my outriggers refurbished, my drive shaft refurbished, my chassis treated, and my car serviced. Also included in the £2600 bill was front ball joints, rear wheelbearing replacement, and front anti-roll bar bushes replaced.
I have driven the car five times since that work was done, and a month ago I felt something knocking when I turned corners. On calling the still nameless garage, I was advised that it sounded like the anti-roll bar must have come loose.
Last week I took the car to a more local TVR specialist, who informed me that I needed new anti-roll bar bushes. this was a bit of a surprise, having spent £100 on anti-roll bar bushes just the other day.
So my problem is TVR specialist A appears to have charged me for work that hasn't been done. TVR specialist B seems pretty trustworthy, and they knew that I had just had that work done. What should I do about specialist A? just swallow it and put it down to experience? Kick up a stink and demand a refund? Can anybody think of a feasible excuse for needing new front anti-roll bar bushes twice in such a short time?
Any other suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks
David
I have a bit of an awkward problem, and I can't really name names because Petrol Ted will delete the thread. So treading carefully...
A couple of months ago I had my outriggers refurbished, my drive shaft refurbished, my chassis treated, and my car serviced. Also included in the £2600 bill was front ball joints, rear wheelbearing replacement, and front anti-roll bar bushes replaced.
I have driven the car five times since that work was done, and a month ago I felt something knocking when I turned corners. On calling the still nameless garage, I was advised that it sounded like the anti-roll bar must have come loose.
Last week I took the car to a more local TVR specialist, who informed me that I needed new anti-roll bar bushes. this was a bit of a surprise, having spent £100 on anti-roll bar bushes just the other day.
So my problem is TVR specialist A appears to have charged me for work that hasn't been done. TVR specialist B seems pretty trustworthy, and they knew that I had just had that work done. What should I do about specialist A? just swallow it and put it down to experience? Kick up a stink and demand a refund? Can anybody think of a feasible excuse for needing new front anti-roll bar bushes twice in such a short time?
Any other suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks
David
Have you had the work done yet? Talk to the original garage and give them the chance to remedy the situation. It could be a genuine mistake, and even if not, if you handle them correctly then you may get it sorted at no cost as opposed to stirring it up and only getting a result by having to spend money on the work or legal expenses or both. Just my 2p...
I would certainly kick up a stink,provided that specialist A's definition of the bushes replaced is the same as specialist B's.
This is one of the reasons I try to do as much of the work as possible on my car myself, I have been ripped off in the past by dealers who think they can pull the wool over your eyes, there are a few trustworthy specialists out there, David Geralds is a good one and luckily quite local to myself.
I think I know who "Specialist A" sre and i must admit I have stopped using there mailorder service after a couple of bad experiences! I ordered new gas struts for the bonnet, when they arrived the pressure in them was so great they could have lifted a cross channel ferry's cargo door!They had to send an allen key so I could adjust the pressure myself! and on another occasion I was charged close to £6.00 postage when the item had a 60p stamp on it!
It will be intresting to see there excuse for this one, keep us posted and all the best!
This is one of the reasons I try to do as much of the work as possible on my car myself, I have been ripped off in the past by dealers who think they can pull the wool over your eyes, there are a few trustworthy specialists out there, David Geralds is a good one and luckily quite local to myself.
I think I know who "Specialist A" sre and i must admit I have stopped using there mailorder service after a couple of bad experiences! I ordered new gas struts for the bonnet, when they arrived the pressure in them was so great they could have lifted a cross channel ferry's cargo door!They had to send an allen key so I could adjust the pressure myself! and on another occasion I was charged close to £6.00 postage when the item had a 60p stamp on it!
It will be intresting to see there excuse for this one, keep us posted and all the best!
quote:
Have you had the work done yet? Talk to the original garage and give them the chance to remedy the situation. It could be a genuine mistake, and even if not, if you handle them correctly then you may get it sorted at no cost as opposed to stirring it up and only getting a result by having to spend money on the work or legal expenses or both. Just my 2p...
Yeah the work has been done, as I thought it was the anti-roll bar coming loose. Interestingly, this time it cost £116, including fixing the cooling system problems (which turned out to be bad wiring and a faulty otter switch). The original bill just for the anti-roll bar bushes to be replaced was £100.
Unfortunately garage A is about 168 miles away from London, where I am. I can't see getting legal about £100, but if they were decent and made an honest mistake perhaps they will refund the £100. If they were just taking advantage though, it does call into question the other £2500 I spent there!
Hi Dave - just wondering if you got a quote for the work before it was all done. 2.6k is a lot of wedge for some restoration work. Does it have a guarentee?
Either way I'd take the car back and tell them to fix the problem which wasn't there before the work was done, you need to stress the point too. I'm sure that after the amount of money you've just spent that they will put it right.
Without wanting to sound arogant or flash. The thing that gets me every time with so called TVR specialists, is why do people go to them in the first place when TVRs are easy enough to fix and restore? I know it doesn't alter your situation and you are free to decide Dave on what you do with your cash - but there are people out there that don't have the scruples or the passion as us owners have and therefore wouldn't think twice about fleecing those who put their trust in their work ethic.
Make some noise and get them to fix your car.
I'm not anti specialist as there are some good people out there. I'm more anti dealer if anything as I think they make the use of their limited monopoly to charge exortionate rates to work with a standard of engineering that is relatively poor in comparison with other cars.
I hope you get a result
All the best
Andrew C
>> Edited by bluewedge on Sunday 22 September 22:15
Either way I'd take the car back and tell them to fix the problem which wasn't there before the work was done, you need to stress the point too. I'm sure that after the amount of money you've just spent that they will put it right.
Without wanting to sound arogant or flash. The thing that gets me every time with so called TVR specialists, is why do people go to them in the first place when TVRs are easy enough to fix and restore? I know it doesn't alter your situation and you are free to decide Dave on what you do with your cash - but there are people out there that don't have the scruples or the passion as us owners have and therefore wouldn't think twice about fleecing those who put their trust in their work ethic.
Make some noise and get them to fix your car.
I'm not anti specialist as there are some good people out there. I'm more anti dealer if anything as I think they make the use of their limited monopoly to charge exortionate rates to work with a standard of engineering that is relatively poor in comparison with other cars.
I hope you get a result
All the best
Andrew C
>> Edited by bluewedge on Sunday 22 September 22:15
quote:
Without wanting to sound arogant or flash. The thing that gets me every time with so called TVR specialists, is why do people go to them in the first place when TVRs are easy enough to fix and restore?
Because like garages there are owners that can do a good job and there are owners that should be banned from holding a spanner!
There is also the time factor. Many people have the time and inclination others don't.
As for anti-roll bar bushes, yes they can knacker themselves as the brackets that hold them in place can come adrift and pop the bar out. This can destroy the bush and give you a pampers moment if it happens when driving....
I would get the brackets modified to use two bolts. I use two bolts and a locking bar on the 520. The drawings and details are in the bible naturally.
It is possible that the anti-roll bar was simply put back the first time round I suppose.
Steve
OK I have got to the bottom of the problem, and I am pleased to be able to say that there were no dodgy dealings involved. The end-bushes were replaced, but the mounting bushes weren't. It was the mounting bushes that were causing a problem. Everything is back together, and the problem is solved.
A few of the keener wedgers spotted that it was Wedge Automotive (or RT Racing if you prefer) that did the original work. I just want to make it clear that they did do the job, it was just that the other bits decided to fail around the same time. Hence my concerns.
I have had a chat to RIchard Thorpe this morning (who called me), to make sure that everything was fine, and everything is.
It is nice to know that bringing up a problem like this has mobilised such action in such a short space of time though. Thanks to everyone who dropped me a line in support. I doubt whether any TVR specialist would chance messing with PistonHead power!
A few of the keener wedgers spotted that it was Wedge Automotive (or RT Racing if you prefer) that did the original work. I just want to make it clear that they did do the job, it was just that the other bits decided to fail around the same time. Hence my concerns.
I have had a chat to RIchard Thorpe this morning (who called me), to make sure that everything was fine, and everything is.
It is nice to know that bringing up a problem like this has mobilised such action in such a short space of time though. Thanks to everyone who dropped me a line in support. I doubt whether any TVR specialist would chance messing with PistonHead power!
quote:
OK I have got to the bottom of the problem, and I am pleased to be able to say that there were no dodgy dealings involved. The end-bushes were replaced, but the mounting bushes weren't. It was the mounting bushes that were causing a problem. Everything is back together, and the problem is solved.
A few of the keener wedgers spotted that it was Wedge Automotive (or RT Racing if you prefer) that did the original work. I just want to make it clear that they did do the job, it was just that the other bits decided to fail around the same time. Hence my concerns.
I have had a chat to RIchard Thorpe this morning (who called me), to make sure that everything was fine, and everything is.
It is nice to know that bringing up a problem like this has mobilised such action in such a short space of time though. Thanks to everyone who dropped me a line in support. I doubt whether any TVR specialist would chance messing with PistonHead power!
Glad to hear everything is sorted ... Mr Thorpe is a great guy... even opened late when Itook my 400 to him years back
Top bloke
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