Who Should Pay?
Discussion
What would you do if :-
Whilst replacing a head gasket (under warranty) the garage (Lotus Specialist) charge you 4 hours plus parts + VAT extra because when removing the head they rounded the Cam belt tensioner nut and therefore had to cut the old belt off (which was less than a year old). They have admitted that they rounded the nut. They therefore had to get the rounded nut off (via welding it) and then fit a new belt.
The warranty don't wanna know, cos it's not part of the 'book hours' for the job.
I've paid up, but feel really annoyed. Especially cos the garage were unable to show me the rounded bolt (despite me asking them specifically to keep it).
Worse thing is, that the car had a C service and new cam belt less than a year ago (done by a different dealer) with no probs reported.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Also now have a BAD scratch on one of the alloys.
Where do we stand with that too? - can't prove it wasn't there b4.....
Whilst replacing a head gasket (under warranty) the garage (Lotus Specialist) charge you 4 hours plus parts + VAT extra because when removing the head they rounded the Cam belt tensioner nut and therefore had to cut the old belt off (which was less than a year old). They have admitted that they rounded the nut. They therefore had to get the rounded nut off (via welding it) and then fit a new belt.
The warranty don't wanna know, cos it's not part of the 'book hours' for the job.
I've paid up, but feel really annoyed. Especially cos the garage were unable to show me the rounded bolt (despite me asking them specifically to keep it).
Worse thing is, that the car had a C service and new cam belt less than a year ago (done by a different dealer) with no probs reported.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Also now have a BAD scratch on one of the alloys.
Where do we stand with that too? - can't prove it wasn't there b4.....
there is no way you should have paid for the extra - that is for them to put right.
It is no different to them finishing the job, then dropping a spanner on the car and denting/cracking it - would you be prepared to pay when they said "we had to fit a new clam as well"
Sounds like they were negligent to me - only grey area would be if there was a manufacturing fault which meant the nut had seized or something and they couldn't help rounding it off - but that sounds unlikely
It is no different to them finishing the job, then dropping a spanner on the car and denting/cracking it - would you be prepared to pay when they said "we had to fit a new clam as well"
Sounds like they were negligent to me - only grey area would be if there was a manufacturing fault which meant the nut had seized or something and they couldn't help rounding it off - but that sounds unlikely
If the problem occurred and they called you to advise the options and get your agreement I'd have said "fine". Seeing as they didn't and did (what I presume) is around 3 or 400 quids worth of extra work without your say so, I'd have refused to pay up for that piece and told them to reclaim it from the warranty people.
All this of course without knowing who they are, what their reputation is, what the warranty includes/excludes etc.
As for the wheel, unless you have some proof, other than goodwill you're a bit fecked mate.
All this of course without knowing who they are, what their reputation is, what the warranty includes/excludes etc.
As for the wheel, unless you have some proof, other than goodwill you're a bit fecked mate.
That sounds shocking Splatt.
It sounds to me like the garage were/are totally in the wrong there mate. I would get in touch with the Citizens Advice Bureau, it's free and they can advise you what action you can take from here. Unfortunately since you have already paid for the work (I assume they didn't get your approval before undertaking it) you might be at a disadvantage. But it's worth getting in touch with them, they're very helpful.
BTW, where did you get this work done?
Andy
It sounds to me like the garage were/are totally in the wrong there mate. I would get in touch with the Citizens Advice Bureau, it's free and they can advise you what action you can take from here. Unfortunately since you have already paid for the work (I assume they didn't get your approval before undertaking it) you might be at a disadvantage. But it's worth getting in touch with them, they're very helpful.
BTW, where did you get this work done?
Andy
Probably best to speak to the manager, explain that you don't feel you should have had to pay. If you mentioned the mark on the alloy at the time, you might try and get them to fix it, but if they made you pay for the rounded nut, i don't think they will fix your alloy for you.
The thing is in this kind of situation, it doesn't pay to be nice and friendly, but they will take advantage, you have to argue it.
Good luck with it.
Andrew
The thing is in this kind of situation, it doesn't pay to be nice and friendly, but they will take advantage, you have to argue it.
Good luck with it.
Andrew
Thanks for your replies. I will expand on the story :- The garage did ring and tell me that "You will need a new cam belt". I said "Why, cos I had one less than a year ago". Garage argued this because on C service stamp in history book it said 'inc cam belt' and they thought it said 'no cam belt'! When I said that I wasn't due another one, they quickly said, "Well we had to cut the old one off, cos the tensioner nut was rounded". They said that whoever fitted the last one, must have rounded it.
Seemed a bit sus to me at the time. As the belt was already cut off, I had no choice but to let them fit a new one. They indicated that this would be 4 hours etc. However at this point I was under the impression that they were not to blame and that the nut was already rounded. I asked them specifically to keep the nut to one side. (As well as the old exhaust which they told me would fail an MOT - but that's another story!).
Hoped I'd get some back from the warranty company - fat chance!
When I picked the car up neither the nut or the exhaust were available. "We've got an old chap that sweeps up and he's a bit dozey" etc! Wonder if he's been used as an excuse in the past?
Continued......
Seemed a bit sus to me at the time. As the belt was already cut off, I had no choice but to let them fit a new one. They indicated that this would be 4 hours etc. However at this point I was under the impression that they were not to blame and that the nut was already rounded. I asked them specifically to keep the nut to one side. (As well as the old exhaust which they told me would fail an MOT - but that's another story!).
Hoped I'd get some back from the warranty company - fat chance!
When I picked the car up neither the nut or the exhaust were available. "We've got an old chap that sweeps up and he's a bit dozey" etc! Wonder if he's been used as an excuse in the past?
Continued......
CONTINUED....
I then spoke to the mechanic who did the job (still hoping that he'd put the old parts somewhere safe). He produced a tin of parts - dizzy cap, old seals etc but not the nut. I quizzed him on what had happened and he said that he rounded the nut when trying to undo it. SO IT WAS HIS FAULT. I kicked up a bit of fuss at the time, with this new info in mind. But at the end of the day I needed my car back. V. awkward position. I'm not the best at shouting and moaning.
So at the end of the day, I believe it was their fault (they have admitted this).
I've trawled this excellent forum and to be fair I haven't seen a bad word said about this garage (which is even more annoying) They've got a good rep. I guess I was unlucky. (Bromsgrove based specialist - not dealer).
I then spoke to the mechanic who did the job (still hoping that he'd put the old parts somewhere safe). He produced a tin of parts - dizzy cap, old seals etc but not the nut. I quizzed him on what had happened and he said that he rounded the nut when trying to undo it. SO IT WAS HIS FAULT. I kicked up a bit of fuss at the time, with this new info in mind. But at the end of the day I needed my car back. V. awkward position. I'm not the best at shouting and moaning.
So at the end of the day, I believe it was their fault (they have admitted this).
I've trawled this excellent forum and to be fair I haven't seen a bad word said about this garage (which is even more annoying) They've got a good rep. I guess I was unlucky. (Bromsgrove based specialist - not dealer).
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