Car problems caused by bad service from a garage
Two weeks ago, I took my car to a certain garage on Buckingham Road for a full service and MOT. I usually do most of the work on the car myself, but once a year I like to do this.
Ive been going there for a few years and up until now theyve provided what I would consider to be a good service. Anyway, they serviced my car and I picked it up and took it home. The next morning, there's a huge pool of oil under the car. I had a look and saw oil all over the sump. I thought to myself, 'dozy spanner monkeys haven't tightened up the plug', so I checked it and was surprised that it was actually on tight.
I took the car back to the garage and they said 'sorry mate, we used the wrong washer on the plug'. Ok, fair enough I thought, as long as they put it right Im happy and no hard feelings.
I took the car home, woke up next day to another pool of oil. I had to use the car to get to work, so I topped the oil up and set off with the intention of dropping the car off at the garage again in the evening. I got to the end of the road and there's a loud clattering noise coming from the engine bay.
I opened up the bonnet to see exactly what the problem was; sounded very much like the big ends on their way out. I called the garage and they said 'don't drive it, well pick it up with a trailer'. A short time later, the car gets picked up as they said they would and I wait to hear what the problem is. Later that afternoon, the garage called back and said 'It's not the engine, it's your steering pump; the bearings have exploded and there's power steering fluid everywhere. It's nothing to do with us, you need to pay for getting it transported over, new belts and a new pump'.
Okay, lets think about this, because to me it doesn't really make any sense. First of all, they have had two opportunities to spot the leaking fluid and didn't. Secondly they lied to me about the 'wrong washer on the sump plug'. Finally, and most importantly, if they had spotted the steering fluid leak in the first place, my pump may well have not died. After all, when I spotted what I thought was an oil leak the pump wasn't making any bad noises.
I think they have been completely incompetent throughout and I don't think I should be paying for any of this. As you would expect, the garage doesn't agree. What do you think?
Comments from visitors
Wilsons in Epsom ripped me off on a cambelt service for £666 (bad number i know). A week after the job the car broke down with an electrical fault, in it went and I was charged £45 for a diagnostic that they couldn't fix, got the car back with a loud noise. Car went in again, was charged a further £116 for belt and tensioner, but still noisy. Took it to an independent garage that diagnosed a broken air con pump and faulty tensioner. Wilsons refuse to admit they have done anything to cause the problem and will not admit any liability. They have charged me for unnecessary parts and wrecked my a/c pump, but how do you prove it?. Refuse to take it back to these cowboys!
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wripped off by Wilson's - 20-Jan-12 22:10
My Picasso was under warranty at Croxdale citroen I told Croxdale that there was a noise from offside front wheel which varied with speed and stopped when turning left. Croxdale diagnosed loose plastic on bumper a week later another garage diagnosed defective wheel bearing and Croxdale denied negligence and refused to pay for repair. Has anyone else had problems with citroen servicing especially those cars under warranty ???
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Dave Pearson Durham - 22-Nov-11 11:41
i was told my car needed a new timing chain. the mechanic said he would fix it for £750=00, it would have cost more,did not trust him, he was losing his job, wonder why. the other mechanic said it was the coil and that would fix it , I agreed £250, later still the same, had to get out road rescue and they said it was a coil ALSO the first mechanic told me he fitted new plugs and found out he didnt And the garage is not willing to do anything about this of coarse i am a woman
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I find it much easier just to do my own car servicing. At least that way you know it's been done properly (as long as you have done it properly of course!)
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Just a warning !Do not use Service4Service.They sent my daughters mini cooper to a garage called West London Performance in Hayes, 5 weeks and £3,000 later with a new gear box and drive shaft it still does not drive as it should !!!!!!!!
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I don't know why I went into Citroen High Wycombe nobody could be less helpful ???
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A website has been set up aimed at women to help avoid unscrupulous garages, and save money doing so. Check out bonnetbabes.co.uk. Thanks
+2
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I took renualt scenic to National Tryes and autocare Green st Warrington, for oil and filter change . Drove back home smoke pouring from under bonnet ,they had spilled oil on engine cover under sump , all oil on blocked paved path , and not put new oil filter on.
Taken back ,made formal complaint ,feel they don't care .
Taken back ,made formal complaint ,feel they don't care .
+5
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Ken . bebbington - 8-Apr-11 11:59
Dear rippedoffguy (does this happen to you often?)
Sad to hear this. My advice is
1 If the business has a website see if it is a member of a trade association or industry quality scheme and speak to that association/body for advice.
2 Put your complaint in writing to the business owner and ask for a reply within 14 days. Be as reasonable as possible (hard I know). Is there a way out for the garage (to save face) that'd be acceptable to you/not cost more.
3 If no luck after 14 days, report to your local Trading Standards.
Whatever you do, DON'T DO NOTHING because the garage will think they have got away with this and do it again.
In future choose a garage that employs ATA technicians - it means accredited technicians who have signed up to an ethical promise.
Sadly too few motorists realise UK garages aren't regulated, despite the safety implications, and anyone can repair our cars without qualifications/accreditation/the right equipment. Crazy state to be in.
Sad to hear this. My advice is
1 If the business has a website see if it is a member of a trade association or industry quality scheme and speak to that association/body for advice.
2 Put your complaint in writing to the business owner and ask for a reply within 14 days. Be as reasonable as possible (hard I know). Is there a way out for the garage (to save face) that'd be acceptable to you/not cost more.
3 If no luck after 14 days, report to your local Trading Standards.
Whatever you do, DON'T DO NOTHING because the garage will think they have got away with this and do it again.
In future choose a garage that employs ATA technicians - it means accredited technicians who have signed up to an ethical promise.
Sadly too few motorists realise UK garages aren't regulated, despite the safety implications, and anyone can repair our cars without qualifications/accreditation/the right equipment. Crazy state to be in.
-4
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I had brakes pads and disc replaced just two eeks ago at the local garage in Kirkby in Ashfield. Alog the brakes they were supposed to replace my CV Joints as well but because they were out of stock, they didn't - well, they charged me full quoted price tho.... So You can imagine how well pi**ed off I was, paid 230 for front brake sets. Today on my way to work, my brake pedal sunk to the floor -they layed right hose wrong and the wheel bruised the hose till it burst - I could die if I would drive faster. The garage refuses to take any responsibillity for this fault.
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rippedoffguy - 19-Feb-11 15:46
I had my clutch replaced two months ago, 7 weeks ago a slight banging sound started happaning.
so I took it back and they told me to wait till it got worse so I did then they said it was probley the drive shafts which were £500 each.after a bit broke off my car I took it to a good garage who then told me that they was no bolts holding my engine mounts in and my car was not safe and the other garage told my it was nothing to do with them.
but they were willing to try and fix it for free.
so I took it back and they told me to wait till it got worse so I did then they said it was probley the drive shafts which were £500 each.after a bit broke off my car I took it to a good garage who then told me that they was no bolts holding my engine mounts in and my car was not safe and the other garage told my it was nothing to do with them.
but they were willing to try and fix it for free.
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rippedoffdude - 8-Feb-11 23:59
Do government officials drive round in small economical cars for their engagements? Large black Landrover Discoverys, beautiful Jaguars! Nicely heated House of Commons & House of Lords. We have children to feed, facing job redundecies struggling to buy oil to heat our home! This is SO wrong! The government and Bankers are taking the P--s out of hard working British People - We should rise up and protest instead of sitting at home working out how to save yet again more money on our shopping budget!!!! Or what best to run our car on!! Lets just stand in the queue and be patient just like we always do and just mutter under our breath!!
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hi power steering fluid is red if the pool of oil was black it was engine oil may be leak from oil filter or sump plug also how did thay not see oil leak at pump when serviced
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tonybailkoski@hotmail.co.uk - 19-Jan-11 19:06
Having Just had a Vehicle MOT'd at Sidlesham Garage, near Chichester, I appear to have paid £800 for a set of front discs and pads! Quite a bargain? I'll leave that for you decide. But let's just say I'll be taking my business elsewhere from now on.
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Sidlesham Garage Lover - 7-Jan-11 23:40
Good to remember that UK garages are not licensed and mechanics don't have to be qualified. Whilst an unbiased customer rating is nice to know, it's often more to do with friendly staff not quality workmanship hence the level of complaints. Check if staff are ATA (Automotive Technician Accreditation) engineers, if the garage has a BSI Kitemark, ISO standard or can display the OFT logo. Other schemes/acronyms are less reliable because they aren't independent. I run an independent female friendly UK garage network called FOXY Choice www.foxychoice.com with a Good Garage Guide to explain this; because a bad garage service can mean a dangerous car without our realising this.
+7
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Hi
Just a brief mention that www.vehicle-dealer-ratings.com has been set up in order to avoid situations just like this! In short, the website provides the ability to rate dealers and garages in an attempt to help us choose the right company!
Thanks
Just a brief mention that www.vehicle-dealer-ratings.com has been set up in order to avoid situations just like this! In short, the website provides the ability to rate dealers and garages in an attempt to help us choose the right company!
Thanks
+3
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I use my local garages without any major issues. My last car service a few weeks was via Blackcircles.com who organised everything with the local garage. I think that the garage gave me a better service as going through someone who supplies then with a fair bit of work - so they seemed to be very attentive to me.
Different story if you are talking about some of the fast fit chains (Kwik Fit, nationwide, etc) - may as well just leave your wallett with them when you drop the car off!!
Different story if you are talking about some of the fast fit chains (Kwik Fit, nationwide, etc) - may as well just leave your wallett with them when you drop the car off!!
+4
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Took my ford focus to a local garage as the breaks were ticking and grinding at the back. was told they couldn't get the drums off cos of severe corrosion and would need to cut them off and replace the drums, plus new brake shoes and wheel bearings. Total cost 400 quid. 9 months later and the car passes MOT but am told that some new brake shoes were fitted but the drums are probably as old as the car. So all this garage have basically done is charged me 400 quid to replace the brake shoes!!!! I'm now getting a whirring noise from rear offside wheel which I suspect is a wheel bearing so I doubt those were changed either. I am seriously not impressed. It was just before christmas too and i'd even had a discussion with the middle aged mechanic about how I was struggling with cash for my wife and little boy to buy presents. I suspect I was well and truly ripped off!
+5
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I can't beleive what I am reading. I am a self employed HGV mechanic. I work at the roadside, usually on motorways, mostly M6 M58 M61 M65 M57 M56. I repair at the roadside and if I can't do a repair I normally don't charge. When I do a repair the truck drives away without paying me a penny piece. The customer gets a month to pay and a years g'tee for the work, and at least 6 months on parts......... Why you lot pay and pay without getting your motors back is beyond me. In fact if I'm repairing a truck, say at the motorway services, and a car driver asks me to help him I never charge, I only charge an actual callout if I'm wrung up and asked to come out.
In the mid 90's I was a manager of a small car repair shop and every customer was treated as if it was my own car. I NEVER fitted parts that were not needed, as I feel this is unlucky. One day an old boy brought his Metro in for a brake check, rear shoes and front pads. I checked them and told him they were fine and lots of life left in them, they were not even 50% down. The owner of the shop pulled me to one side and he told me that if anybody else comes in and asks for a "free" check I must fit pads and shoes as a matter of course. That was on a Friday. I asked him how many days notice I needed to give him, he told go when you want. I slid the shop keys across the counter and walked out. I went to the newsagents and paid full price for yesterdays paper, got a job in Saudia Arabia for 2 years! The shop closed down very soon after. Now I have my own business and I'm happy, just like my customers!
In the mid 90's I was a manager of a small car repair shop and every customer was treated as if it was my own car. I NEVER fitted parts that were not needed, as I feel this is unlucky. One day an old boy brought his Metro in for a brake check, rear shoes and front pads. I checked them and told him they were fine and lots of life left in them, they were not even 50% down. The owner of the shop pulled me to one side and he told me that if anybody else comes in and asks for a "free" check I must fit pads and shoes as a matter of course. That was on a Friday. I asked him how many days notice I needed to give him, he told go when you want. I slid the shop keys across the counter and walked out. I went to the newsagents and paid full price for yesterdays paper, got a job in Saudia Arabia for 2 years! The shop closed down very soon after. Now I have my own business and I'm happy, just like my customers!
+6
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Babbaloveshine - 23-Aug-10 22:28
Bought a Zafira from Bristan Motors in West Drayton £3500 cash, new MOT on purchase when I collect next day, 2 days later breaks grinding down to the disk, took it back they fixed it and said mechanic overlooked it, I told him it should have been picked up on the MOT, but it was repaired free.
Had a new stereo fitted from Halfords £130.00, week later car broke down near Heathrow had kids and wife in the car, got a lift home and Bristan arranged to collect it and sort it out, told me the ignition stuck on and burnt the starter motor out, charged me £132 and paid by card as to obtain a receipt, but no breakdown of the work done or parts, got in the car and the stereo don't work or the clock panel, he put a fuse in which had blown, drove home 2 min away.
Came to start it at 0430 as I work as a bus driver and the battery was flat, used an instant engine starter and down the road found radii not working and the panel not lighting up, fuse had gone again.
Took it to Halfords they checked the radio on a board and it worked, told me the fuse was blowing from a bad wiring in the dash, took it back to Bristan and he told me it was the radio and didn't even look. Halfords then changed the stereo with a new one, went for 1 hour and blew again, Bristan won't touch the car now and says it can't be the car.
Had a new stereo fitted from Halfords £130.00, week later car broke down near Heathrow had kids and wife in the car, got a lift home and Bristan arranged to collect it and sort it out, told me the ignition stuck on and burnt the starter motor out, charged me £132 and paid by card as to obtain a receipt, but no breakdown of the work done or parts, got in the car and the stereo don't work or the clock panel, he put a fuse in which had blown, drove home 2 min away.
Came to start it at 0430 as I work as a bus driver and the battery was flat, used an instant engine starter and down the road found radii not working and the panel not lighting up, fuse had gone again.
Took it to Halfords they checked the radio on a board and it worked, told me the fuse was blowing from a bad wiring in the dash, took it back to Bristan and he told me it was the radio and didn't even look. Halfords then changed the stereo with a new one, went for 1 hour and blew again, Bristan won't touch the car now and says it can't be the car.
+4
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