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I recently took my car to a very small garage in Hemel Hempstead for a light bulb change as the job was too difficult to do myself. I had been to this place once before. When I picked the car up it didn't seem to drive quite right, but as it had rained heavily I thought there may have been a bit of oil on the road, besides, why would a light bulb change cause a problem? It was probably pure coincidence I decided.
smoke coming from the exhaust and loss of power
Anyway, the fault got worse with smoke coming from the exhaust and a loss of power. Eventually several days later (while trying to work and run around after kids) I took it to another garage who I use regularly who looked at it and told me a coolant pipe under the engine had been taken off and not put back on, and that some turbo housing bolts were also missing. They asked me had the light bulb been changed. So even they knew what had happened. I paid up £60 odd quid, but was grateful to have my car working properly.
I plucked up courage to go down to original garage and speak to the owner. I didn't demand a refund but I wanted to explain just what had happened. He denied causing the problem and said there were "lots of other problems or things missing which we took one look at, and decided not to get involved" My response - "Why did you not say anything to me then? Why would I mind if you had told me?" His to that was answer "It was nothing to do with that job".
Great. Would he have let me go off in a car with defective brakes or tyres? He kept asking me why I hadn't brought it back when I realised there was a problem. I told him that I had no reason to believe it was anything to do with a light bulb change and it wasn't convenient to come back to you. Well I'm actually glad I didn't now, because if I had, would he have charged me for something he had done to it himself, or even identified the the fault?
My car has only had one previous owner full VWSH history, low mileage and is totally tip-top. There wasn't anything else wrong with it. His lousy crap attitude, lack of care and attention when changing a light bulb has cost me nearly £100. I'm so angry about this and I have reported this garage to trading standards.
By: Smiffy
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There is also a 4wheel drive module that costs £1127.00 on top of the poor paint job from a non fault accident.
In my experience and I'm not accusing the OP of this, customers that have cars with other underlying problems, nothing to do with an issue that a garage is told to undertake, can accuse garage owners/supervisors, of creating an issue to "scam" money.
An example; Changing a wheel bearing, the customer had provided the replacement, I noticed the N/S drive shaft cup was loose. After a brief check, I discovered the gearbox was dry, cup being loose had drained the gearbox fluid, ruining the gearbox and differential.
I called the customer. He accused me/the garage of tampering and ruining the car. This went on for a few weeks.
That happening dozens of times a year is reason enough for some people to ignore and not mention problems they have discovered.
Ripoff merchants
Although this is a gripe site, sometimes people will agree or want to chat in a friendly fashion, especially when they have “known” another poster for a long time. Perhaps you are confusing malicious and interesting?
You have not written anything stimulating, interesting or funny, just complained that other people haven’t. Stop whining. Do it yourself.
Go through the gripe list and revive a few dormant gripes with some new angles, pithy comments or an amusing anecdotes.
If you can.
And yes, like GL, I would also be very pleased to see what your next fascinating post is about. This is your chance to stun everyone with your wit and erudition, although I expect you will just come up with a new name to go with the next pointless post.
You mentioned brakes. My car is with the "retired" "friend-mechanic" I mentioned earlier and he has not done much which baffles me. Now that you mentioed "hose" and whatnot, I'm beginning to worry and wonder Maybe he is genuinely in a bind. I don't know anymore. In fact, I was starting to doubt him.
What have I got myself into and how do I approach him and with what suggestions?
What gets me is nickling-and-diming me. I wanted to have a bug deflector put today on my Passat - $130.00 including $27.00 labor plus 13% tax on top. I'm deciding and will get back to the VW dealership. You'd have thought that they could do us a small favor. Takes no more than 10 minutes to instal it.
And bulbs, windshiefd blades - been there, Stav. Thanks Bob for the tips. I also know that self-induced mistakes and poor installations can cost us more to have them retrofitted. I say leave it to the pro or leave it to mechanic friends who can offer minor assistance, or advice.
I have no connection with Halfords than that of a happy customer.
kprincess
Dirt in paint on roof panel where freshly painted.
Whats ORANGE PEEL?
RHS roof trim broken again.
door seal rubber was not replaced but a used one was thrown in the boot.
chips on quarter panel not there prior to final repair.
chips painted over edge of quarter panel near door.
Even after taking witnesses with me, the DOG manager say's he didnt say that he would paint the complete roof panel :x pure lies to my face.
I told him to give me my key and he tried to justify the repair and I just said do not talk to me anymore as I have nothing further to say and them left with the signiture on the collection sheets which I wrote "The repairs have not been completed" as the manager W****** was asking if this was necessary but I made no comment.