I've been completely ripped and conned. Any advice?

[ShaneM]

Some of you may have seen my previous post regarding the fact that my Z3 was in the worshop to have the head gasket replaced. Originally the job was meant to take 4 days, but after 2 weeks and a lot of broken promises I finally got it back today. Paid up (over £1000) and drove home.

When came back down to check everything they'd done and there was a big puddle of oil under the car. Upon further inspection it looks like they've incorrectly fitted a gasket, causing the leak and with a liberal application of sealant managed to conceal their tracks long enough to fool me as I paid and left their premises.

What should I do? I've already called the bank and they can't cancel the payment, though they can try to claim it back after the funds have cleared. Should I contact the trading standards agency?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[jaguartvr]

First thing is to take it back and give them a chance to put it right.

 

[andyglym]

Some of you may have seen my previous post regarding the fact that my Z3 was in the worshop to have the head gasket replaced. Originally the job was meant to take 4 days, but after 2 weeks and a lot of broken promises I finally got it back today. Paid up (over £1000) and drove home.

When came back down to check everything they'd done and there was a big puddle of oil under the car. Upon further inspection it looks like they've incorrectly fitted a gasket, causing the leak and with a liberal application of sealant managed to conceal their tracks long enough to fool me as I paid and left their premises.

What should I do? I've already called the bank and they can't cancel the payment, though they can try to claim it back after the funds have cleared. Should I contact the trading standards agency?

Any advice appreciated.

Firstly take some photos then call the garage to raise the issue and see what they say and go from there. If no luck then trading standards would be a good start and seek some legal advice so that you can take an informed judgement going forward if needed. Keep them on your side first, be firm and cool but polite. You can ramp up the anti thereafter, one step at a time.

 

[ShaneM]

First thing is to take it back and give them a chance to put it right.

If it's the case that the fault is incompetence rather dishonesty then I still don't want them working on my car and given the delays the first time round they're likely to keep it for another week costing me another weeks worth of taxis to and from work.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Which gasket is leaking oil ?

 

[ShaneM]

Main seal, on the drivers side edge at the water pump pulleys.

 

[NigelM]

Looking at the picture Shane I'm with you. Wouldn't want them working on my car again! Did they paint that on with a brush after it had been closed up?

Unfortunately I fear you're into territory that's going to take a long time to prove and resolve.

 

[ShaneM]

Looking at the picture Shane I'm with you. Wouldn't want them working on my car again! Did they paint that on with a brush after it had been closed up?

Unfortunately I fear you're into territory that's going to take a long time to prove and resolve.

I'm kicking myself, if I'd just opened the bonnet I would have spotted that a mile off! It's bright F*c*ing blue

 

[ZTec]

That’s a terrible job, how can someone take payment for such shoddy work. I’m with Andy, plenty of photos, give them the opportunity to redo their work then Trading Standards. Name and shame.

 

[colb]

Absolute s*** job done on that, don't suppose you had the option to pay by Credit Card that would have protected you.
Only option is to take it back to them and reject their work, no joy then small claims court after getting vehicle engineer inspection done to provide evidence.

 

[Mazza]

I hate to say this but if that is their standard of work, I can’t see them being reasonable and repairing it under any warranty.
As most people have said get photographic evidence.
Also make full notes dates/times for out of pocket costs that you incur due to the loss of the use of the car.
If it goes to small claims you need to include these in addition to the refund of the original cost of repair.

One other thing if and when you get a CCJ, if they still,refuse to pay up, for a nominal amount and I think it’s about £10, you can have it transferred to a High Court writ, and then the High Court Baliffs will then recover the debt for you. ( And they don’t mess about as they remove goods to recover the amount owed)

 

[bessieblue]

did you pay by credit card ?

 

[jonco]

Ouch - agree with others on going back and give them the opportunity to put it right. I think whatever you think of their work this has to be first step.
Do you have legal protection on any of your insurance policies - car or house, if so contact them for first advice. If not try Citizen's Advice they have various template letters for registering your complaint. It's important to get it right in early stages if you need to go down legal route.

 

[Redline]

Understand why you wouldn’t want to take it back there.
The garage has a choice to plead incompetence or fraudulent.
Don’t know how they thought they would get away with.

I suspect that under consumer law you have to give them chance to put it right or refund. But, if repairing is the only route then I would get an independent engineers report on it as it is (before the garage sees it) and again afterwards along with agreement that they will underwrite further any costs after that. They won’t agree to that of course.
It’s then on to the courts for costs.

Might be worth getting advice from a solicitor up front too. A letter from them will show that you’re not going to be messed about with.

If you paid by credit card, contact your card issuer immediately and discuss options with them.

 

[Sean d]

That is shocking, as above, give them the chance to correct it. Not sure I would want them working on my car though

 

[NigelM]

Having been through this sort of thing before I would be writing it off as a life lesson. The cost, stress and lost time with your Z of going through the official procedure to reclaim costs is just not worth the effort. Even if they do repair it properly you have lost confidence in them and will never trust it again. Find someone recommended by other forum members and get it done properly.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Main seal, on the drivers side edge at the water pump pulleys.

I'm not fully familiar with the 2.2 engine (M54?) but I is that the vanos casing seal? If it is, it's not a major job to put right unless they've f*****d the mating surfaces either dismantling or assembling.

I've just changed the head gasket on my car and other than the cylinder head gasket and rocker gasket the only other oil retaining gasket they'd need to touch is the vanos seal

By the way, the vanos casing will be directly above the pulleys

 

[ShaneM]

I'm not fully familiar with the 2.2 engine (M54?) but I is that the vanos casing seal? If it is, it's not a major job to put right unless they've f*****d the mating surfaces either dismantling or assembling.

I've just changed the head gasket on my car and other than the cylinder head gasket and rocker gasket the only other oil retaining gasket they'd need to touch is the vanos seal

By the way, the vanos casing will be directly above the pulleys

I dandered in during all the delays and made them show me the progress they'd made. For whatever reason they'd stripped off most of the front of the engine. I'm pretty sure it's the main seal. Though I hope your right.

After a dozen calls to the guys mobile number I got through to one of his lackeys and i'm going down there to confront them about it tomorrow. I'll try to keep my cool and request they make it right under threat of trade standards, bank and legal involvement.

Thanks for all the advice, I'll update tomorrow evening.

 

[TaffZee]

If you are in the AA or RAC, give them a call, they will be able to advise you FOC on the next steps, they will also come out and examine the car and give a written report, Failing this My first step would be to take it to another garage for a written assessment, and then take the car back to the garage with the report, Speak to them and explain your stance, it may be that some grease monkey has done this as a quick fix and not informed the garage owner what has occurred, be polite and explain that you intend to pursue it through the courts if nothing is done, you must give them the chance to rectify it, also you are entitled to a courtesy vehicle while this is repaired.

 

[gookah]

It looks like the timing chain lower cover, at the bottom of the engine. Not sure why they would have removed that unless they took the chain out completely.
A couple of pulleys, fan and belts to remove to get it off again. The gaskets are metal so should really have been replaced as they deform on tightening, and would not be really re-useable without sealant. but sealant should be on the mating faces, and not bodged up the side of the casing afterwards, because that will never cure a leak.