Why I hate dealing with garages :( - A bit of a rant

Spudgun

Spudgun

Spudgun

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** i'm not going to put any specific details in here, as this may end up as a legal matter, but i thought i'd share my story with you **

Last week i agreed to buy a 3 year old car. An invoice was prepared which detailed the agreed price and 6 items of work that the garage would complete before final purchase. I paid a small deposit via my credit card and was given a copy of the invoice, with the garage retaining the original.

Today i went to collect the car the garage hadn't completed one of the items of work scheduled on the invoice and for one of the other items that required a part fitting had fitted a part that was broken into 2 pieces.

I brought this to the attention of the garage and asked for the agreed work to be completed. The garage flatly refused to do the work and gave me a take it or leave it ultimatum. I tried to reason with them by informing them that I believed that they had entered into a contract with me to provide the vehicle to me at a set price and to do the work specified on the invoice and by not doing so they would be in breach of that contract. Their reply was that this was their best and final offer. At this point I asked for the return of my deposit, the garage have also refused this, stating that if i did want it back 'i could pursue them through the courts' and they were returning the vehicle to the forecourt for sale.

At this point i left the garage and immediately contacted my credit card provider who have been massively helpful and supportive and I have been told to expect all sorts of forms to fill out and have been asked to attach copies of the invoice with the agreed work schedule.

I am absolutely gutted about this, it took me ages to find a car in the condition and specification that i wanted, and to lose out on it at the very last minute is rather annoying.

On reflection, though, I think this all comes down to trust, if I couldn't trust the garage to do a written list of scheduled works, what else have they 'skimped' on? So perhaps the deal not going through is a good thing in the long run.

Grrrrrrr....... Garages eh?

Spudgun

PS this is an entirely personal rant about 1 individual experience and i do not mean to question the character of all people who work in garages as i'm sure that there are lots of lovely people out there who do work in one!

PPS I also realise that the experience at one garage shouldn't colour my judgement of all garages, but i am, today, extremely annoyed and frustrated (no excuse, i know), but in sharing my frustrations here, it has actually helped me to feel better about the situation!
 
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Ahhh that sucks.

I think you should name and shame the garage. I guess the good thing is that you still have the invoice so at least you have some paperwork to back you up.
 
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Im in a similar ish situation at present.

I bought a bm convertible around 3 weeks ago now, Promised the 2nd key for the car as the woman who owned it previously hadnt dropped it in yet,

The garage then asked me to check with the owner, which i though ok fair enough i have the address on the v5 and such. So went around the house to find they had put the place upto let and gone to argintna for the polo season. Right back to the garage and the owner is insistant he can get the key for me, its been 3 weeks now. I have had all other keys apart from the master i have and valet key removed from the system on the car now. But looks like im going to have to buy a replacement spare for the missus to use.

Annoyng!!
 
Poor show tbh. You probably did have a lucky escape tho. If you deal with a dealer rather than privately there is no point in going with a bad one because it defeats the benefit of using a dealer.
 
I don't want to put any specific details of the vehicle involved or the garage concerned as this may end up as a legal matter in due course. However, the cost of the job that wasn't done would have been £220+VAT+labour and to replace the part that they had put on but was broken would cost £140+VAT+labour (i had obtained prices for all of the work that needed doing in order to negotiate the original price), so i would be looking at a bill for over £500 to do work that should have been done by the time of purchase.

I know that all of our financial situations are different, but that is more than a 'petty' amount to me.
 
sorry to hear this, i had a similar problem the 1st time i bought a car from a used car dealer, didnt fix stuff that was promised etc, would never buy from a dealer again unless recommended to be outstanding, you can usually google a garage and find out info on forums.
 
very true clarkey, i suppose if i was buying a veyron or something £500 would be nothing, but here it was just under 10% of the purchase price
 
equally, its not the cost thats the issue necesarrily. I wouldnt trust a garage that didnt do work they agreed to do and then went back on their word etc.

what kind of car might you be getting?
 
Sounds like you have a very good case, while its still fresh in your mind I would write down dates and times and as much as you can remember. I would also try and put something in writing to them informing them of your displeasure and that you will be taking them to court either for the car and works to be complete as promised or for the return of your deposit. Adding the cost of any interest that you could have reasonably be expected to have earnt on the sum, however small.

They would probably give you back your deposit on this basis as it sounds like you don't trust the garage or car anymore.

Good luck.
 
Spudgun said:
I don't want to put any specific details of the vehicle involved or the garage concerned as this may end up as a legal matter in due course. However, the cost of the job that wasn't done would have been £220+VAT+labour and to replace the part that they had put on but was broken would cost £140+VAT+labour (i had obtained prices for all of the work that needed doing in order to negotiate the original price), so i would be looking at a bill for over £500 to do work that should have been done by the time of purchase.

I know that all of our financial situations are different, but that is more than a 'petty' amount to me.
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Well said, £500 for a small job is no petty amount.
 
Whats so special about this car, can't you get one that doesn't need hundreds of pounds worth of work doing to it? Also, why would this become a legal matter, surely you can just take your money back and go elsewhere.
 
Spudgun said:
I don't want to put any specific details of the vehicle involved or the garage concerned as this may end up as a legal matter in due course. .
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Telling us the vehicle and parts involved won't prejudice your case if you don't name the dealership or location within the UK.
 
Clarkey said:
Whats so special about this car, can't you get one that doesn't need hundreds of pounds worth of work doing to it? Also, why would this become a legal matter, surely you can just take your money back and go elsewhere.
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Well as he said, He's found one to his specifications, Not only that, He did ask for a refund, They never gave him it.
 
Clarkey said:
Whats so special about this car, can't you get one that doesn't need hundreds of pounds worth of work doing to it?
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Yes he can, hence he's walking away from the deal.

Also, why would this become a legal matter, surely you can just take your money back and go elsewhere.
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Becuase as stated in this thread, they are holding his deposit.

Awesome post Clarkey, A+.
 
[TW]Fox;12065570 said:
Telling us the vehicle and parts involved won't prejudice your case if you don't name the dealership or location within the UK.
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unless you're buying an Ultima GTR or something because theres only 1 of them on Autotrader :D
 
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