Issue with a garage

agnes · 28 Oct 2015 at 09:58

Morning guys, I recently bought a BMW 330d estate from a garage, as part of the deal they were to MOT it for me. They never did and said I could get it done and would refund me the cost.

It passed flying colours and no warnings, £35. I emailed the receipt to the garage stating it went through and to refund me to the card I paid with.

They came back and said they didn't have the card number, I responded with the card digits to remind them and then nothing.

I've just sent another email asking for a cheque instead to my address.

I'm not confident this will happen and the garage is to far away for me to pop round.

Note, this is over the span of 3 months.

What grounds do I stand on for this? It's not a bank busting amount of money considering the car was 5 figures. But it was still part of the agreed deal.

Thoughts?

TripleT · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:00

Move on with your life and never give them business again.

tom_e · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:00

Get it in writing? If not then it probably won't be worth the hassle of trying to chase them for it.

iaind · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:02

TripleT said:
Move on with your life and never give them business again.

Yep, I have to wonder how much effort is worth putting into it for £35

Phate · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:02

Its £35...whilst it's annoying it's nothing more significant than that.

agnes · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:04

I agree, hence I've not done much past 3 emails. My time isn't worth £35. I do have the deal in writing to include the MOT. Just wondered if push came to shove, where do I stand with them?

I was hoping to repeat business with them as they seemed like good guys and my partner is upgrading to a TT soon and I was hoping to trade her car in with them because at the time we spoke about it. Now, no confidence at all.

Phate · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:06

agnes said:
I agree, hence I've not done much past 3 emails. My time isn't worth £35. I do have the deal in writing to include the MOT. Just wondered if push came to shove, where do I stand with them?

I was hoping to repeat business with them as they seemed like good guys and my partner is upgrading to a TT soon and I was hoping to trade her car in with them because at the time we spoke about it. Now, no confidence at all.

Well you could use this and the £35 as a bargaining chip.

Say you're interested but due to the lack of responses regarding the outstanding £35...

I bet you get given cash in hand there and then

PhillyDee · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:07

They wouldn't have had the card details (PCI compliance etc) and probably didn't know how to do a partial refund through their merchant account.

All you could do is small claims them.

agnes · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:07

Phate said:
Well you could use this and the £35 as a bargaining chip.

Say you're interested but due to the lack of responses regarding the outstanding £35...

I bet you get given cash in hand there and then

Hahaha, that's a good point. Could do if they do have something particularly nice.

Watch them squirm to make the sale.

I'll probably move on and accept the loss. If no email by tomorrow morning, I'll name and shame the garage.

TripleT · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:08

I would have been dubious of accepting the car with them not MOTing it if they said they would. I would have been thinking there was a reason why they didn't MOT etc.

How much MOT was on it originally when you bought it?

tom_e · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:09

What about giving them a quick call usually gets things sorted quicker than backwards and forwards over email.

agnes · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:10

TripleT said:
I would have been dubious of accepting the car with them not MOTing it if they said they would. I would have been thinking there was a reason why they didn't MOT etc.

How much MOT was on it originally when you bought it?

It still had 6 months MOT. Very good history. So at the time I made the judgement it was just an error their side.

The guy I took the car to for MOT is very good and I've used him many times before for bikes and cars. So when he told me it's clear and in good condition, I took his word for it. When I spoke to the garage about the MOT. They mentioned that if anything was to be an issue, they would sort it.

agnes · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:11

tom_e said:
What about giving them a quick call usually gets things sorted quicker than backwards and forwards over email.

Might do if no email by tomorrow. I'm pretty busy and really don't have time to get hold of them.

Phate · 28 Oct 2015 at 10:11

agnes said:
Hahaha, that's a good point. Could do if they do have something particularly nice.

Watch them squirm to make the sale.

Pretty much. £35 is sod all if you're considering buying another car.

wesley · 28 Oct 2015 at 11:07

do they sell cars? if so, slash every tyres

ADT · 28 Oct 2015 at 11:26

Leave them a nice review online and watch them get back to you

danza · 28 Oct 2015 at 20:41

I love how everyone in all walks of the motor trade is competent, reasonable, helpful and strive to provide great service each and every time.

bledd · 28 Oct 2015 at 21:03

wesley said:
do they sell cars? if so, slash every tyres

Excellent wording sir, made me chuckle

stopper · 28 Oct 2015 at 22:13

agnes said:
I do have the deal in writing to include the MOT

Call them and tell them you are just setting off to return the car under a breach of contract on their part.

pepsilol · 28 Oct 2015 at 22:17

I think I'd let it go on the basis the car passed with flying colours. Could have been much worse in the grand scheme of things. Unless principle mode has kicked in then just do what stopper says.