I was driving round a roundabout one day in May when I heard a noise and I suddenly had no drive. Managed to pull over. Called Breakdown. Taken to garage and left till next working day. Turns out my driveshaft had snapped. Mechanic (no 1) calls me and tells me its £250 to replace and I was happy (thought it was gearbox or rather breakdown man said it was - so much cheaper than I expected) so I agree. I drive the car for a month (I do about 350-400 miles a week - although I didn't use the car for a week one week as I was on holiday).
A month and 4 days later I'm driving along. Get to roundabout, but waiting at lights. Go to pull away and hear a bang (not on roundabout yet). Car rolls over to the side and it feels exactly like before. No drive. Breakdown are called again. I describe symptons and they tell me it sounds like the same thing as before. As it appears the previous repair wasn't sufficient they won't pay for recovery. I want to take it back to the garage that did the original repair but its over 130 miles away and I have to pay. Cheapest option is to take it to the nearest garage. They fix it (£350 this time - gearbox mount needed doing too. Plus £140 recovery).
Now obviously I'm not too happy. I realise its an old car and any car costs money but to need a new driveshaft a month after a new one is fitted does suggest it wasn't done right. Right?
Breakdown man suggests previous mechanic (no 1) may have forgotten circlips that hold driveshaft in place. Mechanic (no 2) agreed but neither can prove one way or the other. Mechanic (no 2) suggests I try and at least get them to warranty the part.
Car is working fine now but if possible I'd like to get some of my money back for what appears to be a faulty or inadequate repair.
My question to you guys is how best to go about it? Tactfully I want to suggest that perhaps I'm owed some kind of refund (in full or part). I need to do this without putting original mechanic (no 1) on the defensive or curse word him off. But equally I don't want to be too soft that he can reject my request and ignore me. If worst comes to worst I suppose I could look into Office of Fair Trading and small claims court but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. I'm not looking to bad mouth anyone (won't mention which garage it was etc...) or rip anyone off.
I know some of you work in the trade so I was wondering how you would treat the situation if you were the mechanic in question and also to see how he may react to my request. Am I barking up the wrong tree? Is it normal to offer some kind of warranty on parts or labour carried out?
I've got a draft email that I'm almost ready to send. Just need to scan invoices to go with it as evidence. But I'd appreciate any input you can give me.
Thanks.
A month and 4 days later I'm driving along. Get to roundabout, but waiting at lights. Go to pull away and hear a bang (not on roundabout yet). Car rolls over to the side and it feels exactly like before. No drive. Breakdown are called again. I describe symptons and they tell me it sounds like the same thing as before. As it appears the previous repair wasn't sufficient they won't pay for recovery. I want to take it back to the garage that did the original repair but its over 130 miles away and I have to pay. Cheapest option is to take it to the nearest garage. They fix it (£350 this time - gearbox mount needed doing too. Plus £140 recovery).
Now obviously I'm not too happy. I realise its an old car and any car costs money but to need a new driveshaft a month after a new one is fitted does suggest it wasn't done right. Right?
Breakdown man suggests previous mechanic (no 1) may have forgotten circlips that hold driveshaft in place. Mechanic (no 2) agreed but neither can prove one way or the other. Mechanic (no 2) suggests I try and at least get them to warranty the part.
Car is working fine now but if possible I'd like to get some of my money back for what appears to be a faulty or inadequate repair.
My question to you guys is how best to go about it? Tactfully I want to suggest that perhaps I'm owed some kind of refund (in full or part). I need to do this without putting original mechanic (no 1) on the defensive or curse word him off. But equally I don't want to be too soft that he can reject my request and ignore me. If worst comes to worst I suppose I could look into Office of Fair Trading and small claims court but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. I'm not looking to bad mouth anyone (won't mention which garage it was etc...) or rip anyone off.
I know some of you work in the trade so I was wondering how you would treat the situation if you were the mechanic in question and also to see how he may react to my request. Am I barking up the wrong tree? Is it normal to offer some kind of warranty on parts or labour carried out?
I've got a draft email that I'm almost ready to send. Just need to scan invoices to go with it as evidence. But I'd appreciate any input you can give me.
Thanks.
