where do i stand

[Dean]

I'd consider writing a letter and following it up. I don't know how old your parents are, or know much about them, but it could be typical of this garage to abuse those that are like your mom. You could help prevent others going through the same thing.

[polo2k]

in light of what is being discussed elsewhere regarding a supplier else where on this board I would like to ask a favour from the club as a whole:
Please contact a club rep ( I think LouiseM is the right contact on here) and find out what the correct procedure is to get this all recorded and it may help with a resolution.

I come from an automotive back ground and know quite a lot about what goes on away from customers.
there is often a lot of messing about happening, the boss might not even know it. Hypothetically the car could have arrived and been checked in with person A, then the car is worked on by Person B, then the car is finished by person C and then signed off by person D, then when the car is collected it is signed out by person E. in this scenario, person E may not have any idea of the condition of the car when it arrived, he may have gone on the offensive simply out of defence. There are a lot of situations in the Auto trade (especially in smaller garages) where the attitude is "top dog or eaten" and unfortunatly I have seen this bleed into the customer facing side of things (although it shouldnt!)

Come on guys lets make a difference.
If this is properly recorded then there is at least an outside chance of getting it resolved and saving someone else from getting bitten.

Cheers

[LouiseM]

Please contact a club rep ( I think LouiseM is the right contact on here) and find out what the correct procedure is to get this all recorded and it may help with a resolution.

If this is properly recorded then there is at least an outside chance of getting it resolved and saving someone else from getting bitten.

Well looking through this post it appears that the company concerned is not a trader that advertises in the club magazine, the car concerned was an mg rather than Minor, and there doesn't actually seem to be anything left that needs resolving. So the situation is a bit different from that referred to in the other thread.

Going by what has been posted here, Cadetchris initially withheld payment until the work was corrected to his satisfaction, and sought advice from Consumer Direct, who he says were very helpful. Subsequently his mum has now paid the bill and got the car back. It isn't clear whether this was as a result of the the advice given by Consumer Direct or not but under the circumstances I can't see that there is really anything that the club can do to assist in this particular matter. In a situation like this you really need to seek some professional advice so it might be worth going back to consumer direct to see if they can advise further.

[neilchadburn]

Speak to your credit card company and explain the "blackmail" situation that you re being forced into, they will advise as to what their company policy is in respect of this.

Report it to the Police at your local station, but do not expect miracles, they will say it is civil debt, get a report number or log number and insist on the officer creating a log number outlining that you are being forced to pay for the car back, even if he or she doesn't want to.
If he or she won't do this, ask to see the Sgt, and explain you are not being disrespectful, but require the advise of a Sgt to satisfy you getting a log number. It really isn't a big issue for them, they can close the log after you have gone, listing their resolution as it being a "civil debt".
The officer will be duty bound to give you a number, then present that log number to the company and explain that you would like the director, or company representative to rethink. If they still insist on you paying, then ask for the details of the company director and company secretary ( not typist) but someone who is has the legal status of Company seecretary, if they do not want to give you those details remind them they are duty bound under British Company law, and then tell them that you will be issuing forthwith proceedings in the local County Court to recover the money you are being forced to pay to ensure the release of your car.
Most companies fold at this point, or make a radically altered offer, they don't want the publicity, best of luck.

[bmcecosse]

And report the whole sorry tale to Trading Standards. Why did you go to this garage in the first place ? Were they highly recommended ?

[cadetchris]

to be honest, i have no idea why dad chose this garage, its not near us, we havent used it before and its run by a husband and wife. she in the office and he actually doing the work. they are both quite rude people who constantly kept putting the telephone when ever a valid question was asked.

so, dads fault for choosing them.
he is however shopping them to the vat people, trading standards and benefits people, so its a case of what goes around comes around