Mechanics problem

jomc

Posting this on behalf of a friend...


He drives a 00 opel which broke down recently. His mechanic said it had to go to a main opel dealer to be fixed.Dealer accepted the car for repair and gave a price of 800 labour plus parts of about 50. My friend said he'd think it over as its such an old car. They said no prob...


He ok'd the repair a week later after looking at other options, they said the car would be fixed in a few days. When he rang looking for the car they said they couldn't locate the part, and they would have to replace the engine, so he would need to purchase a new engine at a cost of 550 euro. He went ahead and did this and two weeks later the car was fixed but they handed him a bill of 1100 labour. When he drove the car away he reaslised it was stuck in second gear. Its an automatic gearbox. He said when he tried to drive it a bit further it was jumping gears, then remained stuck in second. There was no problem with the gearbox when it went in, the mechanic and the garage said it was a snapped timing belt originally....

He brings the car back and they said it would be fixed, one thing after another with parts and problems and now they have had the car for nearly 6 weeks, they are not giving him a date for when the car will be ready or a price for the gearbox, just saying they won't know until its finished. He's asked them for a replacement car until it is fixed and they said no.

So now he has no car for nearly 6 weeks, an inflated bill with an unknown bill to come and no idea of when he'll get his car back. They also said the gearbox fault 'happens'.

Does anyone know where he stands with this, should he get a replacement car, should they cover costs of gearbox repair as it seems like they knocked out a connection when repairing engine, does he have any comeback with the inflated bill, etc???

Any useful info will be greatly appreciated. Sorry the info is bit all over the place, he just gave me the story over the phone. I can confirm or recheck info if needed. And this is a main opel dealership


Edit-he drove by the garage yesterday and today and its just sitting in car park, doen't even look like its being workedon

So he paid €550 for an engine and €1100 for labour on a 00 Corsa ?

mondeo

I bet your mate is sick to his stomach. I'd request the car back and find someone to do a nixer on it. He is being fleeced.

BostonB

I wonder can you report them to the consumer association.

There was absolutely no point in spending more than the car is worth on repairs. For that money He'd have bought another 00 corsa with everything working.

They should have said that to him at the start.

jomc

tbh i don't know if its a corsa.

The garage made some sort of hullabaloo about the car needing old software and an old computer to fix it.

He bought the engine from northern ireland, i don't know if he found it himself or if the garage set it up.

BostonB

Well thats kinda crucial

I mean if it was a 00 Rolls Royce it might be worth it.

jomc

As i said already its an opel, i'll find out the model and post back

jomc

Its an omega

Armadillo

jomc wrote: »

Its an omega

Oh dear, that's worth even less than a corsa.
I'd contact a 'no win, no fee' solicitor for a start.

BostonB

jomc wrote: »

Its an omega

A car like that you get rid of when the big bills hit. Unless you love it and are have money to do. You an buy a different car for less than it will cost to repair the omega.

jomc

He does love the car but the price quoted was not what they charged. Now tih the bill climbing and they won't even say how much they're charging him, and that he is this long without a car where does he go from here?

Last night they gave him a loan car, a vectra with no tax or nct

BostonB

For starters hes needs a detailed breakdown on paper of everything. At the moment its just to vague. Then you could check with a independent garage if the costs are reasonable. I would have no faith in a main dealer tbh. Had too many bad experiences with them.

jomc

He already asked for this and they said they'd send it on with the final bill.

He asked for a car with tax and nct and they said its his repsonsibility to pay it, also they don't have available cars with nct and tax.

Still no idea of when the car will be ready

Is the gearbox problem their fault? They said a connection was knocked when trying to replace engine but won't admit liability on it and said they'll fix it at a discount but won't give any idea of what the price or discount is

BostonB

Hes being screwed. Sounds like they are fleecing him for as much as they can. For me thats basically a scam job, but proving it very hard. As they can just deny it as he has no proof.

At this point I'd just leave the car there, and go buy something else. Legally, hes have to pay for any work done. If they can prove its done. In the past, I've surprised the dealer by turning up a day early and asked for the car, and they hadn't any of the work done that they had claimed they had. I signed a wavier that I took the car as is. And drove it out. I've had to do that a couple of times. Don't give them more business if they are treating you like crap.