Ripped off by Mechanic

Right so I got my car serviced in October 2011, no major issues but they pointed out my handbrake was loose and needed repairing and that the back brakes were 'ok' but as my NCT was in Jan 2012 they would not be ok enough by then to pass and would need to be done as well. So end of November 2011 I booked the car in to get the handbrake and back brakes done. Brought the car down, lads had it for the day, I went down in the evening, asked if it was all done and if everything was ok. They said it was all sorted. I paid the money and they wrote me a receipt for the handbrake and back brakes. I didn't notice much difference with the brakes but I know nothing about cars or anything so didn't pay much heed to this.

I do a lot of driving, so a week before my NCT (14th Jan, NCT was on 21st Jan) I sent the car back to this garage for the lads to do a 'pre-NCT' just to double check there wasn't anything majorly obvious the car would fail on. They said I needed two new front tyres, but even this was obvious to me (that shows how bad they were). I told them to go ahead with the tyres. When I went to collect it that evening I specifically asked if the handbrake and back brakes were ok. I was told they were, and that everything else on the car was fine.

Come to NCT, car fails - the handbrake was only working at 6%...yes SIX PER CENT, and the back brakes, while they passed, were only 62% and the fail is 55%.

Now I got a friend to bring the car to the NCT for me as I had fallen seriously ill and was in hospital and only got out a few days ago...I'm still quite ill in fact. However obviously I was/am furious as it appears to me the repairs I paid for (handbrake and brakes) were never done. I just wanted my NCT and was so ill that I got my friend to bring is somewhere else and they did they repairs and the car has passed the NCT.

However how do I deal with this other garage? I have my receipts and proof from the NCT and the the garage who did the actual repairs that no work was done on my car (or if it was it was done VERY badly). The garage I got it done in, is in the town years and has a good reputation. I'm shocked at this. Can I get my money back? Can I prove they didn't do the work? I've gotten it repaired now as I was so sick in hospital that I just wanted it sorted and didn't want to deal with the dodgy garage. Now I'm out though I want it sorted and my money back!

Anyone give me any advice on this please? Sorry it's so long but I reckon I needed to give the full story.

-Corkie-

Did you bring it back to the garage???

I couldn't as I was in hospital and am still quite sick. I just got a friend to get it repaired and bring it to NCT a second time as I just wanted it passed as I was too sick to care.

I care now though! I have the recepit and am going next week, but what do I say and do I have a leg to stand on?

-Corkie-

Starla_o0 wrote: »

I couldn't as I was in hospital and am still quite sick. I just got a friend to get it repaired and bring it to NCT a second time as I just wanted it passed as I was too sick to care.

I care now though! I have the recepit and am going next week, but what do I say and do I have a leg to stand on?

Why didnt your friend bring it back to the first garage???

kildare.17hmr

Op i really doubt the garage didnt do the work asked, the rear brakes passed but the handbreak effort was low which could just mean a bit more adjustment. Did the 2nd garage say anything about the work? Mechanics can be very opinionated about others work which doesnt help situations like this.

The first garage should have been alowed put it right but they were not even told about it instead you got worked up and got the work done elswhere and now are thinking about going back to them. I can understand you were annoyed but you really should have got your friend to go back to the same garage as most lads will stand over their work in situations like this.

By the way in future dont bother with a pre nct, they are a waist of money. Get your test done and repair what ever comes up in that because the retest is only €28.

Hope you feel better!

I couldn't tell my friend where to find the receipt and he doesn't have the balls to stand up to people like I do. If they said they did the work, he would have said fine, and left it at that.

I didn't get 'worked up'. Like I said I was ill in hospital and didn't want the hassle. I also didn't want the hassle of arguing through someone else with the garage as I couldn't go myself. I didn't know how long I was going to be in hospital for or after all the hospital bills if I would even have the money to pay for it to be re-done, so I wanted it done while I had the money...and it turns out I wouldn't have been able to afford it if I had left it until I left hospital.

Can brakes really wear down that much in 2 months? This seems ridiculous to me.
I also forgot to mention, that it was also the 3rd time they had done the handbrake.

I told my friend not to say that I had the work done on the car already to the garage that did the repairs. He (the mechanic) just said that the brakes and handbrake were in a 'shocking state' but he definitely had no clue I had brought the car elsewhere.

I know in an idela situation I would have gone back to the original garage, but this was far from that and I couldn't get my friend to do all this running around for me when they have their own lives. I just find it so hard to believe the work was done properly, if at all

CiniO

OP just to mention - Brake effort at 62% is not bad. Very possible you can't get much more with that car.

Parking brake at 6% is bad, but don't think it should be 100%. About 25% - 30% would be the maximum what you can get really.

The most important thing about brakes is that they work evenly on both sides, so the imbalance on your test result is as low as possible.

I consider my car's brake as in perfect state, and on NCT result sheet I got service brake effort at 69% and parking brake effort at 24%.
Howeven imballance is only at 3% front and 4% rear. Handbrake's imbalance is 0%.

I see...so if you get your brakes repaired they're not 100% even if brand new? Ha, car dumbass right here

Either way both the NCT and second mechanic said they weren't in a good state, so would that be expected after 2 months?

kildare.17hmr

Starla_o0 wrote: »

Either way both the NCT and second mechanic said they weren't in a good state, so would that be expected after 2 months?

Definatly not unless you did serious mileage in that 2 months or the disks were also bad and in need of replacement originally. Brakes should last 20+ k alot of the time being done every second service or so

CiniO

Starla_o0 wrote: »

Either way both the NCT and second mechanic said they weren't in a good state, so would that be expected after 2 months?

Most likely not. They should be in very good state after 2 months, no matter how much you drive.


Generally speaking brakes are quite simple devices...
There is just disc, pads and calipers - and hydraulic system to operate them.

Do you know what exactly was done in November by that garage?

you're gonna roll your eyes when I say this...but they said after service the back breaks needed 'doing' this involved them explaining what that was to me and me not having a clue what they were on about. Something about pads, I THINK, can't be definite. It's on the receipt I have, but not on me right now.

Also in the two months I did around 5000km

Bandara

Hi Starla

I know it's not going to be what you want to hear but I fear you'll find it very hard to get any satisfaction as you had the work "redone" without giving them the chance to put if right for you (regardless of what they did or didn't do previously)

I'd suggest chalking it up to experience, moving on, and spend your time getting yourself better, the stress and hassle sometimes isn't worth it, no matter how pissed off you are.

Regards
HT

georgefalls

OP
Could you not have rang the first garage from hospital, and explained that you were not happy. And, that you would be sending the car along with a friend, for them to rectify the problem.?

Hammertime

Hammertime wrote: »

Hi Starla

I know it's not going to be what you want to hear but I fear you'll find it very hard to get any satisfaction as you had the work "redone" without giving them the chance to put if right for you (regardless of what they did or didn't do previously)

I'd suggest chalking it up to experience, moving on, and spend your time getting yourself better, the stress and hassle sometimes isn't worth it, no matter how pissed off you are.

Regards
HT

I pretty much figured this. Thanks all for your replies.

georgefalls wrote: »

OP
Could you not have rang the first garage from hospital, and explained that you were not happy. And, that you would be sending the car along with a friend, for them to rectify the problem.?

I repeat, seriously ill.