Dealing with a garage (who broke a car)

Slutmonkey57b

I shall keep this vague in keeping with the "don't risk legal action" charter.

I've diagnosed a number of problems with a car after a garage were given a small job to do. The job wasn't done right and I brought it back. It still wasn't done right and I've noticed another problem today.

The upshot is that they've already offered to take the car away and do it right, claiming they didn't have time originally to diagnose the problem, but obviously are not going to admit responsibility. However I genuinely don't trust them to do it now.

What do you guys think are my options here, in terms of getting a main dealer/reputable mechanic to look at it, and bill the original garage for the work? I don't have the short term funds to actually pay the main dealer and then wait for compensation by the original crew, assuming they ever pay up. Anyone got a similar experience?

biko

Giving car to garage B and telling garage A to pay for it won't work (unless A agrees to this beforehand, unlikely).
Garage A have offered to take it until problem is fixed, this is your option.

CJhaughey

You need to define broken.
A fault occuring at the same time as someone does something to the car doesn't necessarily mean they broke it.

They may or may or have fixed the original issue but that doesn't constitute breaking a car.
Contrary to many people opinion Mechanics don't have X-ray vision and the ability to diagnose faults that are about to happen.

Slutmonkey57b

To clarify: There wouldn't have been a need to diagnose anything. When I say they broke something on the car, I mean they were handed a car with X item working, and handed it back with X item visibly broken.

JohnBoy26

Without knowing the actual issues, how can you expect anyone to give you advice?

your being far, far too vague tbh. You don't have to name the garage but knowing the problem the car went in with and what the garage supposedly"broke" would be of help to the poster giving advice.

angwd

Similar situation here & mulling it through over the weekend.

I sent my car in with problem A, got it back €150 lighter and problem A recurred.
Sent it back in, this time €700 lighter now I still have problem A and another problem B that's a direct result of the work that was done. Problem B is serious. I don't know how much it will cost to fix. If I'd thrown €850 in the bin I'd be better off. Haven't decided what to do.

Tail Docker

In keeping with the theme, I have some acquaintances that opened a garage offering servicing, etc. I giggled when the idea was being mooted as I happen to know that despite being perfectly nice people they have the mechanical abilities of a camel and as much idea about the workings of a car.

I now pass their premises, and am often in for a chat, and they are out the door - people being turned away they are so busy. Now, you may say I'm being schnide, but I can safely say the tool they are most comfy with is a hammer and deciding which end to use is a struggle. But they are out the door.... I despair sometimes at the way people choose a garage to work on their car.

maudgone

Clear as mud.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/bawdy/oscar09/WileE.jpg