Advice re: negligent car service

JaneyMc77

I left my car into a garage in Blanchardstown,.....I bought it there in September, and 6 weeks later it failed the NCT with several fails in the braking system. Admittedly its a used car, 2008, but I thought they were a reputable garage.......
Sooooo they worked on the car/handbrake but unfortunately sent me home in a car with a handbrake that wouldn't hold on a downhill, only uphill. Turns out they had put it back together incorrectly, and when my partner pointed it out to them they argued with him, and over the next few days gave us several different versions of what had happened and why the handbrake wasn't working. I was told the spring broke, the cable broke (even though it worked uphill), they had fixed the handbrake, they hadn't looked at the handbrake, etc etc the latest claim from them is that it was working when I took the car home.........and to top it off, they wouldn't tell me the name of the mechanic that worked on it, he was probably rushing out to the pub for Christmas drinks!
The car has since been fixed, and passed the NCT, but the radio is not working, and they are refusing to fix it, its a minor thing but in addition to everything above, surely they are foolish not to fix it, rather than have me and others bad mouth them ?

As for the posters below, I asked for advice not abuse, so please troll somewhere else.....

Tigger

You don't have to have a hand brake to take off on a slope, sure it helps but

Did they call you a silly woman? I think those sort of place just think all customers should be robbed off
I doubt you'll get a new car but ask a solicitor

nelly17

Its probably a solicitor you need rather than boards

Henry Ford III

What exactly failed on the handbrake OP?

Cables for example stretch and snap. That wouldn't be the fault of the garage I'd have thought.

endagibson

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

I had to hold the car on the foot brake until I got help, blocking traffic for about 40 mins

I don't understand what this bit is about. How did your handbrake failing cause a road to be blocked for 40 minutes?

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

Up until this point however the car was driving fine, and brakes were also fine.

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

they sold an unsafe vehicle

You're going to have to explain this a bit more as those two statements don't gel.

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

the handbrake later failed

Cables can fail at any time and are difficult to spot in advance.

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

put me and my families lives, and other drivers in danger

That's very dramatic and highly unlikely.

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

they claim the handbrake was 'functioning' when it left their garage.

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

the handbrake later failed

Indeed.

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

They refused to give me the mechanics name

I wouldn't either.

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

I am not prepared to risk driving my family in this car

Yes, it's probably best if someone else does the driving.

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

At this stage, I want full refund, a replacement car, or at the very least extended warranty as they sold an unsafe vehicle, which almost caused an accident.

You're not going to get a refund for a car that you've had between September and December without fault and then only developed a fault with the handbrake. I'm leaving out the stereo for now. You're not going to get a replacement car either as the car that you have is now fine.

You need to write them a letter, leaving out the hysterics about your family being doomed, explaining exactly what you're unhappy with (the fault not being spotted during the service, the delay in providing a remedy, the differing explanations and now the new fault with the stereo, etc. and ask for a concise remedy. You suggested a warranty extension, which might work. Or it might be provided through a third party and not worth much. Is there anything else that you could ask for? A discount on the next service perhaps? A discount on the service that you just had maybe? You come up with something, but be realistic.

JaneyMc77

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

and I had to hold the car on the foot brake until I got help, blocking traffic for about 40 mins.

Did you try driving off?

what happened when the help came?
did you jump out and they jumped in and drove off?

Panrich

As I read your post you were driving downhill with the handbrake on. Is that correct?

emeldc

it was due an NCT in 6 weeks

Even 'reputable' garages can do the NCT 3 months early. Maybe next time, make them do it before you part with any money. If they wont do it, walk away.

oppenheimer1

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

Hi, I'm not sure where exactly to post this, but to summarise:

I bought a used 2008 Kia Ceed from a 'reputable' garage in Blanchardstown in September 2016, it was due an NCT in 6 weeks, and garage agreed to service it after the NCT if it failed and this was covered under warranty. Up until this point however the car was driving fine, and brakes were also fine.

I dropped the car in for servicing the next day, when I collected it the following day before they closed for Xmas, the handbrake later failed, so I was rolling downwards on a very steep narrow road (if anyone knows the Strawberry Beds in Dublin), even though the handbrake was fully up, while I was driving with my 2 small kids in the car, and I had to hold the car on the foot brake until I got help, blocking traffic for about 40 mins.

When I returned to the garage after Christmas, they took no responsibility for the fault, didn't seem at all concerned that their negligence had put me and my families lives, and other drivers in danger, and left me with no safe car to drive over Christmas.

When they reopened, I explained what had happened and the manager told me he was too busy with the new fleet to do anything. Over the coming days, they gave me and my partner (who has very good knowledge of cars/mechanics) several different versions of what had happened, each covering up what the other had said, blaming human error, then various parts were faulty, then nothing was wrong with it, they never even looked at the brake system. The final straw was a claim that no one had even take the car apart despite telling me when I collected it, they were just 'putting it back together', and they claim the handbrake was 'functioning' when it left their garage. They refused to give me the mechanics name, said it was 'company business'.

Since then I have had nothing but trouble with them, they finally got the car to pass the NCT, but refused to extend the warranty, and have now left me with no stereo working, and are also refusing to fix this.

At this stage, I want full refund, a replacement car, or at the very least extended warranty as they sold an unsafe vehicle, which almost caused an accident. I am not prepared to risk driving my family in this car, as I believe work they carried out and didn't complete, (probably rushing off to the pub for Christmas drinks) caused the handbrake to fail.

Unfortunately had they been more mannerly and gracious in dealing with me, and apologised, I would have let this go, once the car was fixed, but the arrogance, and not admitting any fault on their part, and dismissing me as a 'silly woman' has angered me to the point of no return !!!!

Apart from advising anyone I know, to spread the word, not to buy or service your car in [snipped], does anyone know where I stand, they are not members of SIMI, so I'd appreciate some advice. Thanks

I don't understand, were you driving down this hill with the parking brake on to control your speed? Were you parking on the hill? Could you have not just put the car in reverse if the parking brake had failed and you were pointing downhill?

Also why mention that you had two children in the car?

TallGlass

Listen. Don't waste anymore of your time with this to be honest. All second hand car sales in my mind are buyer beware. Don't mind this codlogy of warranty of 6 months, as much use as a wet paper bag. They'll fob you off. They want it off there forecourt and will say anything to get it moved.

The only warranty I would trust is manufacturer warranty and even at that they do push it aswell.

Cheensbo

Negligent driving more like it, if you sit on a hill blocking traffic for 40 minutes instead of driving up it.

JaneyMc77

You'll see in my post, the car wasn't holding on a downwards slope, and I was in a line of traffic on a very steep decline, not up hill
I'm driving 20 year so negligible driving wasn't the problem in this case.....

easygoing39

In the past I've driven a car without a working handbrake for 6 months before I bothered to fix it.I don't know why you felt the need to block traffic for 40 mins when you just as easily could have driven up the hill and went about your business.

easygoing39

Even worse,I now see you where trying to go downhill!!!! Could you not just press the brake pedal to control the car??

amcalester

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

You'll see in my post, the car wasn't holding on a downwards slope, and I was in a line of traffic on a very steep decline, not up hill
I'm driving 20 year so negligible driving wasn't the problem in this case.....

So you were traveling downhill and the handbrake went?

Why did this result in you blocking traffic for 40 minutes?

Can't you just use the foot brake?

kyote00

You could spend an extra 200/250 and get a engineers/AA inspection on the car. (probably could have done this before buying....)

Depending on what they find, you have armed yourself to get a solicitor or small claims court.

Right now, from reading the posts - you seem to have a car that has passed a NCT and has no other problems except the non working radio ?
What milage has the car ?

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

Apart from advising anyone I know, to spread the word, not to buy or service your car in [snipped], does anyone know where I stand, they are not members of SIMI, so I'd appreciate some advice. Thanks

cml387

Some people instinctively apply the handbrake when stopped, even if on the level or going downhill, I don't know why, perhaps they were taught that way.

Regardless a handbrake cable can snap at any time.

Nor would I have bought a car whose NCT was due to expire in three months, and I'd be wary of a garage trying to sell me one.

Henry Ford III

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

You'll see in my post, the car wasn't holding on a downwards slope, and I was in a line of traffic on a very steep decline, not up hill
I'm driving 20 year so negligible driving wasn't the problem in this case.....

Doesn't make a lot of sense tbh.

Why didn't you just drive down the hill in 1st gear and use the foot brake as normal?

endagibson

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

You'll see in my post, the car wasn't holding on a downwards slope, and I was in a line of traffic on a very steep decline, not up hill

Why not just put the car in gear and drive off?

mloc123

easygoing39 wrote: »

In the past I've driven a car without a working handbrake for 6 months before I bothered to fix it.I don't know why you felt the need to block traffic for 40 mins when you just as easily could have driven up the hill and went about your business.

Likewise, back in college... good for improving clutch control

amcalester

endagibson wrote: »

Why not just put the car in gear and drive off?

Reminds me of this.

kona

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

Over the coming days, they gave me and my partner (who has very good knowledge of cars/mechanics)

Should probably have done it himself so. Less hassle.

Seth Brundle

As already mentioned, foreseeing the cable snapping is difficult.
The service didn't spot this nor did the NCT.
It failed, as any component of a car can. Thankfully nobody was injured and apart from some inconveniencing of other cars, there was no problem.

However, you do need to calm down about this and not take it so seriously, for your own sake.
By your account the car appears to be in fairly good condition.

And, with no offence intended, get a few refresher driving lessons.

emeldc

JaneyMc77 wrote: »

You'll see in my post, the car wasn't holding on a downwards slope, and I was in a line of traffic on a very steep decline, not up hill
I'm driving 20 year so negligible driving wasn't the problem in this case.....

As the saying goes,'when you're in a hole, stop digging'. I'd let this go if I were you. Just get a different mechanic to fix the hand brake and move on. And don't forget the advice on the short NCT when buying privately or from a dealer.

Isambard

this is surely made up.

The handbrake is irrelevant to your driving when going down hill.

Neilw

So what's the situation now, all fixed except the radio? Is it asking for a security code?

My advice would be to ask them politely to fix your radio and walk away.

Then, for yourself. Invest in some lessons or ask a friend to teach you some car control. Engine braking, slipping clutch to hold position on a hill and so on. It's basic stuff a competent drive should know about.

JohnBoy26

The thread title is misleading tbh. They serviced your car. The handbrake failed at a later date which can happen on older cars and then they fixed it and the car passed the nct.

I don't really see any problem apart from the very minor one of the radio not working which probably isn't covered under warranty anyway.

beauf

cml387 wrote: »

Some people instinctively apply the handbrake when stopped, even if on the level or going downhill, I don't know why, perhaps they were taught that way..

I always understood it's in case you're hit from behind your foot comes of the brake and you can be launched forward. The handbrake prevents this. Or even if your foot slips. Just good practise.

The op story doesn't make a lot of sense. They can just roll to the bottom of the hill and park if they aren't comfortable without the handbrake.

A car without a lot of torque can be tricky to hold without a handbrake. Much easier with a diesel or bigger petrol engine. I think it's a bit ill advised to spend six months driving without one though. A day or so maybe

kyote00

I didn't say it would either ?

OP says "I bought it there in September, and 6 weeks later it failed the NCT with several fails in the braking system."

I said 'an AA or engineers report' might have highlighted some of the 'several fails'

Also, the OP asked for advice on garage/serving not a bunch gob****es nit picking on his/her driving ability....so take your condescending high horse somewhere else....

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I don't think a 200e AA report is going to tell OP why they wouldn't apply the footbrake when going down a hill like your supposed to.

SnakePlissken

kyote00 wrote: »

Also, the OP asked for advice on garage/serving not a bunch gob****es nit picking on his/her driving ability....so take your condescending high horse somewhere else....

My high horse just lost one shoe, think that means I need to sit here aimlessly for forty minutes twiddling my thumbs.

beauf

kyote00 wrote: »

I didn't say it would either ?

OP says "I bought it there in September, and 6 weeks later it failed the NCT with several fails in the braking system."

I said 'an AA or engineers report' might have highlighted some of the 'several fails'

Also, the OP asked for advice on garage/serving not a bunch gob****es nit picking on his/her driving ability....so take your condescending high horse somewhere else....

The problem is the OP has blown the issue of the handbrake out of proportion because they haven't any experience of it. Its not a common event, but then its not dangerous if you what to know what do. They over reacted. Thats not nick picking its just what happened.

Likewise the NCT does tests with equipment that no garage will have. Thus a car having some issue picked up on the NCT is why the NCT exists. It doesn't automatically mean a garage is lax.

The advice given here, might be abrupt, but then not everyone is good at explaining things.

kyote00

The OP expressed concern but it was Motors forum did the 'blowing out of proportion' ....

The issue is not the NCT.... The issue is why the car had 'several' problems and was still sold on.

Diesel runaway is one reason I'd always make sure the handbrake works...:P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4rMfrERpG8

I saw a similar event in Cherbourg ferry port about 10 years ago...

Anyways, Im away (enough bs from me)

beauf wrote: »

The problem is the OP has blown the issue of the handbrake out of proportion because they haven't any experience of it. Its not a common event, but then its not dangerous if you what to know what do. They over reacted. Thats not nick picking its just what happened.

Likewise the NCT does tests with equipment that no garage will have. Thus a car having some issue picked up on the NCT is why the NCT exists. It doesn't automatically mean a garage is lax.

The advice given here, might be abrupt, but then not everyone is good at explaining things.

JohnBoy26

beauf

kyote00 wrote: »

...The issue is not the NCT.... The issue is why the car had 'several' problems and was still sold on.

Did the op not say the car was fine when bought. The problems only happened after the service, and with NCT. I say problems but the op has only mentioned the handbrake. Which caused danger to 40+ people.

Del2005

kyote00 wrote: »

The OP expressed concern but it was Motors forum did the 'blowing out of proportion' ....

The issue is not the NCT.... The issue is why the car had 'several' problems and was still sold on.

Firstly the OP shouldn't have bought it without the NCT. The garage said they'd fix any issues which came from the NCT, which they did, but people buying on the promise of the car being fixed is what allows garages sell cars without the NCT.

The handbrake failing was a random act to which the OP overreacted and caused unnecessary delays for other motorists and then wanted to start hassling a person who was only doing their job.

Isambard

I've been thinking about this and I believe that what the OP is saying is that he/she parked on a downhill section and having parked found the handbrake wasn't working. He/she was unable to pull out of the space as there wasn't enough clearance to swing out and couldn't reverse with no handbrake and thus was stuck with his/her foot on the brake unable to drive and unable to get out.

It also seems the garage has subsequently fixed this, NCT passed and all that is wrong now is the radio doesn't work. The bit about the handbrake is just background to his/her actual radio problem which is a quick fix or at worst a €100 new one.

endagibson

The OP appears to have done some major editing.

Seth Brundle

endagibson wrote: »

The OP appears to have done some major editing.

Bloody hell they have!


Original post below (taken from a quote on pg1)...

JaneyMc77 wrote:

Hi, I'm not sure where exactly to post this, but to summarise:

I bought a used 2008 Kia Ceed from a 'reputable' garage in Blanchardstown in September 2016, it was due an NCT in 6 weeks, and garage agreed to service it after the NCT if it failed and this was covered under warranty. Up until this point however the car was driving fine, and brakes were also fine.

I dropped the car in for servicing the next day, when I collected it the following day before they closed for Xmas, the handbrake later failed, so I was rolling downwards on a very steep narrow road (if anyone knows the Strawberry Beds in Dublin), even though the handbrake was fully up, while I was driving with my 2 small kids in the car, and I had to hold the car on the foot brake until I got help, blocking traffic for about 40 mins.

When I returned to the garage after Christmas, they took no responsibility for the fault, didn't seem at all concerned that their negligence had put me and my families lives, and other drivers in danger, and left me with no safe car to drive over Christmas.

When they reopened, I explained what had happened and the manager told me he was too busy with the new fleet to do anything. Over the coming days, they gave me and my partner (who has very good knowledge of cars/mechanics) several different versions of what had happened, each covering up what the other had said, blaming human error, then various parts were faulty, then nothing was wrong with it, they never even looked at the brake system. The final straw was a claim that no one had even take the car apart despite telling me when I collected it, they were just 'putting it back together', and they claim the handbrake was 'functioning' when it left their garage. They refused to give me the mechanics name, said it was 'company business'.

Since then I have had nothing but trouble with them, they finally got the car to pass the NCT, but refused to extend the warranty, and have now left me with no stereo working, and are also refusing to fix this.

At this stage, I want full refund, a replacement car, or at the very least extended warranty as they sold an unsafe vehicle, which almost caused an accident. I am not prepared to risk driving my family in this car, as I believe work they carried out and didn't complete, (probably rushing off to the pub for Christmas drinks) caused the handbrake to fail.

Unfortunately had they been more mannerly and gracious in dealing with me, and apologised, I would have let this go, once the car was fixed, but the arrogance, and not admitting any fault on their part, and dismissing me as a 'silly woman' has angered me to the point of no return !!!!

Apart from advising anyone I know, to spread the word, not to buy or service your car in [snipped], does anyone know where I stand, they are not members of SIMI, so I'd appreciate some advice. Thanks