have you ever been had by a garage?

Question

if so would you like to leave their details on a list below so others can see and avoid them?

it seems to be getting harder and harder to find decent honest garages these days. my hubby was done a few months back by a garage to the tune of £500. all he received for it was a load of shoddy workmanship and damage to the paintwork. we did report to trading standards but they werent very helpful at all.

Answer 1

No, I send my husband to deal with any garage that the car has to go into. They are not so likely to mess with a man.

Answer 2

Not in any major way, because I know enough about mechanics to usually have an idea of what any fault is, I just don't have the inclination or time to work on a car myself these days. and I let any garage know this!
What always annoys me though is 'big business' main dealers like Arnold Clark here in Scotland who charge for doing things like topping up windscreen wash. Once they actually chucked out a full tank of the stuff I'd filled the day before a service, and charged a tenner for refilling it!

Answer 3

I haven't but could have.
Foure points :
(1) I learned mechanics and did EVERYTHING necessary to my cars myself including once changing an engine.... never relied on garages, thank God.
(2) now I have a new company car every 6 months so no need for any of that mechanics stuff anymore.
(3) ex-wife took her car to a garage and asked for a replacement engine to be fitted to her Peugeot. They did and they charged her £1,050 ....... only they fitted an old engine from a breakers yard an engine which sounded awful and performed even worse !!!
(4) Never, ever, let your wife/girlfriend/sister/mother go to a garage by themselves. Women are fair game in the motoring world.
BEST ADVICE.... ALWAYS GO TO MAIN DEALERS...... MORE EXPENSIVE YES BUT THE WORK IS GUARANTEED.

Answer 4

No. If I have a problem with a garage I go back to them and discuss the problem with them to get it sorted. If It cannot be resolved ammicably I send them a recorded delivery letter, followed by a county court claim.
I would not list garages on a website as this can be considered as Libel.
Why go to trading standards ? Take them to court !
With the advent of digital cameras Take pictures of your car before you take it to a garage then if they damage it you have evidence. I also do this if I hire a car so they cannot claim you have damaged it.

Answer 5

no never been had by a garage i work in one and would like to say that not all garages are robbing ba****ds we charge less than dealerships hourly rate, provide better customer service than fast fit centres (eg kwik fit , ats and all the others)
providing courtesy cars and home pick up and drop off.
we are an indipendant garage and rely on our trusting customers and wouldn't risk our reputation if our customers have a problem with our work we will put it right at no extra cost. if you would like to find a reliable indipendant garage then i would suggest visiting the good garage scheme' website and they can point you in the direction of a good garage near you

Answer 6

I agree with EvelynThe ModifiedDog, I've been around long enough to recognise bullsh*t when I hear it. Actually I too object on principle to being charged for screenwash, particularly when I've just brimmed the reservoir - still I suppose the "technicians" have to keep their cars running somehow.

The last time but one mine came back from service one of the wiper blades had been swapped for an old one and every tyre on the road had had its pressure dropped to 5 psi below the recommended.

Played hell with the boss, by means of some loud and emphatic complaining in the presence of other customers, got three new wiper blades out of it and the information that the apprentice who had done my car "was no longer with them". I notice that now the foreman deals with our cars himself . . . .

I don't think I'll be naming & shaming, just because of the potential problems.

Answer 7

I believe that I have not been had by any garage but have to admit that in many cars it is difficult to check as most modern engines are covered by some sort of cover. In the past when I had cars which were not covered by extended warranties I was very friendly with mechanics who I helped to service my cars. Now I use the dealership from whom I purchased the car and I have to admit that I have found it very trustworthy.

Answer 8

I havnt had this happen to me (since I work on my own vehicle) but I have worked at some garages and seen some bad things, like chargin for parts they dont need, chargin for time they didnt work on it, breakin things and not fixin them, scratchin the paint and then telling the customer, when they notice, that it was there when they got it, and just about any other thing you could imagine. I would suggest you go to a garage that some of your friends or colleges at work go to or just ask them which ones they have had good luck with and which ones screwed them over.

Answer 9

Nope

Answer 10

Have to agree with what someone else said. Just use main dealers go to Kwik Fit or something.