Taking a garage to small claims court?
I had a reduced supercharger pulley fitted to my MINI two weeks ago. Three days ago while being 200 miles from home, it frayed the drive belt. Luckily (I thought) I was near the company that fitted the pulley, so I rang and they charged me £100 to come and fix it by the side of the road.
I thought all was well, until 15 miles later when the car ate a belt again. This time I had to get the car recovered and get a loan car to get home, which all, from breakdown to my door, took me 13 hours.
I have contacted the garage and they wanted me to drop the car off (it's undrivable) so they could look at it and fix it (not free).
I was told the reason why it broke was my 'spirited driving' and contact with some stones, IE: MY FAULT. That or a faulty pulley.
The car is at a local MINI specialist and I had a look today, the pulley is fine (the company that makes them have an amazing reputation and very few problems and a lifetime guarantee).
It appears that when the garage fitted the pulley, when removing the stock one they pulled it out along with the shaft that goes through the charger, (which i'm told won't move, with even the most spirited driving) and when they noticed, forced it back in so i wouldn't realise) hence it lasting for 14 days. The pulleys are miles out of line which is why the belts are being eaten.
This is the view of two MINI specialists and the pulley manufacturer. I now need a new supercharger plus labour costs to get my car going again.
All because of their negligence when fitting the pulley. I have asked them to cover the costs in full and the £100 I paid them to fix at the roadside, but have heard nothing.
What shall i do? The charger is coming off this week for evidence but what else can I do? I don't have invoices/reciepts, just emails and forum posts! Please help!
I thought all was well, until 15 miles later when the car ate a belt again. This time I had to get the car recovered and get a loan car to get home, which all, from breakdown to my door, took me 13 hours.
I have contacted the garage and they wanted me to drop the car off (it's undrivable) so they could look at it and fix it (not free).
I was told the reason why it broke was my 'spirited driving' and contact with some stones, IE: MY FAULT. That or a faulty pulley.
The car is at a local MINI specialist and I had a look today, the pulley is fine (the company that makes them have an amazing reputation and very few problems and a lifetime guarantee).
It appears that when the garage fitted the pulley, when removing the stock one they pulled it out along with the shaft that goes through the charger, (which i'm told won't move, with even the most spirited driving) and when they noticed, forced it back in so i wouldn't realise) hence it lasting for 14 days. The pulleys are miles out of line which is why the belts are being eaten.
This is the view of two MINI specialists and the pulley manufacturer. I now need a new supercharger plus labour costs to get my car going again.
All because of their negligence when fitting the pulley. I have asked them to cover the costs in full and the £100 I paid them to fix at the roadside, but have heard nothing.
What shall i do? The charger is coming off this week for evidence but what else can I do? I don't have invoices/reciepts, just emails and forum posts! Please help!
Asked on 8 June 2011 by madman09
Answered by
Honest John
If you can prove this then take the matter to the small claims track of the county court.
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