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I agreed with my local SAAB dealer that they would come to my home, collect my car and carry out the year 2 service for the agreed price of £336 including VAT.
Later on in the morning I received a phone call to say that the driver experienced blow out on A38 on NSF wheel on the way to the garage. I was told that they would supply me with a replacement tyre at cost price and was also advised that the OSF tyre was low on tread also and needed replacing. The price they charged me for the two tyres at cost price was £276+VAT and an additional £36 pounds to refurbish with paint the damaged NSF wheel. When they returned my car I was presented with a bill for £701.16. I was so shocked that I decided to write to you for advice.
The next day I went down to check the burst tyre and it was like a spent Catherine wheel with just a few ribbons of rubber. The reason for this I was told was because the driver had to drive on the damaged wheel for some distance, as there was no suitable place to stop.
I know the road very well and there are at least 3 places the driver could have stopped before reaching the lay-by he did eventually stop in to change the wheel. I have arranged a visit to discuss my grievance prior to paying the bill with the garage manager. The car has a registered mileage of 18,000miles and the tyres fitted were 225/45R18 Conti Sport 95W XL. My car was purchased from this dealer and is a Saab Convertible Aero. I would be very grateful to receive your view on this dilemma.
Later on in the morning I received a phone call to say that the driver experienced blow out on A38 on NSF wheel on the way to the garage. I was told that they would supply me with a replacement tyre at cost price and was also advised that the OSF tyre was low on tread also and needed replacing. The price they charged me for the two tyres at cost price was £276+VAT and an additional £36 pounds to refurbish with paint the damaged NSF wheel. When they returned my car I was presented with a bill for £701.16. I was so shocked that I decided to write to you for advice.
The next day I went down to check the burst tyre and it was like a spent Catherine wheel with just a few ribbons of rubber. The reason for this I was told was because the driver had to drive on the damaged wheel for some distance, as there was no suitable place to stop.
I know the road very well and there are at least 3 places the driver could have stopped before reaching the lay-by he did eventually stop in to change the wheel. I have arranged a visit to discuss my grievance prior to paying the bill with the garage manager. The car has a registered mileage of 18,000miles and the tyres fitted were 225/45R18 Conti Sport 95W XL. My car was purchased from this dealer and is a Saab Convertible Aero. I would be very grateful to receive your view on this dilemma.
Asked on 23 August 2011 by BL, Belper
Answered by
Honest John
Sit down with the garage manager and negotiate. I don't know exactly what happened and what traffic conditions were like when the car suffered the blowout so will not sit in judgement on him. Seems you needed at least one new tyre anyway. If the tyre that blew out was in similar condition, you needed two. So you can't complain about your car being fitted with two new tyres that it actually needed.
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