AIBU ... they should pay?

[Camperqueen]

Have recently namechanged but not for this as it’s pretty mundane!

My car broke down this morning on the M25 heading to my very first day of work at a new job.

Less than 2 weeks ago I recently had a full service carried out to the tune of nearly £300. I also had it MOT’d early. All fine.

The reason I had it MOT’d and the extensive service was so that I knew that my older but normally pretty dependable car was up to the long journey.

Long story short but I’ve had to buy a new car as I must absolutely have a dependable car for my work. . THey will only give me £500 part ex for my old car in driveable condition, and £250 if I don’t get it fixed (which I’m not as it will cost more than £250).

AIBU to ask the Major Name service provider to refund the £300 cost of my service and my MOT, plus the cost of the recovery (£200) plus ...possibly the day’s wage that I lost (I am a contractor)? I am so angry and embarrassed!!

Anyone successfully argued damages like this in a similar situation????

Heading up there shortly but it would be good to know whether I’m wasting my breath- or what to do / say !!

You have zero chance

I would imagine it will depend somewhat on what caused the car to break down - you may want to add some more detail (in the hope that someone who knows more about cars than me comes along!).

Also to add- they think it’s the water pump- didn’t come up even as an advisory.

What broke on the car

What specifically caused it to break down? Was it something that should have been detected during the service or MOT?

What was wrong? Mot only proves it's roadworthy that day. If it was something they were supposed to do in the service but didn't then maybe...

Mot is for safety.

They wouldnt even look at the water pump

I'm sorry but unless they guaranteed their work then you won't get very far with them. All the service means is that on the day it was presented to them, the car was in good working order. Even new components break and electronics fail. Unless you can prove they didn't service it properly you are wasting your time and energy.

The water pump wouldn't be checked on an MOT and unless specifically listed on the service form I don't think you have any chance of getting a refund

Another vote for no chance. An MOT is just a certificate to say that it has been inspected and passed as roadworthy at that moment in time.
It in no way means it won’t break down in the near future.
Also servicing your car is a good idea and prevents problems related to the serviced parts, but again, it does not mean your car won’t break down.

If the dealership would only offer your £500 for your car in working order then I expect it is a fair age anyway. You. Can’t blame the garage that MOT’d / serviced it.

You have more chance of being bitten by a daffodil, its not the garages fault your water pump went.

A water pump would not be checked as part of an MOT or service and so you have got no chance of getting any money back.

Sorry OP but agree you have no chance, the water pump wouldn't have been part of the service and would only come up on MOT if it wasn't working at the time of testing. Parts wear out and there isn't always any warning, this really isn't anyone's fault and is something you just have to put down to experience I'm afraid.

Not a chance, sorry.

YABU

Unless it was something which was checked at the MOT/service and which was breaking then but was incorrectly passed and has now given up the ghost after a slow death and therefore should’ve been flagged up.

If it’s something which was fine at the service but has suddenly failed then you have just had bad luck but you’re certainly not entitled to compensation.

You might be able to argue something if you have a record of when the water pump was last replaced and when it was/is next due. If the pump has gone beyond the recommended replacement date and the servicing garage didn't advise you it was necessary to replace it you might get some money back. But they can fail at any time so I think you were just unlucky.

I don't think they'd have even looked at the water pump in the MOT or in the service s9 very little chance of any money back IMHO OP.

Unless that garage caused the issue that made your car to break down then YABU.

Nope, legally you probably do not stand a chance. I was in a similar position a few years back. Car broke down abroad and ended up being condemned and scrapped. It had just passed a full MOT and service. Neither a MOT or service does actually give you a legal guarantee, unless it was something specifically exchanged/fixed and the parts were under warrantee. Sadly, that can be the nature of slightly older cars, even if you fix one major thing and have it regularly serviced, it often ends up being one thing after another.

No harm writing to them, head office if big name company. Don't hold your breath tho

Only if the break down was directly caused by the service might you stand a chance or was something they should have performed, i.e. it was caused by no oil and they topped up the oil. Otherwise it is just bad timing in the same way as getting a flat tyre the day before you sell is.

The average car has literally thousands of parts. Having it serviced is no assurance that any one of them won't fail.

Anything on a car can stop working just like that. Just because they did a service it doesn't mean that nothing will go wrong. There are loads of bits in the car that aren't even looked at during a full service.

The MOT is just saying that it is legally roadworthy at the time they did the test. It would be quite possible to do another one the following day and fail.

Your water pump would only have been looked at if you had a leak or the cam belt was changed.

For a water pump? No chance what so ever.