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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU ... they should pay?

94 replies

Camperqueen · 06/08/2018 15:28

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 !!

OP posts:
Cosmos45 · 06/08/2018 16:01

Just echoing what everyone else has said - a service does not include telepathy to work out when a certain part (out of hundreds in a car engine) is going to fail. It's purely to top up liquids (oil, brake fluid, gear box oil etc) and filters etc - on certain number of miles various belts etc may be included and requiring changing. An MOT is just a safety check (brakes, seatbelts, tyres etc).

The water pump going is just purely bad luck and coincidence.

Lovemusic33 · 06/08/2018 16:02

A service doesn’t mean they check over your engine for every possible problem, it’s usually a oil change, filter and spark plug change.

Not the garages fault your car broke down.

Original poster
Camperqueen · 06/08/2018 16:05

Below is what I purchased

AIBU ... they should pay?
OP posts:
SillySallySingsSongs · 06/08/2018 16:07

It may have been what you purchased, but you still have no chance of getting money back for your water pump.

araiwa · 06/08/2018 16:07

Water pump is not a 2 year service item included in what you bought

Lovemusic33 · 06/08/2018 16:08

Was a water pump replacement in the deal? I suspect not.

Since my car had its MOT and service in April it has cost me £3000, I haven’t gone back to the garage to ask for a refund because garages can’t always detect that things are going to go wrong. Cars always go wrong, they cost us money. It’s a nightmare but it’s not the garages fault.

prh47bridge · 06/08/2018 16:09

The water pump is not checked as part of an MOT.

A service does not usually involve checking the water pump either, other than checking that it doesn't leak.

I'm afraid a car water pump is one of those components that can fail without warning at any time. It is unfortunate that it has failed so soon after a full service and MOT but you won't get any compensation from the garage unless you can show that they should have known the water pump was about to fail.

theOtherPamAyres · 06/08/2018 16:09

Does the 'major service' that you bought include water pump?

araiwa · 06/08/2018 16:11

When did you last change the timing belt and water pump?

Cosmos45 · 06/08/2018 16:15

A water pump is not included in a service schedule for most major garages. It would be an advisory item after a certain number of miles have been reached - this could be 100k miles. You as a customer are not obliged to have that part done as it's not included in the service and would be an extra for you to decide if you wanted it done. I think you are missing the point of what a service actually covers.

prh47bridge · 06/08/2018 16:15

From the information you have now posted I can see that the garage concerned was Halfords. Their major service does not include any checks on the water pump. As per my previous post, this is normal. Servicing a car does not include testing the water pump to see if it is about to fail. You do not have any claim against the garage.

Torvi · 06/08/2018 16:15

It's a service, not a guarantee your car won't break down.
You've been unlucky but the garage hasn't done anything wrong. Your car is clearly old if that's all it's worth so you need to let it go and move on.

IKnowItsTIMHONKSTIMHONKS · 06/08/2018 16:16

They don't check water pumps on MOTs. YABU.

IKnowItsTIMHONKSTIMHONKS · 06/08/2018 16:18

To add, they'll check something that day and if it's operating fine then they'll check it off as being OK, but who knows when it'll fail? Could be tomorrow, could be a year. It's sods law and its annoying but you have no recourse.

Thelastredwinegum · 06/08/2018 16:19

Unless you specifically asked them to change the water pump & cambelt (usually done at the same time) they would not have done.

I doubt it would be included in a 2 year service - usually every 5 years / or X amount of miles depending on the car's service plan and would cost more to do than a general service because of parts and labour involved.

I also wouldn't have taken my car to Halfrauds for a service but that's a different matter.

Quartz2208 · 06/08/2018 16:22

Yes unfortunately just one of those things

mummabubs · 06/08/2018 16:24

I couldn't even get Kwik Fit to refund me when they fitted a new catalytic converter and exhaust and then my car failed it's MOT based on the exhaust being incorrectly fitted on the same day!!

Sorry OP, another vote for no chance, especially with the lost wages and additional costs. It is very annoying though. As others say however I'm not convinced that the water pump would have been checked in the service and definitely not as part of the mot.

MusterMark · 06/08/2018 16:24

First, I would always use a trusted local garage in preference to a chain like Halfords.

Second, in your shoes I would replace the water pump rather than getting another car which may have its own unknown problems.

PatriciaHolm · 06/08/2018 16:24

this tells you exactly what was covered in your service -

www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/servicing-advice/car-servicing-whats-included

No water pump I'm afraid. So unfortunately you have no comeback.

ifancyagreencard · 06/08/2018 16:29

DMs head gasket blew less than a week after a major service. RIP car. It's crap, but it's life I'm afraid.

Kidssendingmenuts · 06/08/2018 16:31

Youve not got a chance of a refund I'm afraid . Your mot checks the car is safe for the road, and the service covers for parts usually replaced, basically filters, oil etc. The water pump doesn't come into it, and you don't usually know you need a new one until it breaks or you have a cam belt change. Don't make yourself look a prat and ask for a refund because it's not the garages fault at all I'm afraid. It's just one of those things. If your tyre blew due to a nail in it would you go back for a refund too? No, because it's just one of those things that happens

Cindie943811A · 06/08/2018 16:43

Are you a member of ?Which or the RAC? Both these organisations provide legal advice re these situations

BackforGood · 06/08/2018 16:45

Plus, if you chose not to cover yourself for breakdown recovery, then that is on you.
If you have a breakdown policy (mine costs £42 per year to cover bith dh and I, whatever we are driving, to fix at roadside or recovery to wherever you want, if it can't be fixed), then it wouldn't have cost you anything to be recovered.
Again, another thing that isn't the garage's fault.

I'm sorry this happened to you on your first day in the new job - really unfortunate timing, but it's just one of those things - nothing to do with the garage.

Topseyt · 06/08/2018 16:56

No chance of a refund. Your water pump is not included in any of that so forget it.

It is just an unhappy coincidence that the water pump broke down today.

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