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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Garage is taking the piss out of me, right?

42 replies

Possiblynotever · 28/09/2021 21:23

Please help. Posting here for traffic.I own a FIAT Panda which has always served me well. It was due an MOT and I went to a garage down the street of a friend of mine.
They came back saying that it had not passed the test due to brake problems and that it needed a full service.
I knew about the service and I had already enquired with a FIAT garage in Hertfordshire - the cost would have been £650 which was whopping high.
The garage has fantastic reviews on internet and when they offered a full service for £550 ( plus MOT), I thought " better safe than sorry" and went for it.
They seemed lovely guys as well.
The day after I picked up the car and drove home. No problem.
Then the car started having hiccups. It did not change gear and it would stop fully in the middle of the road. I took it back.

They said it was the injection- they replaced the faulty part (£150) and I thought it was as good as new.
Nope.
Same problem.
They now are saying that I need to take it to a FIAT garage and if they find that they did something wrong they will refund me.
It is unsafe to drive ( although I have AA on my insurance).
The FIAT garage will charge another £600 and God knows if they will ever say the other garage was at fault.
They are not members of the motor ombudsman.

What should I do?

OP posts:

Honeyroar · 29/09/2021 11:42

We can’t really comment accurately unless op gives more info.

VeganVeal · 29/09/2021 11:58

@Possiblynotever

Car is 2017 and it clocked 30,000 miles and is worth around£3,800. I agree that the further £150 should be refunded as they really did not solve the problem and obviously were just a trial. DocI have to go to a FIAT garage? All of the alarm lights have come up with a dangerous " check the engine".

Full service is what the manufacturer says and the FIAT garage did quote a similar amount. I had never serviced the car since I bought it ( 2018)....

Very kind for all of you to answer at this time of the night

You havent serviced the car since 2018, 3 years???

And you wonder why you have issues?

KungFuPrincess · 29/09/2021 12:50

500 for a service!?!?! that's insanity. I took my Audi to Audi for a service and it cost me £200

I've honestly never heard of a service costing that kind of money except for very expensive cars (no offense)

You've spent over £600, id be asking for a full breakdown of what they have done. Logically this problem wasn't present before they had your car, so they have done something.

Unfortunately i think you will need to spend the money to get your car diagnosed and then take them to the cleaners. Bastards

KungFuPrincess · 29/09/2021 12:52

Ah ive just seen that you haven't serviced the car in 3 years... this isnt good for the car at all. The oil needs changing yearly as the bare minimum, this is where I suspect the problem is coming from.

NotMyCat · 29/09/2021 12:53

That does seem pretty expensive depending on what they've done unless it includes pads and discs all round!
My work is around £550 but that's for Land Rover

Essentialgarage · 29/09/2021 12:57

@KungFuPrincess

But the actual service is the same price regardless of when the oil was changed.

If there has been work done such as tyres this is additional to the service.

Shade17 · 29/09/2021 13:00

It’s hard to comment on the cost without getting a full breakdown of the work carried out. MOT will be about £54 and front discs and pads should be no more than £200 parts and labour.

Nitgel · 29/09/2021 13:05

my car started jumping and the brake light came on just after the service. it was a faulty spark plug that split, they replaced it

sure yours wasn't something simple like that?

Nitgel · 29/09/2021 13:08

I mean engine light not brake

19lottie82 · 29/09/2021 13:53

Right, but OP said the FIAT garage quote for a service was £650 and the other garage £550 - this was before the car
was checked and seen to be needing the
brakes or anything else done. Do it is
absolutely extortionate.

I said £550 for the service AND disks / pads

GladAllOver · 29/09/2021 14:25

I just had the car mot'd at Kwickfit. Charge was £32.

Original poster

Possiblynotever · 29/09/2021 19:38

First of all, thanks to all of you for your kind replies; I appreciate it!
I just took a look at the service report, and, YES!, I did service the car in 2019 so, no, I have not been reckless after all!
The garage was insisting 1. that it was not their fault and 2. that I had to take the said car out of their way (btw, the car is not safe to drive)...it was all a "tow it away, do what you want....go to FIAT". They mellowed down when I asked if they have subscribed to the motorist ombudsman and are keeping it in tonight hoping to find someone with the diagnostics.
The nearest FIAT garage is 40 minutes away, and they were matter of fact: diagnostics cost £90 per hour, plus they will not tell me whether a mistake was made as they do not want to find themselves in the middle.
So, I wait until tomorrow....

OP posts:

Ivy48 · 29/09/2021 19:46

That seems an extortionate amount for a service and MOT. Partner recently had both that came
To £220 for a 2017 focus. If that includes breaks then seems reasonable but they should have given you an itemised bill! I’ve just had my 08 Clio services for £150….I’d be asking questions as most MOTs alone are around £50

QueenBee52 · 29/09/2021 20:38

@Possiblynotever

First of all, thanks to all of you for your kind replies; I appreciate it! I just took a look at the service report, and, YES!, I did service the car in 2019 so, no, I have not been reckless after all! The garage was insisting 1. that it was not their fault and 2. that I had to take the said car out of their way (btw, the car is not safe to drive)...it was all a "tow it away, do what you want....go to FIAT". They mellowed down when I asked if they have subscribed to the motorist ombudsman and are keeping it in tonight hoping to find someone with the diagnostics. The nearest FIAT garage is 40 minutes away, and they were matter of fact: diagnostics cost £90 per hour, plus they will not tell me whether a mistake was made as they do not want to find themselves in the middle. So, I wait until tomorrow....

Good on you 🌸

Essentialgarage · 29/09/2021 20:55

What have they done already? What was the service, what work was completed?

ilikefastcars · 10/10/2021 18:30

What make of oil filter did they use? I would get the oil and filter changed, with a different brand.

Honeyroar · 10/10/2021 21:18

I wonder what happened.

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