Garage repairs van. Van has new, bigger related issue. I take it back. Garage says there is no issue. Van miraculously ok now.

[CatherineTatesFabinthatNetflixWomenatWarThing]

Hi all. First ever mumsnet posting and I feel compelled to write this because I am confounded/flabbergasted/frustrated. Basically, van went in for service, MOT and repair to brake pad wire. Before van went in, I couldn't hear/notice any issue - van ran as normal and paid for it to be repaired as per their diagnosis. One week later, I noticed very loud repetitive rotational knocking, scraping noise that got especially bad when turning or slowing down. The brake pad warning light has been on constantly. It was bad enough that I wondered if I'd actually make it to the garage for them to check it.

Anyway, they called to say they had checked everything thoroughly, had it up in the ramps and had the van tested by three different guys at garage. Basically, they say they could find no issue whatsoever. No sound. No brakepad warning light. Nothing. So they said I was to go out with one of the guys myself in the van to see. And it was absolutely fine. Nothing. Van has no issue at all now. Then the guy says 'ah, my wife is always saying she hears stuff and I can't hear anything' so clearly it's just a woman thing.

I am thinking they have tightened something up or made an adjustment to sort the issue but won't admit. But had they said they it was something minor to adjust or fix, I would have accepted that. So now the outcome is that I leave being made to feel that I have lost my menopausal mind (and I know I haven't cause I am on HRT ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaa), that I am imagining an issue, and also that seeing as they didn't find any issue, I leave thinking that the issue could reoccur (which it won't as it has clearly been fixed). I know the difference between an intermittent issue and a clunking obvious one.

I just can't prove it.

Has anyone else experienced similar? Wonder if I can see if they cleared the brakepad fault?

I bought a new car, on its first journey across the Pennines it started to lose power in the middle lane of the M62, I managed to get it onto the hard shoulder and called the company'y breakdown service. At the garage they told me they could find nothing wrong a couple of days later, it could have been dirty fuel but it was OK now. Another ride out, exactly the same happened, lost power and gradually cut out, another call to the breakdown service. When I went in find out what was happening they were dismissive, it had been running on the ramp for an hour with no problem! As he was saying this a mechanic came out and said You won't believe this boss! It had just stopped. Once they took it seriously it was found to be a faulty petrol pump, replaced it and no more problems.

You could possibly have a look at the logs.

I reckon they forgot to do something really shockingly obvious on the first visit and are just winging it now. Shame because you're not going to trust the repair.

I'd take it somewhere else for a look and avoid that place like the plague and slag em off to anyone that will listen

That's the worst of it OneTC - being dismissed when there's clearly an issue. Glad you got the fault sorted in the end. Must have been scary losing power in middle lane of motorway.

Yes! Would be intrigued to see log and see if they cleared fault although maybe they can do that without it showing?! Probably was something obvious that would've shown them up. I was invisible dropping van off for service/repair but when going back in to discuss the non issue, I had them all chipping in tuppence worth about how meticulous they had been in trying to find a non existent issue. I'll never be going back there now. Would love to leave honest review of experience but living in smallish town and me having new biz start up, I probably won't as they're a v established fixture in community. Thanks for tips - will get it checked elsewhere and the logs!

and repair to brake pad wire.

They messed this repair up. They don't want to admit they did a faulty repair on something that could cause the garage to be sued by you or fined/sanctioned by the government. They take the quality of MOT testing places extremely seriously.

Since they tried to gaslight you I would never use them again, and tell your friends not to as well.

Pixiedust that's exactly what it is - gaslighting. Hit the nail on head!! They actually failed van first time due to brake pad fault and then passed it. Then there was glaring issue after getting van back. Will be telling everyone I know to avoid.

Garage forgot to do something and won’t admit it cos it made your car unsafe and they don’t want any chat about compensation / bad gossip.

I had my boiler serviced last yr. After they left, my house began to fill with gas. Called the guy back (big professional company). He was all 😱 “sorry thought I shut this cap properly but I didn’t.”